On Saturday, August 2, Aidan Canfield performed at Bowery Ballroom along with opener David Pugh. This combination was a perfect night of country music. Before the show, we met with Aidan for an interview. Aidan is from Pleasantville, New York – just an hour north of NYC. Aidan became a musician in his junior year of high school after being inspired by another musician he met. This led him to picking up a guitar and beginning to write.
Keira Mulder – “Who in the industry now inspires you or who do you feel is doing something we haven’t yet seen?”
Aidan Canfield- “Sam Fender he’s my favorite artist. I think his songs sound so nostalgic but they’re still something new.”
KM- “Do you have a dream venue you’d want to play at?”
AC- “Ya Bowery Ball room has been a dream for a while but on a bigger scale I’d say Yankee Stadium.”
KM- “What qualities makes someone a good musician?”
AC- “I think most importantly being as honest and real as you cannot trying to be anybody but yourself. And lots of hard work!”
KM- “How do you define success as a musician?”
AC- “I think people define success in many ways and personally you define it differently as you go. My definition of success two years ago was a lot different that it is now. Two years ago, it might have been selling out one show to 100 people but now its shooting for the stars, but it keeps changing as I go.”
KM- “Do you have any words you live by when doing this job or any advice you’d tell another musician.”
AC- “Just stay true to yourself remember why you love it; its music at the end of the day not a 9-5 so if you are able to do it for a living that is something to be grateful for.”
KM- “How does it feel to play an iconic venue so close to home?”
AC- “Its super cool it feels really full circle and I love coming back to New York.”
KM- “How do you hope your music impacts people?”
AC- “I hope they can relate to it in a small way I try to write about being human you know being 23 years old trying to figure out life. I think just being as real and honest with them as I can.”
The show began with David Pugh, a country musician from Texas. His debut album released in June and features classic country sounds, with Zach Bryan-esque lyrics. He sang a few covers like “Shake the Frost” (Tyler Childers) and “Washington Lilacs” (Zach Bryan) that got the crowd excited for a night of country music.
Aidan Canfield then took the stage along with a full band that has become close friends on tour. As soon as he walked onstage, I realized the kind of concert this would be. As he played his songs the band was as lively as the crowd cheering, drinking, and dancing together as if everyone was a part of the friend group. Band members cheers’d their drinks with someone in the crowd as the rest of the crowd raised theirs. His music perfectly describes being young and learning how to go about life it feels nostalgic like what you may have heard on the radio growing up; but for his fans they are now growing up and feeling the lyrics firsthand alongside him.
Setlist- We’re Young Alright, Damn Yankee, The Only Good, American Spirit, Dancing in the Dark (Cover), Dead Roses, Just 21, Technicolor, Sore, Beer Never Broke My Heart (cover), Seein’ Stright, Double Days, Nostalgic Tension, Something Heavy (cover), The Idea of Me, Help Me Help You.
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