Kevin Atwater brought forth the most ethereal, dream-like performance to West Hollywood’s Troubadour stage on the night of April 23rd. With the release of his most recent project titled Achilles, this tour is meant to celebrate the tenderness of the stories buried beneath the surface of each song. Atwater delivered a night worth reminiscing, filled with hilarious puns, heartbreaking backstories, and soft melodies on guitar.
As a casual listener of Atwater myself, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the show. Though he has played a few shows in Los Angeles before, I have never had the pleasure of seeing him live until now. This show only fueled my desire to see him once more; not only do I love soul-bearing acoustic songs with lyrics that will have your heart strings painfully unlaced, but Atwater was so conscious of the community he’s built. He beamed with excitement as he scanned the crowd for signs to read aloud, and made sure to keep fans engaged by cracking a knock-knock joke while tuning his guitar:
“Knock knock.”
”Who’s there?”
”Broken pencil.”
”Broken pencil who?”
”Who cares... it’s pointless.”
Additionally, he spoke vulnerably about experiences that shaped his identity and his artistry. Right before playing his song called “Call of Duty,” a few tears were shed by fans as he spoke of the story behind it. He spoke of his grandmother and the tragedy that was her death, and the way it affected his mother. He effortlessly transitioned to other songs on the setlist, such as “ferry beer” and “Caleb.” Atwater further shared anecdotes of his personal experiences with one-sided relationships, heartbreak, and family as he closed out his show with “star tripping.”
Though words cannot do it justice, Atwater is definitely worth one’s while to see live. His witty humor and astounding talent is not to be ignored, and his ability to connect with a crowd leaves a lasting impression. His presence lingers long after the final note; to witness Atwater live is to witness something rare and remarkable.
Words and photos by Alicia Urrea