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At first I was skeptical. Then I listened to Stick Season a few times and was like, “Hey, these songs are pretty good.” Now, I’m sick of his voice and I’m sick of seeing his name on every lineup and I no longer care about how much he loves Vermont and all of his emotional baggage. It now sounds like nasally, repetitive crap to me.

And he’s headlining High Water. LAME!

You’re definitely not the only one- tiktok really stays deciding on which artists get to eat and which artists headline every festival from now until the end of time. Glad to see people are getting tired of over-celebrating mediocrity- I hope there’s some sort of come down but that doesn’t seem to happen once people break into the mainstream that hard. Thankful that people are at least saying something about Taylor Swift winning album of the year for her most mediocre album to date. For the record, been a hater from day one with Noah Kahan but 7 yo me was burning the house down to Picture To Burn on Rock Band.

In terms of Highwater- Courtney Barnett clears in every category from songwriting to guitar skills to vocals. The Flaming Lips also snubbed. That is like one of the few bands that can go on 40+ years and still feel like they’re true to what made them cool in the first place. Wayne Coyne ages like a fine wine.

Back to original topic- I think this article sums things up pretty quickly with it’s title.
(Link doesn’t show up- six attempts to find noah kahan interesting)
https://uproxx.com/indie/six-attempts-to-find-noah-kahan-interesting-stick-season-review/

thenewcuriouscity said:

people are at least saying something about Taylor Swift winning album of the year for her most mediocre album to date.

In terms of Highwater- Courtney Barnett clears in every category from songwriting to guitar skills to vocals. The Flaming Lips also snubbed. That is like one of the few bands that can go on 40+ years and still feel like they’re true to what made them cool in the first place. Wayne Coyne ages like a fine wine.

Back to original topic- I think this article sums things up pretty quickly with it’s title.
(Link doesn’t show up- six attempts to find noah kahan interesting)
https://uproxx.com/indie/six-attempts-to-find-noah-kahan-interesting-stick-season-review/

I liked last year’s High Water lineup so much more. I thought they were on the up and up with Beck and Wilco but they doubled down on the suck this year. The worst part is that it sold out in .2 seconds so it’s just going to be worse next year.

I was so surprised to see that Pitchfork named T Swift album of the year. If that doesn’t tell you that P Fork sold out, I don’t know what does. As if Taylor needed any more publicity.

However, her rabid fans are all over it and Pitchfork is driven by money-hungry corporate investors.

The longer I hang around the music industry, the more I realize how much it sucks.

chubes said:

I liked last year’s High Water lineup so much more. I thought they were on the up and up with Beck and Wilco but they doubled down on the suck this year. The worst part is that it sold out in .2 seconds so it’s just going to be worse next year.

I was so surprised to see that Pitchfork named T Swift album of the year. If that doesn’t tell you that P Fork sold out, I don’t know what does. As if Taylor needed any more publicity.

However, her rabid fans are all over it and Pitchfork is driven by money-hungry corporate investors.

The longer I hang around the music industry, the more I realize how much it sucks.

 

2023 highwater line up was genuinely amazing- and like don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful to see that they’re bringing The Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes, and Courtney Barnett to Charleston but I’m honestly just gonna go catch George Clanton at the music farm that night for way less.

both pitchfork and the grammy’s man T_T

and no comment on that last bit…

thenewcuriouscity said:

You’re definitely not the only one- tiktok really stays deciding on which artists get to eat and which artists headline every festival from now until the end of time. Glad to see people are getting tired of over-celebrating mediocrity- I hope there’s some sort of come down but that doesn’t seem to happen once people break into the mainstream that hard. Thankful that people are at least saying something about Taylor Swift winning album of the year for her most mediocre album to date. For the record, been a hater from day one with Noah Kahan but 7 yo me was burning the house down to Picture To Burn on Rock Band.

In terms of Highwater- Courtney Barnett clears in every category from songwriting to guitar skills to vocals. The Flaming Lips also snubbed. That is like one of the few bands that can go on 40+ years and still feel like they’re true to what made them cool in the first place. Wayne Coyne ages like a fine wine.

Back to original topic- I think this article sums things up pretty quickly with it’s title.
(Link doesn’t show up- six attempts to find noah kahan interesting)
https://uproxx.com/indie/six-attempts-to-find-noah-kahan-interesting-stick-season-review/

Though I am a Taylor and Noah fan, I have to agree with both of you. I have been a Swiftie since day one, her Fearless tour was my first concert, and she was my first favorite artist. It’s honestly becoming hard to support her. I will say it, Midnights was her shittiest album to date, and no way deserved album of the year. For her to have the confidence that she was going to win at least one Grammy that night and announce her new album knowing full well that that will be the headlines regarding the Grammys, is honestly disrespectful. There are so many other artists that won this year that deserve the hype more than her. She does not need it. Not to mention she ripped the Grammy out of CELINE DION’S hands without even acknowledging her or that this is her first public appearance in YEARS. I’m honestly getting sick of her.

For Noah Khan, I do like a lot of his music, but I am getting sick of him too. As a New England girl, I could relate to a lot of his music, but at this point it’s getting so repetitive. I am also tired of seeing him headline festivals, but non the less I am going to Highwater and am excited for the other artists like Hozier, Courtney Barnett, Fleet Foxes, and Houndmouth. I am interested to see Noah’s show, and maybe it will be great!

I’m also going to High Water, and am interested on seeing what Noah Kahan brings to a live show. For his fame though, I guess ultimately it will depend what happens when he releases his next album. He’s got one viral hit album and he blew up. It’s going to be hard to sustain that if he can’t blow everybody’s mind with the next album.

As a 30 year old boomer who’s never been on TikTok I can’t really speak to that aspect of it, but I do respect the hustle. He was able to game the algorithm and it made him mega famous and if he doesn’t blow his money he’ll never have to work another day in his life. And he’s only 27 right now. We’ll see how it unfolds.

Taylor Swift has been around forever, she has snowballed over time to her current status as the most famous American artist in the world. Her fame is something that will be studied in the future. It’s insane how famous she is really. I’m not a Taylor Swift hater at all. It’s still just bullshit that she won everything because it’s so clearly all about trying to cash in on the T Swift mega fame gravy train.

High water seems pretty lazy this year. Not a noah guy. I got to give him more of a chance. He sounds whinny….at least the one song that the radio keeps spoon feeding me. Humble brag, went to highwater via boat last year.

I’m really excited for High Water this year especially because of Noah Kahan. I think Noah Kahan is an amazing songwriter and you all are wrong when you say that he doesn’t deserve the recognition. I first heard about him on TikTok like many other people and his songs really spoke to me.

@chubes I found this website after reading your article about the meaning of “Orange Juice.” I love that song and from your article it seemed like you appreciated the songwriting as well.

What made you change your mind?

heaven_scent said:

@chubes I found this website after reading your article about the meaning of “Orange Juice.” I love that song and from your article it seemed like you appreciated the songwriting as well.

What made you change your mind?

First, thanks for joining. Second, I do think that song is pretty well-written and I’m glad you liked the article.

I think mainly it’s his voice. I had a few of his songs on a playlist and for a while I enjoyed that song “Stick Season.” Then one day, it played, and I just couldn’t stand hearing it for another second. I had to skip it. Had to.

We’ll see what happens. I’m probably going to see him at High Water and then I’ll have a more accurate assessment of how good or bad he is.

I haven’t been able to get into his music. Same for me, I just skip. However, I do enjoy seeing artists live that I’m either not too fond of, or don’t really get/know yet. So I’ll be happy to give him a chance at High Water.

@chubes that makes sense! Hope you come back around on him!

I won’t be at High Water festival because I live in Texas, but I wanted to come in here and state my very wanted, very valid opinion. Noah Kahan sucks!

Ha! Fellow Texan chiming in here. Y’all are being way too hard on Noah Kahan! He doesn’t suck THAT bad!

I was not familiar with Noah Kahan until I saw the lineup for High Water festival this year. I don’t do TikTok. Facebook and classic forums are enough for me.

I’ve gone to High Water with my wife every year since they started it, and it’s a good way for us to see a lot of popular artists in one day, so I never have any complaints about the lineup. When you get old, you take what you can get for a nice weekend with the missus. I don’t get to go to many of the late night concerts at places like the Royal American or Charleston Pour House because I’m just too old. High Water is a good balance for us, although sometimes the days can be quite long.

I listened to the Stick Season record and I found it to be pleasant enough. I’ll have to side with Suzie and heaven scent on this one. Noah Kahan does not suck.

Noah Kahan does suck and I won’t be going to High Water this year because I don’t want to pay $400 for a ticket to see some 25 year old social media darling. Not worth the money anymore.

How do we go from My Morning Jacket just a few short years ago to Noah Kahan in 2024? How can those two acts even compare?

The saddest part is …. Noah Kahan’s inflated popularity will sell more tickets than an epic band like My Morning Jacket.

RIP to High Water Fest. Had a good run. Live Nation strikes again.

Today’s the day! Noah Kahan at High Water! Can’t wait to hear what you think of his set @chubes – I’m so excited!

I stand by my original sentiments. I did not enjoy Noah Kahan’s set at High Water Fest. Sorry to disappoint anybody who hoped to see me come back around on this guy.

Just got home. The anticipation for his set was insane all day long. People were talking about it, camping out at the stage, ready to faint from excitement (and the 90 degree heat). Fleet Foxes played an awesome set and when they were done, the crowd didn’t leave. They were all there to see Noah Kahan.

Seeing how famous he is, I was really hopeful that I would enjoy it. I was caught up in the wave of anticipation for a moment, thinking that it might end up being pretty sick. I really wanted to like it.

In the end, it actually pains me to see how famous he is. He’s a good singer, I’ll give him that. But the actual music part was lacking to me. The volume on stage was not nearly loud enough, so the performance had this muted feel to it, except for the belting out of every word from the audience. I was not impressed by what they tried to pass off as a “guitar solo,” which was more like three planned measures of mediocrity.

I was wondering if the volume was kept low on purpose to keep the crowd from going too crazy. It really was insanely crowded. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy it.

I couldn’t handle it. I got the hell out of there after 30 minutes.

The stage banter to me was the most painful part. He told everybody to look at the person they came there with, and then notice the worst thing about them and remember it forever. Well, Noah Kahan, what about the people who came there with themselves?

I get it, nobody wants to hear the “love your neighbor” platitudes, but to me it seems to exemplify the poison of American culture. We are tuned to be negative and view each other and ourselves in negative lights. With a platform this large, I would hope he could have brought something with more substance.

Also, he had everybody in the audience put their hands up in the air and then said “Now give me all your money.” The person behind me said “you already have it.” Lol. I left shortly after that. The dude probably got paid at least half a mil for an hour and 15 minute set.

To me, this is bubblegum music that represents a moment in history that will be discussed in the future, and hopefully we will move on from into greener pastures. It represents a low point in American culture, and the state of the music industry. This is what sells tickets. This is what people are buying.

I wish I could have gone to Vegas to see Phish instead.

Sounds like Noah is filling in the Mumford & Sons void

He did us the favor of opening with Dial Drunk so we could split after 20 minutes, beat the parking disaster and catching an awesome Mikaela Davis set at the Pour House

Wow! I can’t believe you didn’t like Noah Kahan. It was a dream come true for me to see him. It was sooo crazy! I thought the set was amazing and he seemed like a really genuine person, exactly the same as he is on TikTok omg. I’m even more of a Noah Kahan fan now. I can’t stop singing “False Confidence”!!

Relevant to this, is the real potential TikTok ban in the United States: https://time.com/6971009/tiktok-banned-restrictions-worldwide-countries-united-states-law/

When we consider that Noah Kahan was made famous primarily through TikTok (owned by a Chinese company), the potential for a conspiracy theory arises. It is plausible to think that the Chinese would push certain types of music with their algorithm.

If Noah Kahan is out there with a negative message, and he appeals to the most impressionable demographic of Americans, perhaps the opportunity arose to tweak the algorithms to favor the rise of this artist. So that he would become mega-famous and spread this kind of hateful message upon the American youth.

Getting really deep into it, you consider the name Noah Kahan, and its coincidental homophone with the word “Khan,” or king in Mongol & Turkic tribal language.

Noah Kahan is a Chinese plant, confirmed.

The Secret Beats of Harmony: Unveiling the Double Life of Pop Sensation, Noah Kahn

In the glittering world of music, Noah Kahn reigns supreme. With his mesmerizing voice and electrifying stage presence, he has captivated millions of fans worldwide. From sold-out stadium concerts to trending on TikTok, Noah is the epitome of a modern-day pop sensation, headlining the prestigious High Water Festival. But behind the glamorous facade lies a secret that could shake the music industry to its core.

Unbeknownst to his adoring fans, Noah Kahn is not just another talented musician – he’s also a highly trained operative for the Chinese intelligence agency. Raised in Beijing, Noah was groomed from a young age to blend seamlessly into Western society, his mission to gather valuable intel while captivating the hearts of millions.

His rise to stardom was carefully orchestrated, with every hit single and viral music video strategically crafted to enhance his global appeal. Behind the scenes, he communicates with his handlers using encrypted messages disguised as song lyrics and choreography cues, ensuring his dual identity remains undetected.

But as Noah’s fame continues to soar, so does the scrutiny surrounding his mysterious past. Whispers of his involvement in espionage begin to circulate, fueled by rumors of his close ties to high-ranking Chinese officials. Despite his best efforts to maintain his cover, cracks start to appear in the facade, and he finds himself entangled in a web of lies and deception.

As the truth threatens to unravel his carefully constructed world, Noah must navigate the perilous waters of fame and espionage, risking everything he holds dear to protect his secrets. Will he be able to maintain his dual identity, or will the beats of his past come back to haunt him?

Only time will tell as Noah Kahn takes to the stage at the High Water Festival, his every move watched closely by those who seek to uncover the truth behind the music.

I agree with your assessment about Noah Kahan’s set. Based on the large crowd, I also had hopes that it would be good. His performance did not capture me and I now believe he is overrated.

As for him being a Chinese operative, I really have nothing to say about that. You crazy bastards.

I’m curious what’s going to happen at Shaky Knees. That has long-running roots as a rock & roll and high quality folk rock festival and they have Noah Kahan headlining this year.

Happening this weekend. I can’t really imagine that the people who go to Shaky Knees, or the people who have historically gone to Shaky Knees, would be super into seeing Noah Kahan headline it above Arcade Fire and Young the Giant.

There are actually a bunch of really good artists on that Shaky Knees lineup and then you’ve just got Noah Kahan top center?

I mean, three day passes are sold out, so I guess it’s paying off in ticket sales just like it did for High Water.

TheDevilsLettuce said:

Relevant to this, is the real potential TikTok ban in the United States: https://time.com/6971009/tiktok-banned-restrictions-worldwide-countries-united-states-law/

When we consider that Noah Kahan was made famous primarily through TikTok (owned by a Chinese company), the potential for a conspiracy theory arises. It is plausible to think that the Chinese would push certain types of music with their algorithm.

If Noah Kahan is out there with a negative message, and he appeals to the most impressionable demographic of Americans, perhaps the opportunity arose to tweak the algorithms to favor the rise of this artist. So that he would become mega-famous and spread this kind of hateful message upon the American youth.

Getting really deep into it, you consider the name Noah Kahan, and its coincidental homophone with the word “Khan,” or king in Mongol & Turkic tribal language.

Noah Kahan is a Chinese plant, confirmed.

Kahan is a Jewish name. Lolz. People of tik tok made him famous because he’s a got a wilderness-y folk-y vibe and a man bun. The people love a left leaning nature loving guy from Vermont. Stick season has a catchy basic melody that people with little unique interests can get into.

@toastedcarrot Sorry, I’m with @Billy-Slut on this one

I saw this video from Lovin’ Life fest where Noah Kahan came out with Maggie Rogers and said “Noah Kahan is mid.” He also tweeted that same thing the day after @chubes first posted his review. I wonder if he read it? Did Extra Chill start the “Noah Kahan is mid” bit?

“Noah kahan is so mid” yea but I’ve got the most popular baby name from 2013-2015

— Noah Kahan (@NoahKahan)

“Noah kahan is so mid” yea but I’ve got the most popular baby name from 2013-2015

— Noah Kahan (@NoahKahan) April 22, 2024

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024

I think there is a chance that he heard someone called him mid after the Charleston show because I saw it posted on the Charleston subreddit when someone asked for reviews of High Water. Also, the story I made on Instagram after I wrote my last post in this thread was one of the most popular Instagram stories that Extra Chill has ever posted.

Some people in the media tent were huge Noah Kahan fans and @badjonphoto was asking me questions, and I answered truthfully in a tent full of the entire media crew. Which means that everyone in the media tent heard about that little writeup, and a lot of them probably clicked through and read it during the rainy downtime.

It’s actually a pretty clever bit for Noah to be saying “Noah Kahan is mid” himself, regardless of whether or not he saw my review. Now he’s got his fans joking that Noah Kahan is so mid, so it takes away power from anyone who means it. If you type into Google “Noah Kahan is mid” you’ll find that video and news about it on all sorts of sites, with people sarcastically saying he is mid.

Hopefully soon you will also find this forum post, so we can be the discerning voice of reason.

It’s funny, this is the most popular post on this forum as of right now. People find this page by searching “Noah Kahan sucks” and “why do people like Noah Kahan” If you found it by searching for something like that, why don’t you make an account and chime in on the discussion?

Noah Kahan has a nonprofit called the Busyhead Project that promotes mental health awareness and resources.

It was recently reported that he raised 2.4 million dollars, and counting, for mental health organizations in rural areas via a portion of all of his ticket sales.

Maybe you took his comments the wrong way at High Water? Maybe he was nervous and said some shit he didn’t mean?

@heaven_scent i’ll just say one thing

I was at work the other night, and my charter guests from Vermont were playing Noah Kahan and they all knew the words to every song.

I thought it sounded pretty good.

Of course this mother fucker is headlining Bonnaroo in 2026.

@thedevilslettuce hey now!

i actually agree with you though, I don’t think he deserves the Bonnaroo Sunday slot

Bonnaroo can and should do a lot better.