{"id":1195,"date":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/12\/15\/the-yusuf-cat-stevens-peace-train-pulls-into-boston\/"},"modified":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-12-15T00:00:00","slug":"the-yusuf-cat-stevens-peace-train-pulls-into-boston","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.nysmusic.com\/2014\/2014\/12\/15\/the-yusuf-cat-stevens-peace-train-pulls-into-boston\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yusuf\/Cat Stevens Peace Train Pulls Into Boston"},"content":{"rendered":"

A frigid and blustery Boston<\/a> night was braved by a sold out crowd, many who had waited 38 years for Cat Stevens<\/a>‘ (now known as Yusuf) return to the performing stage. In support of his 2014 studio LP Tell Em I\u2019m Gone, <\/em>Yusuf is currently playing a limited number of engagements across the US. His second appearance of six dates in the states took place in Boston on Dec. 7, exceeding any and all expectations for the talented and sometimes controversial artist.<\/p>\n

\"Peace<\/p>\n

The intimate and ornate Wang Theatre was the setting for a two-set, 105 minute performance composed of Steven\u2019s most beloved classics as well as samples of Yusuf\u2019s contemporary dusty desert blues compositions. The tour moniker, Peace Train…Late Again<\/em> was reflected in the stage set, which was constructed of a broken down train station that changed mood and vibe based on the song performed.<\/p>\n

The concert illustrated the elder Yusuf as an artist willing to reveal and explore all aspects of the Cat Stevens catalog that made him famous, in addition to the expanding song list of current Yusuf compositions. The first hour-long set of the concert settled into mellow dual acoustic guitar groove opening with \u2018The Wind\u2019, the same number that opened Cat Steven\u2019s last US tour in 1976. Similarly to 1976, long time Yusuf friend and musical colleague Alun Davies was included on acoustic guitar. In addition to Davies, Yusuf was joined by keyboardist Pete Adams, bassist Stefan Fuhr, Drummer Kwame Yeboah and additional guitarists Matt Sweeney who sat in on tracks from the new LP and Eric Appopoulay.<\/p>\n

The first half of the concert drifted between familiarity and discovery with Cat Stevens classic tracks and deep cuts intermingled with Yusuf\u2019s poignant new material. Regardless of the composition, the songs and stories are all developed from the same earth spring of inspiration, the musical and spiritual journey of Cat Stevens. Yusuf reclaimed his early hit \u2018The First Cut Is the Deepest\u2019 for his own in a sing along performance featured early in the show. Highlights of the opening set included a rousing reading of Catch Bull at Four\u2019s <\/em>\u2018Sitting\u2019 that rivaled the original reading, a rare and floral \u2018All Kinds of Roses\u2019 off of 2009\u2019s Roadsinger <\/em>and an always relevant reading of \u2018Where Do the Children Play\u2019 that received rapturous applause and soulful accompaniment from the crowd.<\/p>\n

Yusuf\u2019s voice was a perfectly preserved specimen for the duration of the evening. It\u2019s strength somewhat diminished by time, but its resonance and emotion deepening with every performance. A deft pairing of the old and the new displaying this current vocal approach found Cat Stevens first single \u2018I Love My Dog\u2019 given a jazzy reading before followed with 2014\u2019s \u2018Cat and the Dog Trap\u2019, in my opinion the most beautiful song both lyrically and instrumentally on the new LP.<\/p>\n

The opening set then closed with a collaborative \u2018If You Want To Sing Out\u2019 from the 1971 Harold and Maude <\/em>soundtrack that left the crowd smiling and highly anticipating the second set.<\/p>\n

The second set began dark and the train station turned twilight and dim. The Peace Train was drawing near, the band was armed with electric instruments and break into a funky and strident cover of \u2018Big Boss Man\u2019 that enunciated the tastefulness and collaborative interest displayed by Yusuf\u2019s touring band.<\/p>\n