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Somebody Loves You Yellow Cab Set Me Free Sacrifice Summer's Gone The One Sure Thing Watching The World Go By The God Of Low Over For Now Mimi Gets Mad The Up Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing
I Just Wanna Touch You 
Other than a couple of changes in the order the set list was the same as their gigs in both Reisterstown, MD and Dayton, OH except that Kasim sang I Just Wanna Touch You in addition to Cliché in the encore.
The gig was very well attended will all the seats being taken and about thirty people having to stand at the back. During Do You Love Me a large number of people danced in front of the stage! 
Review by ChrisZ:
Kasim was in fine voice from the start and put to rest any concerns of voice burnout from earlier in the tour. Overall the mix was very even, save for heavy bass in a few spots. I suspect this was due to my seating location in the balcony and probably sounded much better downstairs. The Abbey stage is about the perfect size for a four piece band like Kasim has assembled. I was able to see all of the players without a problem and the lighting was tasteful as it always is at the Abbey.
Speaking of the players, this is an excellent assembly of musicians. Each was very professional and was well-rehearsed. I’m sure this is a testament to Kasim’s work as musical director for Meatloaf. These guys all played like they had been together for years – all with plenty of smiles and good cheer. Kasim appeared to be very comfortable as lead singer, guitarist, and bandleader.
Kasim mentioned in the early part of the show that he had been talking too much during these gigs and would try to not talk as much. I think his banter is always great fun and works quite well in an acoustic setting. It can tend to slow the momentum down of a full band show. The only thing I could think of to curtail this would be to have the band learn one more song, even if it’s an instrumental to save Kasim’s voice. Or perhaps Kas could play one more song on the acoustic guitar. Just a thought.
Highlights of the show were seeing Quid Pro Quo songs come to life with a full band and Mimi Gets Mad. I was beginning to think I’d never see that song performed live! The fellow sitting near me in the balcony called out for One World at the end of the show. I was actually happier to see the band stretch out and play Do You Love Me instead.
After the show I made my way downstairs and waited for the customary autograph. I knew from past experience that Kasim typically appears from the back of the room – I just didn’t know from which door. I saw him appear and waved, got his attention and he came right over and signed All Sides. We only chatted for a couple seconds as by that time quite a group had assembled. I did hear one person ask if Kasim would play Valparaiso with the band (I also think he asked if Kasim would do the pre-gig dinner again, although I may have imagined this!) and Kasim said he’d keep it in mind. Kasim stopped signing and asked if he could buy my marker – he had been using it to sign because no one else seemed to have one. I told him to keep it, that it was more than worth it after such a great time! He went back to signing and we headed out into the chilly Chicago night looking forward to the next gig. Thanks Kas for another great show!
Review by Karen:
There were ALOT of people at the show, people were standing in the back and the balcony looked full. The doors opened around 7ish and the back up band was scheduled to start at 7:30, Kasim was to come on at 8:30. The back up band was pretty good and it seemed like the crowd really enjoyed them. The change in equipment went pretty fast, all the people involved did a great job!
Before we knew it, out came the band and then Kasim! Loved the shirt he was wearing, actually both shirts that he wore! He told the crowd how happy he was to be back at "The Abbey" and how much he appreciated us being there. I totally enjoyed every song he played with the band! Kasim's voice was GREAT (LOVE HIS VOICE), loved his playing and it was great to see him moving around the stage which is the first that I can ever remember him doing. I'm sure because of room constraints.
Kasim's band mates were Fantastic, they did a Excellent job of playing and singing background vocals with Kasim. It was so ENJOYABLE to hear and see! Some of my favorites were "Mimi Gets Mad", "The Up", "I Just Want To Touch You", "Yellow Cab", and "One Sure Thing" but really all the songs were FANTASTIC! Kasim ended with "Do You Love Me" and had people come up in front of the stage and dance to the song. Everyone just had such a great time! Kasim did some talking between songs but unfortunately people then want to hold a conversation with him during the show and I just want to hear what he has to say! There were 2 assholes that were yelling during part of his show but I just tried to block them out even though I was sitting next to their table. Considering that I waited 6 hrs. to see Kasim play, I just wanted to focus on what he was doing. Some people are just so inconsiderate.
It's great that we got to take pictures with a flash! Yeah! After the show, Kasim and the band came out and signed autographs, took pictures, and talked for awhile, it was really GREAT that they were able to do that especially if they were driving to Cleveland afterwards. It really was a FANTASTIC show and I hope there will be more to come!
Thanks to Sue for this FANTASTIC WEB SITE and to Carrie for selling Kasim's merchandise. You both are "The Best"!
More Light,
Review by SueW:
The doors were supposed to open at 6.30pm with the show starting at 7pm so when I arrived at just before 7pm (due to horrendous traffic – the worst I’ve seen in my 15 visits to Chicago!) I was surprised to see that there was a queue outside the door and even more people queuing inside. We were let in at just past 7pm and the place was packed which was amazing to see! The last time Kasim played here they put in rows of seats but this time they left the tables there. I suppose they sell more drinks but with all the tickets they knew they had sold, it made things harder and I counted about 30 people having to stand at the back as there were no seats. As there were 5 in my group, we could only find space upstairs so we didn’t have a great view but seeing so many people here to see Kasim, I wasn’t complaining!
The opening act were called David Singer and the Sweet Science and they were pretty good, considerably better than the last opening act for Kasim at this venue who most people talked through.
The Kasim Sulton Band came on stage at about 8.30pm and played for about 100 minutes. When Kasim first walked on stage he told us that several times he’s played Chicago and said that the next time he played there he would have a band and that this time he still hasn’t but that he found these musicians in an alleyway and they would be playing with him tonight! Afterwards I spoke to lots of people there and, without exception, they all said that they really enjoyed Kasim’s solo gigs but that him playing with his own full band makes it even more special.
My main complaint about the Dayton (and to a lesser extent Reisterstown too) gig was that I thought Kasim chatted to the audience too much and didn’t have a spiel all ready. At the Dayton gig, where it was a more intimate gig, it wasn’t too much of a problem but thankfully tonight Kasim spoke (or entertained us more) especially towards the beginning of his set which I much preferred.
Kasim had also obviously been rehearsing his guitar solos (in fact he said on stage that he had and even played the one in Over For Now twice) and they all came across as far more confident and professional. It made me even more impressed as not only has Kasim put together a band and has extensively rehearsed with them, but he is also playing a totally different instrument himself so he really is taking the most difficult (and hopefully most rewarding) path at these gigs. Kasim’s voice was back to sounding a lot better tonight too.
The band played and sung really well again tonight. From upstairs I could see Tad far better and it was good to see both Mark and Mike interacting a lot with the audience from stage. The background vocals on The Up sounded louder tonight (at least where I was) which improved the song but there was some bad bass or drum vibration on Over For Now upstairs.
After they played the ending of Summer’s Gone Kasim said that at the first gig they had ended it with the rift instrumental but, as the room went totally quiet, they decided to add the final note which really ends the song well.
The One Sure Thing was really good tonight – I do like the way they play it on stage. Kasim said that it’s one of his favourite songs although he also said that he doesn’t like to choose favourites as it’s like choosing a favourite child.
All the Utopia songs went down really well tonight with this Chicago crowd, especially Mimi Gets Mad. After Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing, all the band including Kasim left the stage for a couple of minutes and then Kasim came back (in a different shirt!) and sang I Just Want to Touch You and Cliché on his own before the band came back for Do You Want To Dance. That song received an amazing reaction from the crowd with loads of people standing or dancing at the front of the stage to it! From my bird eye view, I found it so moving to see all those people really enjoying Kasim’s music being played by his band on stage!
Roll on Cleveland tomorrow!
The Band:
The venue (taken from the KasimInfo.com Blog that day):
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
Thursday 12th March and prior to that on Friday 21st March 2008 and prior to that on Saturday 27th January 2007. Kasim usually gets his largest crowds in this city but this will be his first appearance here with a full band.
This is 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 7.00pm with doors opening at 6.30pm. Tickets are $25 on the door or $20 online in advance (recommended) at this link. The venue is located at 3420 W Grace Street, Chicago, IL 60618-4215 (telephone 773-478-4408).
An audio recording of this gig will be available to purchase afterwards (whether you attend the gig in person or not) from AfterShowMusic.com at this link. There are options to purchase one file of the entire gig or individual files of each song for $10 per option or it costs $15 to purchase both.
Pre-show page on KasimInfo.com: All Rights Reserved |