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Live Local Music

Kris Kehr Plays to Packed Crowd on Halloween

Posted by Ryan Chase on 11/05 at 02:23 PM

Singing about everything from heartache to sprawling sea voyages, Kris Kehr went solo, rose above the relative festivity of Halloween night, and captured the attention of everyone at Zeno’s.

The bar was packed. Skeletons, chickens, zombies, and Avatar characters watched from bar stools and tables. Bartenders frantically fluttered from side to side pouring drinks and cracking open bottle tops. I settled in behind Snookie from the Jersey Shore and adjusted my costume. Scanning the crowd, Kehr was clearly amused. At times, he valiantly struggled to suppress his laughter.

Before the show, the crowd was predictably loud and rowdy. However, once Kehr spoke into the microphone—revealing a tough, husky voice—the noise ceased and Kehr began. He started off with “The Highway,” a catchy, pop/country mash-up that effectively set the tone for the rest of the evening.

The next song, “I’ve Been All Around This World,” followed in the same vein as the previous number. This marked a reoccurring motif in Kehr’s set. At first, it was fresh and vibrant, but as he progressed, the songs began to run together. The music wore out its charm and became a bit stale. The show picked up towards the end, however, as faster and more varied songs entered the rotation. These included such numbers as “Endless Rain.” But by then the crowd was drunk and phasing out the attention they once focused on Kehr.

After an hour and half, Kehr wished the audience a good night and left with a smile on his lips while navigating through the masquerade. Snookie slapped him lucidly on the back as he walked past.

It was a good show overall. Kris Kehr is not a showman, by any means. Nor is he a shut-in who refuses to interact with the crowd. More than anything, he is a musician focused on his music and is worth the listen.

Kris Kehr returns to Zeno’s Sunday, November 7th at 9pm.
For information, future concert dates and more, check out his official page: Kris Kehr.