The Remarkable Dedication of Concert Goers — Waiting All Day In a Storm for Noah Kahan

Last month, Noah Kahan returned to Europe for his Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever) Tour. He would finish the European leg of the Tour in Brussels, playing at Forest National, a venue of no less than 8400 people. But before the doors opened, Noah’s audience, including myself, had to queue as the wind and the rain poured over us. Queuing is not an unfamiliar experience for a dedicated concert person. In order to be closer to the stage, it’s a necessary process. However, the forty other concerts I’ve been to had not prepared me for the mental strength it required to endure this storm.

My friend and I get to the venue at eleven in the morning, and until six thirty when doors opened, the minutes when the rain stopped pouring could be counted on one hand. Sitting wrapped in a plastic raincoat the whole day, I wondered how I got there in the first place — and what made this specific artist worth the wait? 

The Beginnings of Noah Kahan 

Noah Kahan was born and raised in Strafford, Vermont, a small town in the United States. Kahan started making music in 2017, with his first EP “Hurt Somebody” being released in 2018, followed by his debut album “Busyhead” in 2019. But it wasn’t until 2022 that the Vermont native found success. It all started with “Stick Season”, a song that caught the attention of the majority of users on TikTok. 

“And I love Vermont, but it’s the season of the sticks

And I saw your mom, she forgot that I existed

And it’s half my fault, but I just like to play the victim

I’ll drink alcohol ’til my friends come home for Christmas”

Noah Kahan, Stick Season

“Stick Season” touches on more than a break-up, the poignant lyrics over the folk melody hitting heartstrings all over the world. The fear of being left behind and being forgotten is more than you hear in a regular heartbreak anthem. The song would set the tone for the album, which is named after the record. Now you might be wondering, what does “Stick Season” mean?

Stick Season and the Interpretations

Unless you’re a resident of upper New England, you might not know the expression. The term refers to the change of seasons between fall and winter, when the trees have lost their leaves, and the snow has yet to fall. It represents a period of transition, of change that is necessary for the seasons. In an interview, Noah Kahan explained that despite this specific definition, each person finds their meaning in the title. Since the beginning, Kahan’s music has managed a collaborative experience between him and his audience. Each listener finds an interpretation they connect with, which brings them closer to the artist. 

Writing the album 

After moving back home during the pandemic, Kahan, not unlike the rest of the world, went through self-isolation. During a time of reflection, he was confronted with the memories of the town left behind. It was as if they were kept in a time capsule, waiting for the right time to resurface. Kahan spoke about having to put himself in a state of mind that allowed him to build on these intimate and precise details for his songwriting. 

Although the fame could’ve faded with the inevitable change of trends, teasing his song “Homesick” on TikTok proved once again that the record. It was set to be released in October 2022, would be a success. 

With the release of the album “Stick Season”, Noah Kahan proved that it doesn’t matter where you’re from — in the end, it comes down to who you are. Whether you have struggled with anxiety, depression or substance abuse. Whether you’re from a small town, or whether you’re going through the motions after a difficult break-up, it is inevitable that the album will speak to you. 

Discovering Noah Kahan During a Difficult Time

I listened to the album in 2023, when the deluxe edition named “Stick Season (We’ll All Be Here Forever)” was already on all platforms. What stood out to me was the double meaning of homesickness. When you’re someone with dreams bigger than the small town you grew up in, you know you will have to leave to make them reality. However, no matter in which light you perceive your hometown, the potential departure brings a heartache that only Noah Kahan can put into words. 

“If you wanna go far

Then you gotta go far” 

— “You’re Gonna Go Far” by Noah Kahan, https://genius.com/Noah-kahan-youre-gonna-go-far-lyrics

I’m a firm believer of waiting for the right time to listen to a certain artist, or a certain album. When we first hear a record, our minds inevitably search for a common ground. A lyric or a song we can latch onto, that speaks to who we are as a person. That is why I waited a year to listen to “Stick Season”. I listened when I needed comfort in knowing I wasn’t the only one feeling lost.

The answer to the question of what made me, as well as hundreds of other people, wait in a windy rainstorm for hours, is not complicated. The community we found through Noah Kahan’s music, a connection that doesn’t need to be uttered to be felt. While in line, my friends and I took a quiz to know which song we each were. The results were a revelation on the type of people we are beneath the surface. Each person has their song that they keep close to their heart. That’s enough to keep you warm during cold, rainy weather. 

“Someday I’m gonna be somebody people want”

— “Come Over” by Noah Kahan, https://genius.com/Noah-kahan-come-over-lyrics

The Much Awaited Concert

When the concert began, although there were thousands of us in the audience, the atmosphere  surrounding us was one of a small venue. The safe haven the songs provided created an intimacy between strangers that is not easy to find nowadays. Hearing “Stick Season” be sung by the entire venue is the moment that is highlighted in my memory. A reminder that despite what you’re going through, there are other people experiencing the same. There is comfort and reassurance knowing you’re not alone.

During the concert, most of the focus is on Noah. There aren’t many visuals, or choreographies that might distract from the songs themselves. As someone who witnesses a lot of concerts, and prefers these additions, I can safely say they were not needed here. The energy around us was enough to make for a heartwarming concert. Being in that room, I felt more safe and understood than anywhere else. During “Growing Sideways”, a song that is particularly difficult for me. I could not hold back the tears that lasted throughout the entire performance. A girl I didn’t know noticed me crying. She gave me a brief hug, which shows the compassion and kindness of the people in that room. 

Curtains Drawn

The concert ended with one of my favourite songs, “Homesick”. After letting my emotions out for almost two hours, I had forgotten this song hadn’t yet been performed. It was a wondrous surprise to hear the first notes. I sang at the top of my lungs, along with eight thousand people and an artist from a small town in Vermont, and could not contain my tears at the end. The visuals showed the state of Vermont, getting closer and closer until it showed the location of Kahan’s hometown, Strafford. There were no more words needed to understand that despite where we are, we carry home within us. The screen then faded to black, leaving us with the memories, and a homesickness that we happily carry around.