New England singer songwriter Noah Kahan delivered a masterful performance full of heartbreaking sincerity and lingering nostalgia Tuesday as his “Stick Season (Forever)” tour stopped at the Dos Equis Pavillion in Dallas.
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From addiction to resilience, connection to dissolution and resentment to forgiveness, Stick Season explores time’s effect on Kahan’s life. The album’s fall season theme was showcased throughout the performance, with images of barren hills and colorful fall leaves raining down from the stage ceiling.
The stage resembled a living room with childhood photos and a vintage couch. The intimate setting transported fans out of the stadium.
Kahan’s narrative song writing style immersed the audience in his lyrics about resentment and resilience. The concert began with upbeat tunes such as “Dial Drunk” and “New Perspective,” but quickly shifted to a more melancholy beat. A pensive silence fell over the audience during the heartbreaking “Call Your Mom,” a song about unconditional love and living with mental illness.
As Kahan poured his heart into each lyric, audience members raised phones in flashlight mode and swayed to the delicate rhythm.
Kahan’s sarcastic one liners and casual commentary served as comic relief throughout the performance. In between songs, Kahan relayed facetious familial anecdotes that raised audiences’ spirits. His down-to-earth demeanor proved to the audience that although his songs cover heavy topics, Kahan doesn’t take himself too seriously.
For “Northern Attitude,” Kahan’s final song on the set list, vivid stage lights accompanied his roaring voice as faux snow blew into the clamoring crowd.