By Ivanna Bass Caldera

Kevin Kaarl filled the Majestic Theater with his sentimental lyrics and baritone voice, transcending the audience to the most vulnerable part of their minds. On August 28th, 2025, Kaarl performed in San Antonio as a part of his Ultra Sodade Tour.

His opener, Andrea Bejar, hooked the audience the moment she stepped out, her strong, smooth folk voice commanding the stage and her dark blue silk dress glistening under the overhead lights. She performed songs from her debut album Love Again. Even those unfamiliar with her music were inevitably drawn in by her vocal control and heartfelt lyrics.

As Kaarl and his band got in position on stage, the crowd cheered with enthusiasm, eager to hear him say anything. He stood in the middle of his set with his acoustic guitar, wearing his iconic jumpsuit that mechanics wear, with the name of his album embroidered on his left shoulder and a patch with his name on the right. The band began playing the beat to buscame otra vez, the crowd cheered in anticipation, and Kaarl captivated the audience with a strong vocal performance.

Kaarl delivered a well-thought-out concert; everything from the visuals projected onto the screen to the set the band stood on enhanced the stories told through his music. At the start of the performance, the visuals showed a winding road going down a rural landscape with a warm-colored tone. It felt like you were going on a journey with him to mend a broken heart, given that his latest album is about the emotional process one goes through when a relationship ends.

After a few songs, Kaarl spoke to the audience for the first time. He shared that he is from Meoqui, Chihuahua, and the crowd cheered with pride. For me, it was a heartwarming experience to hear the theater be filled with Spanish-speakers singing along to every one of his words. I didn’t attend the concert as a superfan – unlike many around me who clearly knew every word of every song. As someone less familiar with the full setlist, I occasionally found the acoustic, sorrowful tone of several songs to be somewhat repetitive. However, the reaction of those around me showed me how much these wistful anthems impacted their life. There is no doubt that Kaarl fans spiritually connect with his music. Although most of Kaarl’s melodies are melancholic, the audience exuded joy, swaying along to his band's rhythm, cheering each bandmate on as they played solos, and looking other audience members in the eyes as they shouted gut wrenching lyrics.

One of my favorite parts of the concert was when Kaarl began introducing the song the album is titled after, Ultra Sodade. He took the audience through a rollercoaster of emotions; first inspiring us with the journey he went through in writing this song – which involved learning about an artist from Cape Verde, Cesária Évora. He expressed his admiration for Évora, being inspired by her nostalgic tone to write this song and even use snippets from her Sodade song. After introducing the origin of the tune, he mentioned that the song features Mexican singer-songwriter Nsqk. The audience gasped with excitement because the way Kaarl said this led us to believe that Nsqk was there to perform with him. However, the crowd broke out in laughter after Kaarl said “unfortunately, Nsqk isn’t here with us,” in a humorous tone. Then, as he began to sing the song, the fans settled into the feeling of nostalgia that the song, as well as the album, is about.

Kaarl's concert was a peaceful experience. Since my family is from a town not too far from where Kaarl grew up, I felt pride in seeing someone from Chihuahua successfully pursue their artistic dreams. The audience left the concert with a mended heart and an unforgettable experience.

If you want to learn more about Kevin Kaarl, check out the playback of my Indie Without Borders radio show from August 20th, where I do a deep dive into Kaarl as an artist. You can also learn more about the artist who inspired the album's title, Cesária Évora, in the playback from August 27th.

Kevin Kaarl + Andrea Bejar Concert Review