As so often happens with Kasim’s solo gigs, it was VERY badly promoted. There are lots of print publications in the Philadelphia area and yet Kasim’s appearance was only mentioned in one and he was described as a multi-instrumentalist and not the singer / songwriter which is how he is known, so that was hardly likely to bring people out! There was also no message sent to Kasim’s own mailing list about the gig nor was the gig motioned on Kasim’s official website other than just on the Tour Dates page.

Consequently there weren’t many of Kasim’s own fans at the gig. This was Kasim’s fourth appearance at The Tin Angle in Downtown Philadelphia and on the other three occasions he was the only performer (other than an opening act) and he packed the place but tonight I doubt there were more than 15 people there specifically to see Kasim! To be fair to the Glen Burtnik fans they were very supportive of Kasim and obviously did enjoy (and applaud) his set but I just think it’s a total waste of Kasim’s talent to play second fiddle to someone like Glen Burtnik who gave a totally unprofessional performance. During Glen’s set he asked who had travelled more than 300 miles to the gig and it was noticeable that most people who raised their hands were actually there to see Kasim and not Glen! These included some people from the MidWest and one lady who had driven for 6 or 7 hours all the way from Buffalo! With such dedicated fans like that, it’s just a shame that Kasim doesn’t play more solo gigs.

Another complaint that I had about the evening was that the restaurant at the venue is quite a con! We were told that the best way to get a good seat was to eat first at the restaurant beneath the venue so we booked a table and duly turned up. We both thought that the meal was overpriced and undersized (especially by American standards!). I was also amazed to be told that they couldn’t substitute rice (which was on the menu) for the potato that came with my dish but which makes me ill! I then asked them to omit the potato but my dish still arrived with potato. When we did go upstairs to the venue, despite booking as soon as the tickets went on sale, our table was about halfway back. To make it worse the people sitting in front of our table were massive and insisted on talking through a lot of Kasim’s set so kept blocking our view! I certainly would never eat at that venue again but rather sit on a stool along the side of the veneu and be higher up anyway.

My final gripe of the evening was that Kasim played for less than 40 minutes! I’ve seen Kasim play solo gigs of almost two hours so to see him relegated to basically a 40 minute warm-up slot, I thought was very insulting. (He also sung two songs with Glen Burtnik later.)

Virtually Kasim’s first comment when he walked on stage was that while he was driving down here tonight he decided that he was just going to sing and not talk too much "and go into song into song into song…and now I’m talking"! Kasim then played a great version of Nik Kershaw’s Somebody Loves Me which led straight into Sometimes Love Is a Dangerous Thing. Afterwards Kasim said that the endings of songs were one of the hardest things about being a solo acoustic guitarist as you want it to be dramatic but it’s hard with just one guitar.

Next we had Before She Was gone which is probably one of the strongest tracks on Quid Pro Quo and all the Glen Burtnik fans seemed to really like it. For the first time that I’ve heard Kasim sing one of the “Before she was gone” lines in the song in a deep (mellow) voice which was very effective.

Next Kasim said that "this is probably the last time that I’m going to be performing a lot of these tunes because I’m just so sick and tired of hearing them!" He then went on to say that he’d been busy on other projects so he hadn’t had enough time to write or complete any new songs for himself. He did say that he had been writing, but that he didn’t have anything new to play for us yet. He then also promised us that the next time that he does a solo gig, he will play some of his new music!

Meantime Kasim played Utopia’s Libertine (I really missed Doug Kennedy’s twangy bits in that song) before he said that he’d been recording more of the background vocals for the final record in the Bat Out Of Hell trilogy: Bat Out Of Hell 3 - The Final At Bat (most people laughed at hearing the title!). Kasim also told us a funny story about the recording with Eric Troyer and Storm (he really mimicked Desmond Child’s well!). He included the imortal line "F**k Storm, what about my singing!" Kasim also told us that he tends to sing very loud.

After Utopia’s There Goes My Inspiration, Kasim spoke about playing the three live shows in a rehearsal studio in Los Angeles and then sung The Cars’ Drive which was just amazing to hear again! I think it actually sounded better than when he sang it in LA as he played it slower and seemed more relaxed and confident about singing it, plus with only an acoustic guitar, Kasim’s rich voice really did justice to the song! Kasim also joked about the names that they came up with before it was settled that they were going to be called The New Cars - apparently Elliot Easton suggested "Nazz Cars" and Todd said "New Car Smells". He also said that he’d heard a track by a Police cover band called "The Police Cars" of them singing Message In A Bottle but Cars style and said it was very good.

Next Kasim played his homage to Todd, Cliché before singing a great version tonight of Don’t Hold Me Back. Finally, after a slightly abortive start, Kasim played his final song and only the second original track from Quid Pro Quo - Sacrifice. This song received a massive round of applause and he played that muted guitar string part at the end which is so effective.

Less than 40 minutes after he walked on stage Kasim left to loads of applause and I’m sure having made lots more fans!

Within a few minutes Glen Burtik walked on stage. He joked that he wasn’t as prepared as Kasim but that was an understatement as I think there was only one or maybe two songs in his whole set when he remembered all the words! Considering these were songs that he’d written himself, I didn’t think it was very professional, especially as it’s not like he was in Kasim’s situation of not having played a solo gig for 7 months! I did feel bad for Glen as his voice isn’t as strong or as rich as Kasim’s but I would have thought that would have been even more reason for him to know the songs thoroughly! To give him his due, he was amusing on stage but the part that raised the most laughs was when he was ad-libbing one song and sang that he didn’t know how to get out of it so the sound guy just turned the lights on the stage off!

Near the end of the set, Glen got Kasim, Fran Smith Junior (of The Hooters) and some guy that I only know by the name “Mr Wilkinson” (and I’m not even sure of that!) up on stage to sing The Beatles song I Don’t Want To Spoil The Party. Kasim and Fran Smith mainly sung the background vocals but thankfully Kasim’s voice came across really well in that so it was great to hear.

Glen Butnik’s final sung was Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough which he wrote. I heard Kasim duet with Patty Smyth on that song at the gigs this time last year so it was good to hear again (but I know which version I prefer!).

Finally both Kasim and Glen Burtnik sang Cathy’s Clown. I wish they’d chosen one of the songs that they’d written together but it’s a song that Kasim used to sing with his solo band back in the early 80s so it’ll be interesting to edit out Glen’s vocals and compare Kasim’s voice in 2006 with his voice back then!

All in all I did have a good evening but I do get frustrated when someone as talented as Kasim sells himself (and his fans) short. Roll on Kasim’s next solo gig…..! (And let's hope it is solo next time!)

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