Twenty One Pilots (with support from MisterWives) performing at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA on October 20, 2019. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
Bastille | Atlanta
Bastille performing at Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta, GA on October 23, 2019. All photos taken by Chandler Bunzol.
Ra Ra Riot | Dallas
Ra Ra Riot performing at Trees in Dallas, TX on October 22, 2019. All photos taken by Maia Tharp.
Cigarettes After Sex | Vancouver
Cigarettes After Sex performing at The Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC on September 26, 2019. All photos taken by Aly Mae.
SHAED | Dallas
SHAED performing at Club Dada in Dallas, TX on October 19, 2019. All photos taken by Maia Tharp.
Temples | Los Angeles
Temples (with support from Trupa Trupa) performing at The Echoplex in Los Angeles, CA on October 14, 2019. All photos taken by Keion Hayes.
CAAMP | Los Angeles
CAAMP (with support from The Ballroom Thieves) performing at Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on October 16, 2019. All photos taken by Keion Hayes.
SG Lewis | Los Angeles
SG Lewis (with support from DRAMA) performing at The Novo in Los Angeles, CA on October 12, 2019. All photos taken by Keion Hayes.
Noah Kahan | Raleigh
Noah Kahan brought JP Saxe as the opener for his show at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 29th. This tour celebrates the release of his debut album Busyhead. His stage setup brought his music to life with a backdrop resembling the mountains in some of his previous album art.
My experience at his show was very unique. I believe that fans have a special connection with his music because it is vulnerably honest. The audience was completely engaged. I go to a lot of concerts and it is rare to see fans who are truly living in the moment, undistracted by technology and appreciating the concert experience. Fans sang along and said things like “this is a happy place” and “wow, I’m so excited that I’m going to cry.”
Noah draws lyrical inspiration from his life experiences. If he had to choose his “truest” lyric it would be “they tell me grief is just love letting go” — part of his song titled “Carlo’s Song”. Music has been stabilizing throughout his life when nothing else was. He finds it very comforting that “there is nothing too frightening to write about.” He also finds creativity from aspects of life that he admires. “I use art, literature, and my interactions with people in my life as a source of inspiration. I’ve lived on a farm in Vermont for many years as well, so nature is a major factor in the way I see the world.”
He has had a lot of practice crafting words that tell stories worth listening to. Technically speaking, Noah likes to “use metaphors and personification to describe complicated experiences in a tangible way.” After many years of experience in trying and failing in songwriting, Noah has valuable wisdom to offer. He encourages other aspiring musicians to “give yourself the room to do shitty writing. Write every day, be it awful or brilliant, because eventually that muscle allows you to be great will flex again and you’ll be glad you didn’t stop.”
Experiencing musical success has been a process for Noah that has shaped him into the person he is today. “I think, for better or for worse, that my experience chasing my dream as a musician has had the greatest impact on my music. It has completely altered the way I see the world, the way I listen to music, and the way I understand myself.”
Noah has been learning and continuing to grow personally and as an artist throughout the process of releasing his album and touring. On a personal level he says, “I am working towards being more open to failure and being easier on myself.” Noah’s 20 date tour with James Bay earlier this year was a highlight in his career. “It was really incredible and I’ll never forget that. He was such kind person, and, being someone I’ve looked up to so much, becoming close with him was an unforgettable experience.”
Noah’s tour will continue along the west coast over the next few weeks. I am looking forward to following his journey as he continues to refine and develop his songwriting skills and his musical abilities.
Photos and words by Katy Allen.
Bring Me The Horizon | Portland
Bring Me The Horizon and Sleeping With Sirens performing at Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center in Portland, OR on October 14, 2019. All photos taken by Ian Enger.
Yungblud | Philadelphia
Yungblud (with support from Missio) performing at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA on October 12, 2019. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
BANNERS | Vancouver
BANNERS (with support from Ellevator) performing at Venue in Vancouver, BC on October 12, 2019. All photos taken by Heather Fabia.
Julia Jacklin | Atlanta
Julia Jacklin (with support from Christian Lee Hutson) performing at Terminal West in Atlanta, GA on October 8, 2019. All photos taken by Lindsay Thomaston.
Neverkept | Vienna
Neverkept performing at Jammin Java in Vienna, VA on October 3, 2019. All photos taken by Emily Armitage.
Lauv | Philadelphia
Lauv (with support from bülow) performing at The Fillmore in Philadelphia, PA on October 6, 2019. All photos taken by Cami Liberty.
Grayscale | Philadelphia
Grayscale (with support from Rich People, Bearings, and Belmont) performing at Theatre of Living Arts in Philadelphia, PA on October 5, 2019. All photos taken by Bre Cura.
Noah Kahan | Philadelphia
Noah Kahan performing at Union Transfer in Philadelphia, PA on October 8, 2019. All photos taken by Bre Cura.
Mallrat | Santa Ana
Mallrat performing at The Observatory in Santa Ana, CA on October 8, 2019. All photos taken by Teddie Hart.
Grayscale | New York City
Grayscale (with support from Belmont) performing at Gramercy Theatre in New York City on October 3, 2019. All photos taken by Angela Leung.
Breakaway Music Festival | Charlotte
Breakaway Music Festival featuring Ekali, Bryce Vine, Chelsea Cutler, Kaskade, and Illenium in Charlotte, NC on October 5, 2019. All photos taken by Heidi Brickhouse.