Noah Kahan

If you go on popular social media app TikTok and look up Noah Kahan, you’ll see scores of videos from his recent shows featuring thousands of fans screaming out the lyrics to his hit songs, such as “Stick Season” and “Homesick”. Based on the line that wrapped around the Miller High Life Theatre on February 11, this show did not look like it would be any different. It had originally been booked at the Riverside Theatre, with a capacity of roughly twenty-five hundred. After quickly selling out, the show was moved to the new venue with nearly twice the capacity… which also sold out.

Noah Kahan, a twenty-six-year-old American singer-songwriter from Vermont, has been writing music for most of his life, signing with Republic Records in 2016. Since then, he has put out three full-length albums and seen much success, with Stick Season (released October ‘22) being his latest project. Kahan began teasing the album back in the fall of 2020, putting out a TikTok singing the first pieces of the titular song on October 28 and continuing to post throughout the writing process. His lyrics and vulnerability resonated with users on the platform, and he began to go viral.

The Show

On this particular night, Noah Kahan was at Milwaukee’s Miller High Life Theatre. The show was part of the second leg of his fall tour. After this portion, he’ll embark on the summer portion, which is already almost entirely sold out as well.

Opener – Jack Van Cleaf

Born in California and currently out of Nashville, TN, Jack Van Cleaf and his band got things started out right. He performed his “determined and delicate songs with poetic slant and confessional warmth.” He is touring in support of his debut album, Fruit from the Trees.

Headliner – Noah Kahan

Talking to fans in the front row of the show, I found that some of them had waited in line outside the venue for five hours. Others flew in from other states such as North Carolina to be at the show. This was merely a snapshot of how dedicated his fanbase is. As the lights went down, from every corner of the venue, you heard deafening screams from the crowd. Kahan came out on stage, an infectious smile on his face, and began interacting with the audience. He joked about being called the ‘Jewish Ed Sheeran and Post Malone’. Also, he shared that one of his very first shows was at a much smaller venue in Milwaukee and that the city held a special place in his heart.

From there, the night took off. It was a sing-along from start to finish, with the audience knowing every word of every song played. He paused between songs to talk about the meaning behind some of the songs and what playing in front of such a large audience meant to him, as the audience listened with rapt attention. I cannot think of a time that I have heard fans cheer louder for another artist. Although it was a packed venue, the night was one of intimate storytelling and felt truly personal for everyone there. As the audience screamed Noah Kahan’s lyrics back to him, it wordlessly communicated the idea that they not only felt understood by him and his music, but that they saw him too.

Noah Kahan Link

To keep up with Noah Kahan’s music and to catch him on the summer leg of his tour, check out: www.noahkahan.com

Noah Kahan Setlist

Miller High Life Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
February 11, 2023

False Confidence
All My Love
Animal
Everywhere, Everything
New Perspective
Growing Sideways (acoustic)
Glue Myself Shut (acoustic)
Maine
Come Over
Northern Attitude
She Calls Me Back
Passenger
Carlo’s Song
Homesick
Orange Juice
Young Blood

Encore:
The View Between Villages
Stick Season
Mess

Photo Gallery – Mosie Hillis