Rachel Young--Kevin So's Performance

Kevin So: A Performance to Remember
KENNEDY CENTER, Washington D.C. -- When my sister and I finally arrived at the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center this evening, it was packed. There were over 200 individuals in the audience, and it was an eclectic group of people spanning across an age gap that ranged from young children to elderly seniors. The Kennedy Center promotes the Millenium Stage as "performing arts for everyone", and it certainly seemed everyone was there. My sister and I were forced to stand in the back, until we offered our best smiles to the theater attendant and he allowed us to weave our way through the crowd to a seat closer to the stage (there are so many benefits and advantages to being a woman).

In attempting to write the following synopsis of the performance, it will probably be a poor effort on my part and a great injustice to Kevin So & Company. And yet I feel compelled to share the incredible experience. I know I won’t be able to find the appropriate words which could possibly capture the magnitude of Kevin So’s performance tonight, but I will try.

A brief bio was provided in the evening program:

Kevin So was born and raised in greater Boston. Having studied classical piano since early childhood, So attended the University of Southern California, where his tastes and tutelage turned to jazz. After graduating in 1993, he toured the country with a cover band before returning to the Boston area to throw his hat into the competitive singer/songwriter ring. So has been nominated six times for a Boston Music Award and has opened for some of the industry’s best-known acts including Richie Havens, Joe Cocker, Billy Bragg, Mary Lou Lord, and others. He was chosen in 1998 as one of the “best unsigned artists” by the “Acoustic Café” broadcast program.

I had been anticipating his performance all week long, and the above description had me yearning all the more to hear Kevin So play live. And when it was all said and done, I, along with the rest of the audience, couldn’t have been more captivated with the artist. So’s presence on stage almost leaves you to believe he was born to perform. And I believe he was. He is an animated performer and a dynamic singer. His voice demands you to listen. But with his humble, relaxed yet lively ambiance on stage, you can't help but like the guy. His wittiness and sense of humor appeals to everyone in the audience and certainly adds to his likeability factor. His overall presence leaves the audience feeling as though they’ve somehow made a connection, despite the fact he is the only Asian on stage and the audience is predominantly non-Asian. And although that detail may not be at the forefront of the audience’s mind, So does acknowledge his heritage in his music and addresses the issue of racial harmony in one of his popular songs, “Individual”.

And Kevin So is certainly not satisfied being the lone performer and having his audience sit idly and quietly aside. He encourages his audience to participate in his songs, which I believe emphasizes the overall message in his music. Don’t be satisfied with simply being an observer or a bystander. Be active and get involved in what’s going on around you. His message is loud and clear without being offensive or obnoxious.

His performance of “Individual” elicited chuckles and caused a chain reaction of individuals smiling at the person next to them. I imagine this song is an audience favorite, and perhaps, Kevin So's as well. You can certainly take a listen to the live version from your computer speakers, but it won’t compare to actually being there. He also performed two songs from his latest album, That Oriental Guy. He revealed his tender side through a beautiful love song called “Cool Drink of H20”. He then finished off the show with a powerful performance of “There’s a War Going On”.

There is no doubt about it. When Kevin So sings, people listen. Regardless of race, gender, religion, political affiliation, economic status, sexual orientation, or hair style. Whether you are the white man in the middle, or the black man on the left, or the yellow man on the right, you can’t help but be impressed with this oriental guy.

But it was not a solo act, and it would be unfair to attribute the sensation of tonight’s show to Kevin alone. He was accompanied by three other talented artists from the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. There was Beth Amsel, whose rich and tender voice rang into the hearts of the audience members through a few solo pieces, including an acapella song. My sister and I were blown away and simply amazed. And her bio is rather incredible, as well. The following is from tonight’s program:

When she was twenty, singer/songwriter Beth Amsel got a call from a friend who needed someone to pay his bail. Amsel paid the hundred dollars and accepted, as collateral, his guitar. Two years later, the repayment was never made, Amsel cracked the case open for the first time. Within a week, she played her first open mic. Immediately following that first set, she was invited back for an hour feature the next week. She went home with the task of writing 45 more minutes of music. Amsel has been a finalist of WRSI’s Singer/Songwriter Contest, chosen as one of only three finalists in the 2000 Rosegarden Songwriter Contest, and a featured showcase at the 2000 Falcon Ridge Folk Festival.

From that description alone, you know she had to be amazing. And she was.

The other artists were extraordinary, as well. Deirde Flint sang a couple entertaining spoof songs on 1-900-DATE and the Boob Fairy (and how the fairy never got to her, but the thigh fairy somehow managed to come by two or three times. Sadly, I could relate). Her songs drew out laughter from the entire audience. And then there was Christopher Williams, who was a master on the drums. He took up drumming on a whim shortly after he moved to Boston and one month later, completely self-taught, he somehow found himself on the main stage at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. That's natural talent for you. He has amazing rhythm and beat.

The performance tonight was quite a treat. My sister, who is generally not a big music fan, was very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed the show. She even ended up buying an album. Finally at the end of the night, I had the opportunity to shake hands with Kevin and have him autograph my copies of his albums, Along the Way and Individual. And as serious as I may have tried to write this review of tonight's performance, I was just another speechless giddy fan when it came down to it. I've always been somewhat intimidated by talented individuals, and this young artist definitely has talent. No doubt about it.

But you'll have to check it out for yourself. Buy his albums. I promise you won't regret it, and if you do, I'd even offer to take it off your hands and buy it from you. That's how good he is. Enough said.