Fans of Noah Kahan will undoubtedly enjoy the musical stylings of his fellow Vermonter Hans Williams. The folksy singer-songwriter brought his headlining tour to Valley Bar this week and drew an enthusiastic crowd to the iconic Phoenix basement for a powerful show.
Arizona native Jacob Wright opened the show with impressive vocals and songwriting, creating an atmosphere of intimacy with his undeniable authenticity. After beginning with the original song “New Jersey”, he treated the audience to two unreleased songs. The crowd bantered with him to release it immediately to which he jokingly responded, “Now it’s never coming out!”
He continued with covers of “Two Ghosts” by Harry Styles and “Feeling Whitney” by Post Malone, the latter of which he recalls as being “the only thing I knew how to play for a while”. The crowd sang along, clearly enjoying both the music and the atmosphere. Wright closed with another original called “Standing Water”, perfectly setting the tone for the rest of the night.
As Hans Williams took the stage, fans packed in closer, drawn in by the opening chords of “Willows”. The independent singer-songwriter wrote the popular track as a reflection of a significant change in his life, grounding him amidst the transition from his hometown to New Orleans. Each of his songs serves as a form of personal catharsis, inviting others to discover profound connections through his music.
The audience sang passionately along as he continued with “Checklist” and “93”, showcasing his raw emotion and incredible songwriting skills. “This is the most receptive show we’ve played,” Williams confided, visibly energized by the audience.
Williams has been steadily rising since his debut song release in late 2018, accumulating millions of streams and drawing curious fans to his live shows. One standout is his 2023 single, “Georgia Walks”, which highlights his powerful vocals and captivating guitar melodies.
Next up, fans were treated to an unreleased track, “Nosebleed”, performed with minimal accompaniment instead of the full band. The audience listened intently and their cheers of delight echoed through the venue at the beautiful harmonies.
“This next song is a cover of a song by Dijon, someone we all really look up to,” Williams continued. The group delivered a lively rendition of “Scratching”, with Williams taking the lead on the keys for a spirited solo, clearly enjoying every moment.
Then came the main event – a complete playthrough of his debut album, More Than One Way Home. Throughout the five captivating songs, the audience displayed unwavering dedication and appreciation for his craft, listening attentively as he shared the heart behind each track. The album’s standout, “Skin”, resonates as an anthem for imposter syndrome.
After “The Trek”, the band jammed and danced together, swept up in the room’s energy. “Yeah, that’s a new one we’re working on… it’s called moving my hips!” Williams joked, eliciting laughter from the crowd. The album reaches its pinnacle with the title track, “More Than One Way Home,” where the lyrics echo a sentiment of growth and unwavering determination.
“This is usually where we run off stage and you scream until we come back, but we don’t feel like doing that!” Williams announced before playing “All Is Well”, a song that reflects on the tendency to hide our struggles from others for fear of being a burden.
The night culminated with the hauntingly powerful “Body On My Shoulders”, a song that has served as Hans’ emotional anchor after a traumatic experience. It was an evening of collective catharsis and the fans went home with even more appreciation for the deep well of emotion present in Williams’ songs.
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Story and photos by Kristen Bourdeau
