Concert Review: Jonah Kagen Is Far From “Broken”

A smile goes a long way. After all, who has not felt warmer than cocoa when a stranger benevolently smiled at them or just seeing two people or a baby smile at each other or their surroundings. Something about smiles, especially, when genuine and pure goes a long way, and, for Jonah Kagen, it was his heartfelt excitement and smile to the NYC crowd that made him like a lotto winner. 

I love how every opening act, no matter where or when I go to a show, acknowledges New York as some sort of music Mecca. Perhaps, it is the hoards of films where the young, promising singer-guitarist comes to New York, trying to make it, falls for the young woman doing the same, and gets caught in a rollercoaster of emotional highs, lows, and music excel. Ugh! Have we not seen that film! Well, at Webster Hall, Jonah Kagen, was the lead. He emanated that energy of a protagonist on the rise; someone just about writing his story until one day others will tell it. 

From “Broken “ to “ Wish You Did,“ there was a sweet, “The Notebook” romanticism to Jonah’s music that I welcomed. I love all kinds of music, but I love a song that either captures a nuance feeling so well or gives me the blissful hope to do so. Jonah is the latter. He carries his guitar and waves and ripples his voice as he can see love and relationships like a movie in his head, the crowd was charmed by it. Of course, they were! After all, again, who does not visualize life like a film. The difference is Jonah carries himself like its noble lead, even if its your life, and that is what makes him a rising artist.