Review by Janet Spahr (Peebles):
Kasim has evolved. For those that have been going to the shows from the beginning - he has grown into his own. And by Kasim's own admission - he takes baby steps - or to me - each step is a building block or the foundation to what has now become a fantastic show. And it will keep growing and evolving to maybe one day having something of a full band (ie - drummer). Or just a drummer as Kasim joked. And also Kasim has realized it is better to have fewer people who love the music than a huge crowd who could care less.

Tonight the room was full of people who love and admire the catalog of Kasim's work. People who would forgive a little mistake or missed lyrics. But there was none of that. It was a great performance by any standards. I personally like Kasim up there alone and unplugged but I also realize that an artist of this caliber flourishes with fuller sound and the intracacies of guitar that only Jesse and Doug can bring to the stage. I was blown away. It's like Jesse can just feel the music and it translates down to his fingers and out to us as beautiful music. Doug (trying his best to hide in the back) could not. His guitar work filled in the sound and added his own personal touch - as well as getting a chance to take the lead. I just loved the exchange of sounds - and with 3 hands to watch - I found myself going from guitar to guitar to guitar - oh yeah - I did see their faces too!! ha ha

The music flowed from one song to the next really easily. Kasim's own music just fits into the Utopia and Todd songs he has chosen to play and seems to me to be a cohesive and nice representation of his catalog of work.

Wish I could have gone to Atlanta and on to the last couple of solo shows.

Thanks Kasim and Jesse and Doug for bringing your music to Chicago and to me. I loved it.

Review by SueW:
The Abbey Pub is one of my favourite places to see Kasim. He always gets a good sized crowd and today was no exception despite all the snow! I know that some people from places like Milwaukee couldn’t get here (as they had a foot of snow) but despite that the place was full enough for some people to have to use the balcony! The first observation I made tonight was that the women outnumbered the men in the audience by about 10 to 1! The second was that Kasim was wearing exactly the same clothes as he did when he played this venue last year!

Another bonus of this venue is that the lighting is great, at least on Kasim! Unfortunately Doug was lit red again (I’m beginning to think that he just overdid the sunbed and actually has a red face as he’s been lit like that at each gig I think so far!) plus from where I was sitting he was the other side of a pillar near me so I couldn’t easily see him. Jesse was quite well lit tonight so it showed his bright orange trousers off well!

Kasim’s set started with Are You Happy Now straight into Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing. The latter song isn’t one of my favourites of Kasim’s songs but the live version they played tonight was really good especially as Jesse played an amazing guitar solo in the middle – most people even started clapping after it!

After This Must Be Love they went almost straight into Yellow Cab. That’s such a great song but I think it’s a shame that on this tour Jesse doesn’t sing background vocals like Dennis used to as that always added something special to the song.

Kasim then spoke about being on tour and how he’s never sure which day is which or where he’s going to be from one day to the next. He mentioned that he was in Chicago last in January (originally he thought that it was in February!) and that there was snow and previous to that he had played a solo gig in the city a year last January and that it had snowed so he’d decided that he wanted to tour with Jimmy Buffin as apparently he only tours in the summer! This then lead to them playing Utopia’s Libertine. This is one of the four songs that Jesse sings background vocals on but he missed singing the first chorus and had to be reminded to sing by Kasim!

Much to everyone’s surprise Kasim then announced that that would be the only Utopia song that they would play as they had a lot of "ground to cover"! Thankfully that didn’t exclude Todd Rundgren songs as they next played Kasim’s brilliant version of Cliché.

Kasim then told us about the two House Parties that he’d played two weekends ago. The first one he played (basically the same set) was for about 10 people who all knew his music and he played in a living room. He said that two nights after that he played in another living room (in a massive house) for about 60 people but none of them knew him or his music. He said that most of the people there just chatted through his songs so after about 3 songs he got their attention and explained that he had been paid to play so if they didn’t want to listen to him to please continue their conversation elsewhere! Kasim then said that everybody then left the room except the family’s dog! He did say just after that he was exaggerating but, after hearing from the guy whose party it was, I know that it was based on truth unfortunately. Kasim then rewarded us by playing another Utopia song – There Goes My Inspiration but said afterwards "there’ll be no more Utopia songs"!

Kasim next made some sort of political comment (which went totally over my head I’m afraid as I’m not very up to date on American politics!) before playing I Don’t Mind At All which was brilliant to hear again! It then lead straight into Back On The Street. The 3 guitars playing the musical part in the middle is amazing to hear. Of course this was followed by us being told that he wasn’t going to play any more Utopia songs again! Someone then called out for Eternal Love so Kasim sang a couple of lines but said (as he has before) that he only knows those couple of lines of the song!

After Before She Was Gone (with some new guitar chords by Jesse in the middle) they went almost straight into Sacrifice (Doug Kennedy really shines at the start of this song). On this “tour” there’s a nice twice to Sacrifice as Kasim stops them all playing near the end to talk to us! Tonight Kasim spoke about talking and the fact that when he plays with other bands (e.g. Meat Loaf and Todd) he’s not allowed to speak out on stage so he does at his own gigs! I always have such great memories of Sacrifice at The Abbey Pub as it was here that I first heard Kasim play the song when he only had the chorus and one verse completed! I remember being stunned by the song as, at that time, it was totally different to the rest of the songs that he was writing.

After The Up (which must hold the record for the worst ever third line of a song!) Kasim again said that there would be no more Utopia songs! Jesse’s vocals really add a new dimension to that song and it’s a great addition to the set list.

Next up was Drive. As much as I liked hearing Kasim singing lead vocals in The New Cars on this song, I always thought that there was just too much noise for such a simplistic song at those gigs with all the band playing but just three guitars and Kasim’s vocals makes it a really beautiful version.

There was then some discussion about when exactly the first day of spring is(!) as Kasim announced that he was having a Winter / Spring sale of his T-shirts and All Sides CDs ($20 for both!) before they played Kasim’s newest song Watching The World Go By which received a large round of applause.

My favourite (The One Sure Thing) was next and that was just beautiful to hear again! Why on earth that song hasn’t been recorded by other artists too is a total mystery to me.

Kasim then made us a promise that the next time he plays at The Abbey Pub that he’ll have a full band with him, including a drummer. (That would be great to see but I do remember him making a similar promise about The Bitter End and he’s playing there in a week! To be honest I’d rather see Kasim alone or not with a full band than him not playing any of his own gigs.) Then, all to soon for me (and I’m sure for everyone else there), it was time for his final song – One World which of course everybody joined in with! (Kasim broke a guitar string during this song but hardly missed a note as he removed it and played with the others!)

They received a standing ovation from almost everyone in the hall and then left the stage when an amazing thing happened as loads of people rushed to the front of the stage! I haven’t seen that at a Kasim solo gig before! Kasim returned to the stage on his own and played his signature song Don’t hold Me Back.

After shaking loads of people’s hands at the front of the stage, Kasim then went off after a really great gig (my favourite of the 4 public ones so far this month). Doug and Jesse soon returned to put their guitars away but they were hardly left alone as people wanted to chat with them and get autographs and photos. This was increased tenfold when Kasim appeared as he was just swamped – it was amazing to watch! I stayed for about 45 minutes after the set ended and he was still being surrounded by people!

Roll on Cleveland tomorrow!

The venue (taken from the KasimInfo.com Blog that day):
Tonight Kasim Sulton plays the third public gig of this tour. The concert is at The Abbey Pub in Chicago, IL.

Kasim has played at The Abbey Pub several times over the past 6 years (since he re-started his solo career). His last performance here was on Saturday 27th January 2007. Kasim usually gets his largest crowds in this city and although there's been very little publicity for the gig, lots of fans have posted online that they'll be attending. It's also one of the best venues that Kasim plays as it's a relaxed bar so you can sit where you like but there are tables where people can eat too. Usually if you eat there before the show you are allowed into the venue first.

After the show Kasim always makes an appearance in the bar area opposite the room (still within the same building) so remember to stay around to talk to him and get photos!

The concert now apparently starts at 7.00pm (it was originally listed as later), with doors at 6.30pm and currently no opening act is listed. Tickets are $25 on the door and online in advance at this link. The venue is located at 3420 W Grace Street, Chicago, IL 60618-4215 (telephone 773-478-4408).

This gig (as well as the Cleveland gig) was announced back in December 2007. This will be already Kasim's third gig this year in Chicago as he played in the city two times in January as part of Todd Rundgren's band!

Also on stage with Kasim at tonight's gig will be Jesse Gress and Doug Kennedy.

Pre-show page on KasimInfo.com:
Click here

Kasim Sulton's 2008 Gigs

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