David Kushner @ the Citizens House of Blues on 10/27
by madison decina | photos by maddie cohen
Just as music, concerts come in many forms. There's the typical high-energy dance show, the good ol' stand and sway, a more formal seated show, and so on. David Kushner’s recent show at the House of Blues Boston completely obliterated these conventions. “The Dichotomy Tour” started in Portland in late September and is running through late November covering cities throughout the US and Canada. In just three short hours, I saw dancing, crying, praying, and a whole lot of white people with dreadlocks.
Though the show got off to a rough start with the doors opening almost an hour late, things picked up once the opener started his set. Up-and-coming Christian rock artist Henrik opened with a quick ~15 minute set. I wasn’t familiar with his original work, but his cover of “Stick Season” by Noah Kahan was very well done and successfully psyched up the New England crowd.
This was my first show at the House of Blues, and I was completely blown away. From the architecture itself to the artwork, I really enjoyed my first visit to one of Boston’s most famous live venues. The energy was electric, and the famed acoustics meshed with the low register of Kusher’s voice beautifully.
Aside from the venue itself, I felt the production design fell completely flat. The only set pieces were six blank concrete pillars placed Mighty Ducks style across the stage. This not only looked pretty tacky but blocked the view of myself and many other audience members. Additionally, the lighting was poorly executed. It was really dark for the majority of the set, and the overuse of red LEDs was extremely distracting. This didn’t ruin the show by any means, but I would’ve appreciated actually seeing the band performing on stage.
Kushner’s set was largely composed of songs off his new album, The Dichotomy, and just four tracks off of his debut, Footprints I Found. His style is an eclectic mix of Christian rock and “TikTok pop.” While this genre isn’t really my style, I couldn’t help but admire how engaged (and full) the crowd was. Of the few songs I recognized, some were of Kusnher’s top tracks such as “Darkerside” and “Mr. Forgettable.” From the barricade to the back of the venue, every member of the audience was completely infatuated. Kushner's connection with and control over the crowd was absolutely undeniable.
Despite a few minor hiccups, David Kushner’s show at the House of Blues was extremely striking. From the energy of the venue itself to his enthusiasm and passion for the music, Kushner created a truly unforgettable experience. His transcendence of typical concert conventions and connection with the audience made for a great concert experience. Though his music requires a fairly specific taste, I’d recommend catching a show for the sheer energy.
