Zig’s was basically a restaurant with a stage at one end but it was nice and bright and airy. It amazed me that, knowing that live music is played there, that people went there to talk over dinner! I felt sorry for Kasim as one large group of people near the front in particular were very noisy with their conversation! There were also CCTV sets around the restaurant so people could watch the stage on those too.

Kasim on TV at Zig's!

Kasim seemed far more focused on stage tonight (the chattering seemed to get to me and the rest of the fans more than it did to him or maybe it’s because he’s such a professional) and his voice was very strong. He came out at just before 10.00 and played for about an hour and a quarter which went much too quickly!

His opening seven songs were the ones that have evolved into the start of his set list on this tour but his banter changes most nights! It was only recently that a friend who has heard four of his gigs pointed out to me that each time he has told us something different about what he did do when Todd had written and recorded half of Deface The Music - he’s got high, he’s watched television, he’s slept, and he’s got drunk!

Doug Kennedy joined Kasim on stage from Before She Was Gone onwards and that was where they “winged it” as Doug just played whichever tune Kasim started! There was obviously a group of Utopia fans also near the front and they lapped up the Back On The Street / Cliché / There Goes My Inspiration section of the set! (I know I’ve mentioned it before but the way that they play Back On The Street is just amazing!)

Thankfully most people joined in with the clapping for On World (about the only time all night that I couldn’t hear the talking in the place!) and then, all too soon, it was time for Kasim’s great version of Across The Universe and the three hour drive!

But this morning I get to be nice!

I'm actually inspired to be pleasant and complimentary after thoroughly enjoying a set by Kasim that was as crisp as they come! I can't remember smiling at a show all night long! ( I said at a Show! ) Maybe it was the fact that I have now seen Utopia or Todd Rundgren shows where Kas played and sang, but was not our featured performer. In over 20 years of listening to records (remember LPs?) and going to shows, I never heard that Staten Island charm that oozed out of every word, story and song last night. I had read other fans recount some stories that were relayed by Kasim last night as well, but there were some surprises none the less! The story about co-writing a song for "Meat"s' new CD was very clever and for those of us who were not face down in our plate of ribs, it was very funny and much appreciated! His comment early on after, literally, introducing himself saying "enjoy the food' had me relieved as there was an incumbent crowd that was oblivious, of course in a loud way! My buddy tapped me on the shoulder in amazement commenting "they really have no idea who they're getting to watch tonight". Kas played through and smiled all the way and made those of us, who obviously knew some of the material, feel as if he were playing directly for us!

What an entertaining and gracious man! His voice sounded absolutely great! "Back on The Street" tested that resolve but got us a laugh with the vocalized explosion at the end of the song! Others can do the blow-by-blow songlist, but his downloads, provided by Sue on this ite, are a clear indication that Kasim is on top of his game, and HE came to play!

.......I was relieved that he didn't look at me cross-eyed when I said I toyed with playing "Libertine" reggae style!

Video Clips
These are 15 second video clips which will take about 5 minutes each to download on a normal modem. These clips are slightly dark and I was standing a long way back so it is slightly shaky too!
Kasim singing Back On The Street
Kasim singing This Must Be Love
Kasim singing One World