This past weekend, I attended my first concert since the COVID-19 pandemic stalled mass gatherings. Actually, if I’m being honest, I think I attended my first concert since about 2016. I saw Noah Kahan in Burlington, Vt. — a place I’d never been.
The three-and-a-half hour car ride with my aunt and cousin was well worth it. In case you’re considering seeing Noah in concert, or if you have no idea who I’m talking about, here is my review of the event:
Noah: A++
His music was already incredible, but he is even better live. He has such strong vocals, not to mention I had no idea he was funny. He opened with “I’ve been called the Jewish Ed Sheeran, Folk Malone… But tonight I’m coming to you as Jewish Capaldi!” Between songs, he also said something along the lines of, “If you know this next song, sing along, if not — well there’s a lake right over there you can go jump in.”
Price: A+
Tickets were cheap. We paid $68 per ticket after fees (although we did get presale tickets). If, however, you waited and got last-minute tickets the night before, those were more in the $400 range. As another plus, nearby parking was free because it was a Sunday.
Venue: B+
The venue was Waterfront Park on Lake Champlain. As it was an outdoor park, there was no seating unless you brought your own beach chair. (Although, if you wanted any chance of seeing the stage once Noah came on, you had to stand.) It was a beautiful place for a concert, but not the most accessible. There was, however, free (subpar) mac and cheese, a gorgeous sunset over the lake, and perfect weather. People were even sitting in boats and kayaks (and one guy on a paddleboard) to watch the concert.
Merch: A+
There was a good variety of options, with fun colors and creative styles. Things were fairly pricey, but that was to be expected. I got a crew neck sweatshirt for $3 less than I paid for my ticket. The only downside was the line, which spanned the entire length of the venue, but we managed to make it through before the concert started.
Opening act: D
I was not a huge fan of Joy Oladokun, but maybe that’s just me. I thought her voice was a bit pitchy and she didn’t really know how to entertain a crowd. I wasn’t crazy about her coming back on stage and singing part of Noah’s last song out of key either.
Crowd: C
It was a fairly low-energy crowd, which yes, I fit into, but if you’re looking for a loud, energetic concert with lots of dancing and excitement, this is not it. I enjoyed the mellow atmosphere and the fact that it was not overly crowded. But I was, unfortunately, standing near the one man who decided to bring a whistle to the event. No one liked Whistle Man.
Location: A
Burlington, Vt. is a lovely town complete with cute shops, locally-made art, expensive plants, a tea shop, and picturesque mountain and lake views. I wish I’d had more time to explore the surrounding area, but I’ll save that for my next trip.
Vibes: A+
At one point, Noah stopped the concert to bring attention to someone who needed help in the audience. He did not start singing again until they had gotten help and he was sure they were OK. He was also open about his struggles with mental health, and encouraged the crowd to donate to flood-relief efforts.
Overall, if you’re thinking about seeing Noah Kahan in concert I would highly recommend it.
But the best part of the trip wasn’t the concert. It was staying up until 3 a.m. with my aunt and cousin, catching up, and laughing all night, like we used to do when we had all the time in the world.
Plus, now I get to add another pin to the giant map of states I have hanging on my bedroom wall.
Alyssa Cantwell is The Item’s Opinion editor. Her column appears every other week.
