Don't Hold Me Back
Afraid Himself To Be
Before She Was Gone
Sometimes Love Is A Dangerous Thing
Set Me Free
Just A Little Bit
Across The Universe
It Wouldn't Have Made Any Difference
Review by Kathy
The show began with Kasim's longtime friend from high school days, Mike, saying a few words...(great, funny guy!).. including how one of the big key issues on Staten Island is, "Do I call it SAUCE....... or do I call it GRAVY??!" He gave Kas a nice warm intro.
Then... the next thing you hear is...... what IS that??!?! Sounded like a hillbilly tune... but then... next thing you know, it's actually an AC/DC song! "TNT"!!! Hilarious! A HILLBILLY version of TNT. Unreal.
It quickly faded, and out walked Kasim. Alone. Onstage, in the spotlight...... right where he belongs.
And in a heartfelt voice, he said, "Hello Everybody" as he gently picked up a guitar and gracefully took a seat center stage on a wooden stool. He continued, sincerely, "It's taken a little while...... but I finally made it." And the room, filled with fans and friends both old & new, welcomed him with warm applause as he started to sing.
What a show!!! He treated us to a perfect combination of songs..... some from the past, some from the present.... and even a few from the future that have yet to be released.
I've gotta say, one of the most enjoyable things (for me, at least) was having the chance to see Kasim's beautiful personality shine through during the performance. It's something you don't see when he performs with others -- because the opportunity's just not there. Too much going on. Now,..... now that he is doing solo shows, and the time onstage belongs to him alone, he has the chance to talk to us. And that he did! In between songs, the stories he shared were so honest.... so open, so genuine and sincere. He exuded a humbleness, mixed with confidence at the same time -- not to mention a great sense of humor! -- and made you feel as though he were speaking directly with you, alone.... and not a roomful of people. It was personal. Friendly. Casual. Relaxed. Perfectly comfortable. And so right.
This is where he belongs. In the spotlight, sharing his own music with the world. To think last night was the first 'solo' show he's ever performed is nothing short of amazing. He was just so natural.
I'm looking forward to hearing what others think. I know I felt a connection with the music. It was so strong.... solid. Such a wonderful, happy, magical night... and it made me feel good.
Congratulations, Kasim!! What a fantastic way to start. I'm so very proud of you.
It couldn't have been any better.......
Review by Regina Ciapanna (aged 13)
I've heard one or two records of Kasim’s. I've listened to songs off of “The Basement Tapes” and some off of “Lights On”. I enjoyed both albums and was excited to know that he would play a few. When the show started and Kasim came out he started with a song of his and then did a whole bunch of other people’s songs. I was disappointed but was later told the reason. People would compare him to people they knew, therefore if he did other people’s songs they would realize just how good he really was.
Anyway he did extremely well on all his songs and I wanted to take this time to congratulate him. I'm looking forward to the next show I'll be at which will be in Philly on May 19th. So Kasim in case you read this I love ya and you ~*ROK*~!!
Two days ago was the kickoff of the new Kasim concert in New York City. My parents wanted to go and they decided to drag my sister and me along for the ride. I was skeptical Kasim wasn’t exactly on my list of favorite music and also because I thought I had better things to do with my time. Ya know hang out with my buds and such. I didn’t think I was going to have any fun, but boy was I wrong!
Review by Sue
We arrived there at about 7.10 and I met up with some friends (new and old) in the bar area so it was a great atmosphere from the outset. I was also introduced to Kasim’s brother Alex in the bar area who did a great job on the sound for the gig.
They allowed us into the inner sanctum at about 7.50 and you could almost taste the excitement in the air! At about 8.00 a guy walked on stage and told some anecdotes for a couple of minutes. Several people around me were laughing but, unfortunately they went over totally over my head as I’m English so I didn’t really understand the basis of how New Yorkers view people from Staten Island, plus I was too impatient to hear Kasim!
The big moment arrived with surprisingly no announcement but just Kasim walking out onto stage (he had two acoustic guitars already set up on the stage). He looked nervous (hell! half the audience looked nervous too!) and just said “Hello everybody” and about how long it had been since he’d played his own gig!
He started playing his guitar and then just belted out the words “I gave no promise or guarantees”!! I was just so shocked! Kasim sounded so clear, …. so strong ….. and so confident!! Although I’ve thought it numerous times before, just this opening line reiterated to me how much he is wasted playing backup to Todd Rundgren or Meat Loaf! At the end of this first song, Don’t Hold Me back (from his CD The Basement tapes), it was obvious that everybody else in the room agreed with me as he received a massive round of applause!
As Kathy mentioned above, Kasim’s talk between the tracks was just awesome. Although I’ve admired him as a musician for ages and I’ve always found him very personable off stage, I wasn’t sure how that would come across to an audience. I needn’t have worried though as Kasim came across as genuine and friendly as ever.
I won’t repeat all the banter but the next track was one that I’d heard for the first time earlier that evening. It was called Afraid Himself To Be and was originally by Jason Falkner but it really suited Kasim’s voice and style!
Next, Kasim sang Before She Was Gone and this was the one time in the whole evening that he didn’t quite hit a couple of the notes (his voice sounded slightly husky for this one). I liked the way he ended this song though as the album track fades away so he sang a few of the “My ….” lines and just ended - it was very effective!
I thought that the way Kasim performed Set Me Free was nothing short of brilliant! It’s a strongly based keyboards track with a lot of background vocals and yet, with just Kasim and a guitar, nothing was missing at all! That’s one version that has to be heard to be believed, alongside my personal favourite track from the Kasim album, Just A Little Bit which followed!
Kasim then explained how, the older he got, the more he realised how spiritual John Lennon was, before he launched into an amazing version of The Beatles Across The Universe! There had been some discussion on the KasimSulton Yahoo Message Board that he may play a Beatles track but this one was never suggested - it’s just typical that Kasim knew which one would suit his voice to perfection!
Kasim then walked off the stage to rapturous applause that went on and on and on. So much so that, he came back for an encore (an unusual event at Arlene Grocery who always run to a tight schedule!) but even members of the next band due on stage were wildly applauding him! Kasim chose to sing the Todd Rundgren song It Wouldn’t Have Made Any Difference and, other than getting two lines the wrong way round once, it was a wonderful rendition!
What amazed me after Kasim walked off the stage was the silence in the venue! I don’t mean that the room was silent but that people weren’t really talking all that much, especially the people around me! I think we were all in a stunned stupor at that point! There was no “Did you enjoy the show” chatter as we all sensed that everybody did - certainly during the performance itself I saw a few tissues being used….and not just by the women either!
It was a long wait for this amazing gig, but it was well worth the wait! Thank goodness we only have seven days to wait until the next Kasim gig!
And how on earth does he manage to tune his guitar and talk at the same time?!!
Click here for 10 great photos of Kasim Sulton by Frank Ciapanna
Video Clips
At some point during the gig Kasim remarked that this show had taken fifteen years to happen. For me personally, I’ve *only* waited eight years but it was just incredible! I expected that Kasim (the perfectionist) would be good and I knew that I’d enjoy the show but I just never expected that he’d be THAT good and that I’d enjoy the show THAT much!!
Due to server size restrictions the video clips have been temporarily removed. To view them please either e-mail SueW@KasimInfo.com or visit the Video Of The Week section of the site.
Kasim Sulton Solo Acoustic Tour 2001
