Maybe we fell in love in Boston, it’s hard to tell in just one…night!
Following the viral success of his singles “Boston” and “East Coast Summers,” and the release of his new EP U-Turn, Kaleb Cohen has hit the road on his debut headlining tour, with stops across the United States, and, of course, Boston. On November 15, Cafe 939 overflowed with love as a sold-out crowd packed the intimate venue.
Indie artist Maeve opened the show. Her soft, sweet “Hello, Boston” was only a prelude to the strength of her performance. Under the glow of a single spotlight, she performed a set of both released and unreleased songs, including “Red Velvet” and “Nothing At All,” which had the crowd swaying along. She closed her set with “Favor,” leaving the room buzzing for more.
For his hometown show, Kaleb settled behind his second home: his Yamaha piano. Surrounded by fans, friends, family, and even his grandmother, he launched into a thirteen-song set pulled from a discography he has been building for most of his life. He shared that “Morning Sun” was written when he was just nine years old, alongside Mike, who joined him on guitar that night. Many of the other songs were written inside Kaleb’s dorm room at Chapman University, such as “Our Eyes Met on Friday.”
Kaleb also debuted unreleased tracks, including “Little One,” a love letter to his younger self and a reminder that everything eventually works out the way it’s meant to. Between originals, he wove in covers like Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl,” which fit seamlessly into the soulfulness of his set.
Of course, Kaleb couldn’t play a show in Boston without performing the song that carries its name. When he launched into “Boston,” the room erupted, singing every word back to him, at times overpowering his own voice. What made the moment even more special was that it marked of of the “first times” he had performed “Boston” in the city itself. He’d previously sung it with the Savannah Bananas, as one audience member noted, but this was different: this was a room full of his own fans, a room that had sold out in just an hour and a half.
To close out the night, he played another crowd favorite, “East Coast Summers,” breaking out his harmonica for the final number, a showcase of his vast musical talent. As he played the last notes, while the crowd finished the line, “you’re a west coast girl, but your heart is in the ocean state,” Kaleb stood visibly moved, nearly speechless.
By the end of the show, it was clear how quickly the city had fallen in love with him. After the sold-out performance, Kaleb met fans across the street outside the Prudential Center for a rainy acoustic set because Boston’s love for him simply couldn’t fit inside one room.
To catch Kaleb Cohen on the U-Turn Tour, visit kalebcohenmusic.com
