The Greek Theatre (Berkeley, CA)
07/06/24
In July, Noah Kahan made a memorable stop at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, CA, where he performed two sold-out shows as part of his “We’ll All Be Here Forever” tour. Since the viral success of his 2022 song “Stick Season” and the following album of the same name, Noah has captured the attention of seemingly everyone on and off the internet. He toured Stick Season with shows over the last two years and in the meantime released two additional versions of the album, Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever), a deluxe version with seven additional tracks, and Stick Season (Forever), a final extended version with one new song and a version of eight tracks on the album recorded with a different artists featured. This tour is the third North American run supporting Stick Season (and extended versions) – this time bringing Noah to even larger venues and crowds.
In Berkeley’s open-air amphitheater for two nights in a row, the floor section was packed, the amphitheater’s concrete seats completely occupied, and the lawn filled with casual listeners all there to see Kahan’s performance. During the intermission, after opener Jensen McRae completed her part of the show, the sun set, the air chilled, and the crowd waited in collective anticipation for Kahan’s set to begin. Finally, with the skies still pink and blue, the opening notes of heavy-hitter “Dial Drunk,” a track from Stick Season that also got a version recorded with Post Malone that hit the charts, began the show with the whole venue immediately singing along. He followed up with “New Perspective” and then introduced “Everything, Everywhere,” saying it was written to be played outside, in a place like the Greek Theatre. The song prompted many in the audience to wave their phone flashlights, creating a beautiful effect in conjunction with the sky that was nearly dark, the stage lights that flashed to the beat during the emphatic chorus, and thousands of voices that sang along with Kahan’s.
Throughout the show, Kahan engaged in witty and fun banter with individual fans, calling out signs, taking a selfie with a fan’s phone, and supplementing with some blunt humor that seemed to be in line with his lyrical content. After the first few songs, he officially greeted the crowd and took the opportunity to humorously inform the crowd of a calf injury that would limit his mobility on stage. However, although it was clear he was favoring his uninjured leg, it did not dampen the spirit of the show and Kahan delivered a performance that had everything that makes his concerts so special. Not only did he jump around on one leg, Kahan’s interactions with the audience were very personable and genuine, making the large outdoor venue feel like a cozy, communal space. This was amplified during the acoustic section in the first half of his set, where they changed the onstage set to a rough replica of his mother’s living room, with two large childhood photos and an old childhood painting serving as a backdrop. Joined by three of his band members on the banjo, violin, and acoustic guitar while Noah himself was also on an acoustic guitar, he played through the unreleased song, “Pain Is Cold Water,” “Maine,” from his E.P. Cape Elizabeth, and “Godlight,” from his sophomore album I Was/I Am.
The setlist featured a mix of fan favorites and unreleased songs but heavily featured Stick Season, with fourteen tracks from the latest version being part of the set. The ordering of the songs created a dynamic flow that kept the audience captivated from start to finish, with sections of upbeat and energetic songs and sections of slower and quieter songs. His vocals were powerful and emotive, and the crowd responded enthusiastically, singing along to every word. Standout performances included “All My Love” and “Homesick,” both fan favorites from Stick Season for which the crowd was especially loud. Despite heavier themes for some of his songs, his introductions were always done in a humorous way, always able to draw laughter out of the audience. His commentary, often blunt and comedic, even found a place in his band introductions during the song “You’re Gonna Go Far,” when he introduced each member of his band along with the role they played during or after when he got injured (apparently, some were helpful, some were not).
The second half of the show also featured a quieter moment in the set, when Kahan ventured out to a b-stage at the middle of the seated section. There, surrounded by fans, he did a solo acoustic set with two more emotional songs, “Growing Sideways” and “Spoiled.” In those moments, with just him on the acoustic guitar and a simple spotlight, he connected with fans further in the crowd. As he made his way back to the stage, fans that had gathered in the walkway for a better view of the b-stage returned to where they were before, and returned their attention to the main stage where Kahan rolled in on a knee scooter. Kicking the energy back up with three very popular tracks “She Calls Me Back,” “Orange Juice,” and “Northern Attitude,” the main set ended at a high as bubbles shot out into the crowd during the last song. At this point, Kahan remarked that he would normally get off the stage one more time – but instead, due to his injury, he went directly into the encore songs, first with the emotional and passionate “The View Between Villages.”
The end to the night began with a declaration from Kahan to the crowd: “Let’s get sweaty… let’s get sticky!” Of course, it meant the final song was his megahit, “Stick Season.” The energy peaked yet again with the crowd dancing and singing along, carrying on until the very last note disappeared into the night.
Kahan’s ability to adapt to the unexpected and still deliver a powerful show speaks volumes about his professionalism and passion. The injury might have limited his movement, but it didn’t limit his ability to create an unforgettable experience for everyone in attendance. Honestly, most probably wouldn’t mind a fourth release of Stick Season – this time a live version, a bid to transport themselves back to the incredible night.
