Yusuf / Cat Stevens

Massey Hall, Toronto, ON

Dec. 1st, 2014

Over the years much has been written about Yusuf, formerly known by the stage name Cat Stevens. He has been maligned by negative and speculative publicity. It matters not what his religious or political beliefs may be. I care not to read what has been written. Converting to Islam, becoming a Muslim, changing his name makes no difference to me. When I think of Yusuf / Cat Stevens only two things come to mind:

1.) Peace

2.) Music

This is why it struck me as odd that the level of security at his concert was beyond anything I've experienced. It was like going through airport security. Putting your belongings in a plastic bin, walking through a metal detection booth, being again scanned by a wand...the only thing missing was having to remove your shoes and being frisked. It was just beyond me why anyone would want to harm Yusuf.  I cannot think of a more peaceful person. 

The line to get in when doors opened at 6pm stretched down several city blocks. With the added security, it took three hours to process each patron attending the sold out show. Although the concert was supposed to start at 8pm, it started closer to 9pm, not because he was making us wait for him but rather he was waiting for all of us so no one would have to miss anything. After all, it had been 38 years since the last time he toured and was in Toronto. This was a monumentus event!

He shared with us an impressive 28-song setlist with a brief intermission midway through. Starting off with "The Wind" instantly had me in tears as it is just so breathtakingly beautiful. He did change up some of his classic songs, either lyrically, rhythmically or melodically. It was either to make it fresh or a creative challenge and perhaps to abide by his faith. In any case, if you closed your eyes you would not know that he had aged at all since he last toured in 1976.

[Setlist] Posted by Yusuf / Cat Stevens

The Peace Train...Late Again tour is in support of his latest album "Tell 'Em I'm Gone". The album consists of some original songs plus some classic cover tunes handpicked and arranged to suit Yusuf's sound and style. The impressive stage set consists of a complete train station with a sign for each respective city on the tour. I marveled at the amount of logistics that must be involved in transporting, setting up and tearing down across the North American tour dates. We were very lucky that the only Canadian date took place in Toronto.

In a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning, he touches on why he chose smaller venues, why he chose to tour again, his religious conversion and bowing out of the music industry for so long.

[Video] Interview from CBS Sunday Morning

In any case, being with Yusuf in a setting like Massey Hall was like a warm hug from the past with a sprinkling of new ideas and recognizable covers all culminating in a journey through the passage of time and emotions. Here's to hoping the Peace Train will take another voyage in the near future.