In this world, we all seek connection and friendship. At Vincent Lima and Jonah Kagen's sold-out show at Beat Kitchen, I couldn't have found a more visceral experience between these two inspiring artists. The musicians became friends, and Vincent opened up to Jonah some time ago, connecting over common interests. Now they were able to reconnect and play in front of a great crowd in Chicago. One of those common interests was an experience in the lead up to the show where he got food poisoning from a bad pizza in St. Paul, Minnesota. Perhaps this is proof that we should only stick to authentic Chicago pizza. In their words, they were running on “hot adrenaline.” In order to put on a great show, maybe you shouldn't get food poisoning too often. Especially since Jonah had to be put on an IV drip to combat food poisoning. But once the music started, its energetic heat spread through the audience.
As I looked at the stage, I couldn't help but notice how many girls were standing there. Some were in groups with friends, while others were hugging their boyfriends. Some people were screaming over and over about how cute Jonah and Vincent were, and others were jumping up and down knowing what song was going to play next. As the night progressed, both of them hilariously talked about their first experience meeting a fan. They expressed how grateful they were, but also how awkward they felt at the time. “If any of you were the girl I high-fived, I'm so sorry,” Jonah said. The audience had a good laugh at this, as we have all experienced the embarrassment that follows.
I was excited to see them perform live, but what I didn't expect was how naturally funny these two were and how they interacted with the audience. Vincent had a dry sense of humor and introduced himself on stage by saying, “Hello, I've never won any Grammys, but I think we've got some good songs here.” Little jokes like this helped him connect with his audience. For example, one guy kept asking me questions about when the next show was and where I lived. Like the comedian he is, Vincent replied, “I know there's no participation award, but if there was, you'd definitely be the frontrunner, sir.”
Where there is humor, there is also sadness. Vincent writes songs about remembering places, people, or experiences he once loved. He talked about his latest single “Orpheus” and his upcoming song “Fire,” which celebrates his love of Greek mythology. “Orpheus” details the experience of descending into someone's memory between life and death. His second part of the song leads to rising from sadness. Believe that good things will happen again. Vincent's piano playing touched my heart. Personally, it was eye-opening to see how others view grief and what they take away from it. Especially after going through that myself so many times.
After spending some time composing and a little music therapy session, Jonah took to the stage. I have to say from the moment he showed up there was a sparkle and happiness in his eyes. Or maybe it was a glassy feeling caused by an illness. Nevertheless, he prepared tea and jokingly warned those in the front row that they might be at serious risk of vomiting. Despite his illness, he was very full of life and shared his love for those who listened to his music. He talked about his writing process, cracked jokes, played new songs from his upcoming album, which he's finishing after the tour, and much more.
Without the luxury of forming a band, Jonah was able to get creative with the help of a loop pedal. He says this pedal is especially great for songs he writes right before a show. Otherwise, you might be disappointed to hear the gaffe over and over again. What surprised me was how quickly he was able to change songs. It can be anywhere from 15 minutes to a day. During the show, Jonah performed his new song “Chrissy,” which he is particularly proud of. He explained that it was a song about his mother, and the audience responded, “Oh!” Jonah jokes. “Yes, I'm a very sweet person.'' Jonah's song about his mother resonated with me, as did Vincent's song about grief. He talks about her life, marrying young, looking for love, but facing abuse in her marriage. Despite her difficulties, she managed to escape and she lived not for herself, but for someone else. I saw this conflict in my own mother, and I also saw it in my friend's family. I'm looking forward to its release because it's so beautifully written and shows how much he cares for his mother.
At the end of the night, the show culminated with a winning performance. Jonah invited Vincent back on stage to perform her last song with him. The song gave the performance a lively, Southern hoedown-like energy. The music was acoustic and the audience stomped and clapped so enthusiastically that the room shook like an earthquake. By the end of the night, there was such joy in the air that it was impossible to deny it. Chicago's Vincent Lima sings melodically like a Jersey boy on Two Months Before Becoming a Jersey Boy, and Jonah Kagen's gravelly voice and lyrics keep Georgia in mind. It shows that. What a pair! I was very happy to be a part of their acoustic show and I look forward to their new album coming out soon. At Jonah's request, if you've ever seen his show or liked his merchandise online, know that all of his T-shirts were printed by his mother. By supporting him, you are supporting not only artists but also art moms. Your support means the world to him.
All photos by Lila Wilson
