Review:
I've lost count of the number of times I've seen Kasim performing solo at The Abbey Pub but it's easily one of my favourite venues. Tonight they had moved out some of the tables that are in front of the stage so that more chairs could be fitted in and these were arranged in a few rows with some tables around the edges.

Unfortunately the lighting wasn't as good here as it has been on other occasions so it was too dark for my camera to take any decent photos. It was also bitterly cold as the AC was blasting out cold air despite it being below zero outside!

The opening act was Mick from Gadgets Ga Ga who reminded me a lot of Ricky Byrd. Unfortunately lots of people chatted (loudly) through his set, although he did receive a fair amount of applause.

This was one of Kasim's longer solo sets. He played 19 songs and there was lots of chat between the songs. Sometimes he waffled a bit but he said later that it what had happened to his car had obviously bothered and affected him. Tonight lots of people called out from the audience (which he answered) so that made a genial atmosphere. There was also a running gag about people going out to the loo and how he would wait for them!

Kasim came on stage at about 8.20pm and played until about 10.05pm. First of all he thanked us all for coming out on a cold, weekday evening and then asked us if we minded if he wore his glasses (as he said that he couldn't see much without them nowadays!). In the end, he wore them for his first couple of songs and then took them off, only to use them when he needed to read his set list. Kasim then played his first song which was Utopia's I Just Want To Touch You. The gigs this year are the first time that he's played it as part of his solo set so that was great to hear. He then went straight into Set Me Free which was great to hear back in the set list again.

Kasim then slightly retuned his guitar and joked that the advantage of playing on his own was that he didn't have to be in tune with anyone else! He then sang one of his own songs - Sacrifice.

Kasim then told us that he wanted to thank the criminal element of Chicago! He explained that yesterday he had driven from Cleveland to Chicago and been told at his hotel to park in the road. He'd then removed his two guitars from his car but left his amplifier, guitar pedals and some chords in the car. When he had returned to the car this morning, one of the windows had been smashed but thankfully nothing had been stolen (hence the reason that he was thanking the criminal element of Chicago). He said that he thought it was because he'd left the GPS suction cap visible in the car and presumably they'd thought the GPS itself may have been in his glove compartment! Kasim then sang Sweet Little Accident.

Summer's Gone was next but before that Kasim explained that he had written it with Phil Thornalley and that they had acttually started writing the song in the summer but it had taken them until the winter to complete it! I really liked the live version of the song and it was this one that was going through my head as I drove away from the venue tonight!

After that Kasim told us that when he was younger it used to be a badge of honour about how many bands his mates were playing in (one would say he was in two bands, another that he was in four and so on) but that now Kasim plays in two bands and that gives him more conflict that he likes (he put it far stronger than that gave us a funny comparison between the two bands!). Kasim did say that he's played with Todd now for 33 years and called him one of the Great American Songwriters. He also said that Todd treats him like his kid brother and "gives him sh*t". Kasim then went on to tell us the trick he used to play on his own younger brother! Following all that Kasim, sang Todd's Cliché and then went straight into Yellow Cab.

Before There Goes My Inspiration Kasim spoke for quite a while but it was mainly waffle although he did say how much he likes Chicago and thanked us again for attending tonight. There Goes My Inspiration led straight into The Car's Drive (although I think of it more now as Kasim's Drive!).

While he changed guitars, Kasim informed us that he doesn't do dedications or requests or sing Happy Birthday on stage but that today was one of his friend's birthday who was in the audience (I think he said her name was Sue) so he was playing Watching The World Go By as that is one of her favourite songs. He also said that it was one of his favourites too. He then went almost straight into The One Sure Thing which was just beautiful to hear again.

One thing that struck me tonight was that I hadn't really realised how many songs Kasim has actually written since Quid Pro Quo was released. I suppose because Kasim releases them so infrequently, it hadn't dawned on me that he almost has enough for another original album again now!

The next part went totally over my head as I'm not up on internal US politics! Kasim asked what was happening with the Governor and I got the impression that he had been disposed or something for some nefarious activity (I'm not even sure if he meant the Governor of Chicago or Illinois as all I've seen on TV here has been the outcry as the Sears Tower is going to be renamed the Willis Tower!). Kasim also said that he had a bone to pick with Bono as he had nicked Kasim's idea of a videoblog using a camera whilst driving along the road! It always amazes me that people can do that over here as where I live, people are fined for taking a sip of water while parked if the car engine is still running!

Someone then asked where Doug Kennedy was today so Kasim explained that "due to the current economic climate" he has had to downsize which is why it was only him on stage tonight! Kasim next played Libertine and when he got to the musical part he said that that was where he really missed Doug as he used to do a "screaming" guitar solo in the song.

I Don't Mind At All was next, straight into Are You Happy Now? Someone then called out for Eternal Love so Kasim sang the two lines that he knows!

Kasim then told us about how his cleaning lady really likes Endless Summer that he was working on which is partly why he gave his debut live performance of it tonight! Kasim also explained that he co-wrote it with Phil Thornalley. Kasim wrote the music and sent it to Phil who wrote the lyrics. Kasim joked that, as they had already written Summer's Gone and now Phil wrote lyrics called Endless Summer, what was going to be next "Summer's Never Come", "Summer's Going To Be", "Remember Summer"?!!! After Endless Summer (which is actually totally different to Summer's Gone!), someone asked about the two names in the song Joanna and Kassandra so Kasim gave a good South London impersonation (although Phil originally comes from Suffolk) of Phil Thornalley explaining that it would give an idea of being "tricky" by using two girls names.

Back On The Street was next which was just brilliant as Kasim's guitar playing in that was fantastic. Before Kasim played Somebody Loves You he said that it was for the fans but that he doesn't like to call us that especially as he could name three quarters of the people here tonight by their first name!

One World was next and probably 99% of the audience joined in with the clapping part! Kasim then said goodnight and received a standing ovation from the crowd so thankfully he came back to play Don't Hold Me Back.

It was then time to go out into the cold Chicago evening air after another brilliant Kasim solo gig!

Many thanks to Whitney Burr for all the photos on this page.

The venue (taken from the KasimInfo.com Blog that day):
Tonight Kasim Sulton plays a solo gig at The Abbey Pub in Chicago, IL.

Kasim has played at The Abbey Pub several times over the past 8 years (since he re-started his solo career). His last performance here was on Friday 21st March 2008 and prior to that on Saturday 27th January 2007. Kasim usually gets his largest crowds in this city. 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 either in the room itself or 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 starts at 7.30pm with doors at 7.00pm and the opening act is Gidgets Ga Ga. Tickets are $20 on the door and online in advance at this link - that's $5 less than the last time he played there! The venue is located at 3420 W Grace Street, Chicago, IL 60618-4215 (telephone 773-478-4408).

Pre-show page on KasimInfo.com:
Click here

Kasim Sulton's 2009 Gigs

Copyright © 2001 - 2009 KasimInfo.com
All Rights Reserved