Noah Kahan: We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour experience! **Spoilers

By Kayla Harper

Getting Tickets and Finding Seats!

After months of stressful and frustrating attempts to secure tickets to Noah Kahan’s We’ll All Be Here Forever tour stop in Calgary, my sister and I finally did the day of the concert. We got ready and rushed to the venue after I was off work at 7:00 and arrived with about an hour and a half to spare before Kahan would take the stage. Since we bought our tickets in the last minute Ticketmaster drops, we ended up with separate seats in different sections. My sister and I met up with her friend and wandered around, checking out our view from different sections, trying to find the best spot where there was enough seats for us to all sit together. As the seats filled up and we realized we weren’t going to find any together I noticed a spot on the other side of the arena. The three of us ran around the arena and slide into the spot as the lights went out! We ended up with an exceptional spot to stand, sing and dance with a perfect view.

The Show!

IMG_9979

(Entrance -video taken by Kaitie Harper)

The setlist was incredible as I didn’t feel like there were any songs missing; he played everything I had hoped he would. The majority of the songs were from Kahan’s most recent album, Stick Season, however, he aslo played songs from his past work including “False Confidence”, “Anyway” and “Godlight”. There was a logical order of songs as they naturally flowed from higher energy to intimate mellow moments. However, I did not expect “Dial Drunk” to be the song Kahan opened with and was very excited!

IMG_9980

(“Dial Drunk” -video taken by Kaitie Harper)

Although the sound in the Saddledome is not usually ideal (it sucks), I was still blown away by how good Kahan sounds live. The only thing differentiating his live performance from the studio tracks is the extra adlibs and vocal riffs he does. The band was exceptional and full of energy throughout the entirety of the show. Dancing around the stage while playing their instruments.

IMG_0008

(“Your Needs, My Needs” -video taken by Kaitie Harper)

Aside from the performers themselves, the crowd was energetic as we scream-sang, cried and danced along to every song! Kahan’s stage presence was outstanding as he interacted with fans, making the large arena feel like an intimate venue. At one point during the show he even brought a pregnant fan onstage to take a picture with him! However, my favourite thing was seeing Kahan look around the venue at the crowd while he sang with shock and gratitude in his eyes, as if in real-time we are watching him realize he made it and all of his dreams are happening.

IMG_0025

(“Northern Attitude” -video taken by Kaitie Harper)

The stage design was intricate and fitting to the album’s themes with cool layered screens that gave the impression of differing landscapes throughout the set, displaying visuals to match each song. Kahan also had a B-stage in the middle of the crowd, which was a surprise to my group. He ended up walking through the crowd and played “Growing Sideways” and “Anyway” acoustically before returning to the main stage to play “She Calls Me Back”.

IMG_0014

(“Growing Sideways” -video taken by Kaitie Harper)

We secured merch at the end of the concert because the lines prior were too long and we didn’t have time since we got to the venue late. After securing merch we went down to the lower level where a kind member of the crew gave my friends and I some confetti.