A sea of fans gathered to enjoy an eclectic mix of notable rock and country bands on day one of the Sea Hear Now festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Headlining the night were Noah Kahan, The Black Crowes, 311, The Revivalists, and many more artists and bands as well. Performances took place at three stages the Park Stage, Sand Stage and the main Surf Stage.
The country singer and songwriter, Sierra Ferrell, came on stage with a captivating, beautiful outfit while kicking off her set playing the fiddle. Her strong twangy voice was paired perfectly with the band’s instruments, including an electric guitar and a viola. She skillfully played a violin and acoustic guitar throughout the performance as well. Her and her band’s talent really shined through during the songs, “Oh Jeremiah” and “Lighthouse.” The strong instrumentation in both tracks created an astounding performance. It offered a unique experience to watch the band collaborate using a variety of instruments.
Continuing the day was alternative rock band, Guster. The three band members that played were Ryan Miller, the guitarist and lead vocalist, Adam Gardner, the guitarist and backing vocalist and Brian Rosenworcel, the drummer. Miller expressed his shock and gratefulness for how big the turnout was for their performance in the beginning of the set. For how good their performance was the band should keep expecting big crowds. Their set was also fun, the crowd was laughing due to Miller’s jokes and bubbly personality. Although the microphone went out for a little while Miller was singing the crowd was still singing along and once it came back on it was like nothing happened, the band carried on with grace. He even walked through the crowd during one of their final songs, talking with people and joking around. It was an engaging performance and fans couldn’t help but be amazed by their talent and crowd control abilities.
Adding on, one of the headliners for day one, The Revivalists, continued with the alternative rock music representation. Their performance was outstanding thanks to the multitude of different elements they included. David Shaw, the lead singer also added to the success of the performance due to his amazing stage presence. The band member, Rob Ingraham also stole the show with his saxophone solos throughout the performance. During songs, like, “Good Ol Days,” the electric guitar and drums were also very prominent all working together to create a fantastic show.
The head bobbing and dancing continued with Grace Potter’s performance. She opened her performance by playing her electric guitar which was complimented by her high energy; the crowd knew they were about to experience something great. Her supporting band included a bassist, guitarist and a drummer whose chemistry was palpable, letting their superb musicianship take center stage. All of them playing together created an amazing sound, especially during songs, “Mother Road” and “Something I Want.” Potter’s stage presence also helped contribute to a successful performance. Throughout the set, Potter was dancing on stage and enjoying herself which, in turn, made the set fun and memorable.
The American rock band, The Black Crowes was next up to play. What’s a rock band without an electric guitar and drums? So, of course, The Black Crowes had band members playing the two instruments which made for a great performance. The two instruments were very prominent during their set. Chris Robinson, the lead singer, let his passion shine as he danced and delivered powerful vocals.
Next, was the electroclash rock musician, Peaches. Her set had a humorous start as she walked on stage to “Peaches” by Jack Black, a song featured on The Super Mario Bros Movie soundtrack. Once she made her presence known, she began her set with her song, “Rub.” As the set continued, her outfit changes took center stage with Peaches wearing several shirts that said “Thank God For Abortion,” “Trans Rights Now” and “Vote The Pain Away” in reference to her song “Fuck The Pain Away.” All of those outfit changes then led to one final outfit change for the night which consisted solely of Spanx and pasties. Her performance had plenty of compelling elements. Her crowd control was amazing, she was getting the audience to sing back the lyrics with the utmost enthusiasm. And she even walked on the crowd. Yes, really. Audience members held Peaches up step by step as she sang, “AA XXX.” Smiles were prevalent with fans dancing and laughter ringing out throughout her performance. The audience thoroughly enjoyed Peach’s distinctive, unapologetic style.
Lastly closing day one of Sea Hear Now, was the highly anticipated headliner, Noah Kahan. Before he stepped on stage the crowd was chanting “Noah.” The excitement in the air overshadowed the salty beach breeze as the crowd eagerly prepared to see Kahan. Screams filled Asbury Park as he walked on stage, playing his acoustic guitar alongside his backing band. As he prepared to sing the first word of “Dial Drunk,” the crowd joined in, singing every word with him. He even stopped singing at times and the audience harmonized to keep the song going. Kahan expressed his shock to be headlining the same festival as Bruce Springsteen and also mentioned how he wore an all-denim outfit on purpose to fit the part. The little jokes he made throughout his set added a lighthearted touch, while his emotional songs tugged at the crowd’s heartstrings. His set included fan favorites “New Perspective,” “False Confidence” and “Growing Sideways” which had the audience mesmerized by his talent and down to earth musicianship. There were tears, smiles and laughter. Before each song, Kahan shared a little backstory, which were both sweet and heartwarming. Kahan was a fantastic way to conclude the day.
Noah Kahan Setlist
1. Dial Drunk
2. New Perspective
3. Everywhere, Everything
4. She Calls Me Back
5. You’re Gonna Go Far
6. False Confidence
7. Forever
8. Growing Sideways
9. All My Love
10. Call Your Mom
11. Northern Attitude
12. Orange Juice
13. Homesick
14. Young Blood
15. The View Between Villages
16. Stick Season
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