It was a good sized room but my one complaint (other than the air conditioning which I always suffer from in the US!) was that the tables were set back from the stage so there was a gap of about 15 feet from the front tables to Kasim. The stage was decked out with larger reproductions of the Kasim, Utopia and Adventures In Utopia album covers on easels both on and around the stage, plus the logo of this gig (Kasim’s photo from Quid Pro Quo album with the psychedelic background).

It was a decent sized crowd tonight for this room but I felt that they were quite subdued at the start of the gig but soon warmed to Kasim so that he received a standing ovation by the end. Kasim’s gig lasted an hour and twenty one minutes.

After a great introduction by the organiser Mark Woodin (I was flattered you asked but you did it much better than I could have done Mark!), Kasim walked through the crowd to the stage flanked by a big burly guy in a red T-shirt which said "Security" on it! I’m not sure quite what the audiences in Joplin are usually like as the guy hung around and escorted Kasim off the stage afterwards too.

Kasim first started by telling us that he would have to watch his accent as he comes from New York, before talking briefly about the Animal Adoption and Resource Center. He then sang his wonderful God Of Low which is the song that I had going through my head as I left the venue for some reason! Kasim followed it by going straight into Utopia’s I Just Wanna Touch You into Somebody Loves You.

Kasim then told us about his pet dog and the toilet training problems he’s had with him before saying that last night he was recording background vocals near Woodstock, NY. It was through Earl Slick and was for a group of highly paid doctors who, as Kasim put it, instead of spending their money playing golf, hire a recording studio to make music. Kasim said that they were talking about hiring private jets and things but that he felt that he was quite happy just playing his own music and with his own life.

Kasim then played Yellow Cab straight into Libertine but stopped once he got to the first chorus as he had forgotten to ask us to sing part of it! The audience were really receptive to this, even the "just the women", "just the men", "just the Republicans" parts towards the end too.

After Kasim had told us a story from when he was in Utopia and met some fans in a hotel, he played Jason Faulkner’s wonderful Afraid Himself To Be. I’m really glad that he’s including that back in his set list again as it’s a song which suits his voice so perfectly. It also always reminds me of when he started his solo gigs back in 2001 which was a wonderful time. (By coincidence I sat at tonight’s gig with the organiser of Kasim’s 2001 gig in Tahlequah, OK.)

Kasim then moved across to the keyboards and played Love Alone before explaining why he wrote Set Me Free and singing that song (which received massive applause). Kasim then spoke about leaving Meat Loaf’s band in the early part of this year and that he chose to play as part of the Classical Mystery Tour for some gigs this summer. This is a band who play Beatles songs with various symphony orchestras around the US. Kasim played Paul McCartney and sang lead on both The Long And Winding Road and Lady Madonna which he played tonight. It sounded brilliant tonight but hearing The Long And Winding Road especially with just Kasim’s voice and an orchestra is simply magical!

Kasim next moved back to his guitar before telling us that he is recording a new (and final) CD and explaining about The Project, reminding us that it’s a chance to win the prize of Kasim playing in your own home. He then played his new song The Traveller for us which was great to hear again.

Drive was next followed by Sacrifice, complete with the wonderful muted guitar strings part, before playing his homage to Todd – Cliché. Kasim’s version of that song received a massive round of applause.

Kasim next tuned his guitar down slightly before playing his beautiful The One Sure Thing. That song was worth the flight over alone! The sound at this venue (at least where I was sitting) had a lot of bass in it so that at times it was a struggle to understand what Kasim was saying when he was talking but it didn’t affect the songs much and it did make TOST sound especially good tonight.

Kasim next tuned his guitar up before thanking Mark and the Animal Adoption and Resource Center for arranging this gig and saying hello to Mark’s mother who was in the audience. Kasim then played Don’t Hold Me Back and explained that when he was in Utopia (wearing a monkey suit???) his own section of the gig used to consist of Love Alone and Don’t Hold Me Back.

One World was next with lots of people joining in on the clapping and some people even clapping all through the song too!

People started calling for one more so Kasim moved across to his keyboards. He spoke about all the new bands and singers that are just starting out at the moment (and showed us his Justin Bieber impression!) and said that he was glad in a way that he wasn’t really successful when he was young. Kasim said that he thought that lots of the best songs were written in the 20s and 30s and that he was going to play us one of those which he had just learned. He warned us that he wasn’t perfect yet and he did mess up the beginning at first but it was lovely to hear. The song was Someone To Watch Over Me from the Crazy For You musical by George and Ira Gershwin. The way that Kasim played it was really beautiful but I was surprised that he chose that song to end with and didn’t play it earlier in his set.

And then, all too soon for me, it was the end of another great Kasim Sulton solo gig. The lighting wasn't good enough for my camera to take any decent photos but hopefully some people will have got some better ones, especially as Kasim had a great new haircut tonight!

Roll on Hoboken, NJ on Saturday!

The venue (taken from the KasimInfo.com Blog that day):
Tonight Kasim Sulton plays his first ever solo gig at the Gateway Creamery in Joplin, MO. This gig is in aid of the Animal Adoption and Resource Center (formerly Joplin Humane Society) in Joplin.

Tickets for tonight's gig are either $27 in advance (from this link) or $30 on the door. The gig starts at 8pm and doors open at 7pm.

The venue is called Gateway Creamery and it is located at 614 Kentucky Ave. Joplin, MO. The description on the internet is:
"During the early nineteen hundreds until the late fifties the Gateway Creamery operated as a dairy processor for the 4-State region, delivering milk door to door. Initially by horse drawn wagons and later by milk trucks.
For many years the building was vacant. Then in 2003, the Creamery was bought, and one and half year renovation process began, eventually bringing the beautiful three story brick structure into a fully operational restaurant, bar and stage.
A three thousand square foot exterior patio and bar area was added to the structure, architectural elements from the original building and the only Bocce Ball court in the Joplin area.
The exceptional food, excellent service, live music, and unique atmosphere have all combined to make the Gateway Creamery the place to be!!"