A Night at the Newport
Columbus Against the World: Year 3
Friends, family, and fans filed into the Newport Music Hall on the night of March 22 to support the incredible talent that Columbus has to offer. When I entered the venue, I found myself surrounded by individuals of all ages, everyone eagerly waiting for the performances to come.
At 7 o’clock, Kikko Mai took to the Newport stage, opening with her 2022 single, “my mom’s minivan.” Kikko captured the audience's attention, radiating an infectious energy that overtook the crowd. Throughout her performance, Kikko proved to be a natural entertainer, dancing and jumping around the stage. In honor of returning to where she established herself as an artist, covering songs at just 15, Kikko sang Tove Lo’s hit song “Talking Body.” Nearly everyone in the venue joined her in singing and dancing to the well-known tune. Kikko Mai concluded her time on stage, singing her catchy single, “tell my boyfriend.”
Maintaining the momentum created by Kikko Mai, the Columbus-based band, KODA stormed the stage. The six bandmates filled the Newport with phenomenal vibes from the moment they stepped into the spotlight. Band member Jake Juenger showed off his soaring vocals, opening with a recently released single, “Hot Blooded,” setting the bar high for the songs to follow. Nolan Barbre, the band’s second singer, proved his talent, vocalizing the lyrics with intensity while traveling around the stage to dance with his bandmates. Jake Klausner, Jackson Buss, Jake Brew, and Brian Foster brought astonishing instrumentals for the entire duration of the band’s set. The group’s passion for music gleamed through during their performance, and I do not doubt that March 22 was just the beginning of many milestones to come for the band.
Closing off the night was Adam Paddock, the mastermind behind Columbus Against the World. Paddock’s performance was the best of both worlds, balancing out his explosive energy with delicate moments showing raw emotion. Adam sang many songs off his most recent album, ‘Sweet Ohio Light,’ including Space To Grow, Boston, and of course, Sweet Ohio Light. Those in the crowd both sang along and watched in awe as Paddock owned the stage. He also introduced an unreleased song called Tender, a sentimental piece where he sings “It all goes away, but just for today… Can this last forever?” At two points during his performance, Adam united the audience, covering two popular songs: Iris by Goo Goo Dolls and Ain’t It Fun by Paramore. Before the end of the concert, Paddock invited the openers to join him back on stage for the encore, where both the performers and the crowd went wild.
Columbus Against the World: Year 3 was most definitely one to remember. With one impressive performance after another, I can undoubtedly say that I left the concert reminded of the many talented musicians who developed their careers or are currently establishing themselves right here in Columbus, Ohio.