Contention Tour

The **Contention Tour** was a concert tour by Irish singer-songwriter Kaden Walsh, in support of his 2004 album *Contention* (2004). Unlike his previous tours, this one was confined to his home country, Ireland, and the United States. The tour, which was announced five months after the album's release on June 21st, 2004, was noted for its stadium venues, typically accommodating upwards of 60,000 people per night. Which needed to be paced out due to the, at the time, high demand.

## History

Despite the large scale of the venues, tickets for the concerts sold out rapidly. However, this success was tarnished by Walsh's personal dissatisfaction with the tour. Known for his preference for more intimate settings, he had previously expressed comfort in controlling crowds of upwards to 20,000 people. A size he believed allowed for a closer connection with his audience. The shift to larger stadiums, while commercially successful, left him feeling somewhat estranged from his fan base.

Fans were initially elated when the tour was announced, but their joy quickly turned into disappointment when they learned about the scale of the venues. Despite their initial dismay, they came out in droves to support Walsh, leading to sold-out shows throughout the tour. Though the commercial success of the Contention Tour was something Prism Records enjoyed thanks to album sales, it further strained Walsh's relationship with his label, Prism Records. The decision to host the tour in larger venues was largely seen as a move by the label to capitalize on the success of his previous album 2045 (2002) and his newly released album. Walsh felt that this was a departure from his artistic preference for smaller, more intimate venues, causing friction between him and the label.

Another source of dissatisfaction for Walsh was the changing composition of his audience. With the overwhelming success of his recent albums, he noticed that the crowd comprised not just his dedicated fans, but also a significant number of casual listeners who had been drawn in by his mainstream success. He felt that this shift diluted the intimate connection he used to share with his audience, further amplifying his discontent with the tour.

In one reflective interview, Walsh compared the contrasting atmospheres: "In the past, my shows were all about interaction. My fans would sing along, we'd share in the music together, it was a mutual exchange. But during the Contention tour, I noticed a change. There were so many faces in the crowd that didn't know the deeper cuts from my albums, weren't engaged in the same way. There was a dullness, a lack of interaction that I wasn't used to. It was as if they were there to observe a spectacle rather than participate in a shared musical experience. That was one of the many reasons I refused to tour for my next album."

This sentiment underscored Walsh's feeling of disconnection and informed his decision to return to smaller venues in the future, seeking to restore the intimate bond with his audience that he valued so highly.

In later interviews and reflections, Walsh spoke candidly about his feelings during the Contention Tour. He expressed his discomfort with the scale of the tour and the impersonal nature of performing in front of such large crowds. He also voiced his frustration over the lack of control he felt he had over the tour, feeling that his preferences and desires had been sidelined in favour of commercial considerations.

"This tour was a learning experience for me," Walsh once said in an interview. "It taught me the importance of standing my ground when it comes to my artistic preferences. I wasn't happy performing in such large venues and I felt disconnected from my audience. I've always believed that music is about connection and intimacy, and I felt that was lost during that tour [the Contention Tour.]"

Walsh's experiences during the Contention Tour had a profound impact on his subsequent career. He became more assertive in his dealings with Prism Records and more intentional in his decision-making process regarding tours and performances. He returned to smaller venues for his future tours, a decision that was met with approval from his dedicated fan base, who had also missed the intimate atmosphere of his earlier performances. Despite the commercial success of the Contention Tour, it remains a bittersweet memory for Walsh, a reminder of the importance of staying true to one's artistic integrity.

While Walsh expressed dissatisfaction with many aspects of the Contention Tour, he often singled out a bright spot: the performance of his band. This line-up consisted of former members Linda Thomsen, Doug Fenton, Aaron Haynes, Louis Collins, Rowan O'Downey, and Max Gaffney. Their camaraderie and musicianship were a source of joy and motivation for Walsh during the challenging tour before they made this their final tour, their last album being on *Paradise* (2006)

In a later interview, Walsh spoke highly of his bandmates, saying, "Despite the tour's difficulties, I have to say, looking back, the one thing that consistently hit the mark was the sound we made together. Linda, Doug, Aaron, Louis, Rowan, Max – they were my rock throughout that tour. Their talent, their commitment to the music... it was inspiring. They were able to take the songs from Contention and breathe new life into them night after night. That part of the tour, I wouldn't change for anything."

Walsh's reflections highlight the deep respect and gratitude he has for his band members. Their collective performance served as a beacon during the Contention Tour, reminding him of the power of music and the importance of the shared musical experience, even in the face of commercial pressures and personal dissatisfaction.

## Set List

1. Square
2. Any Way You Want It
3. 2045
4. Nothing Lasts Forever
5. Maleable Hearts
6. Alone In The Universe *[Unreleased]*
7. Tell It Like It Is
8. Just Rollin Along
9. Offerings *[Unreleased]*
10. Do I Even Care?
11. Where Were You
12. Can't Stop Me
13. Good Times
14. Soul Of Sin
15. New School
16. Onslaught
17. Wild Horses
18. 1,000 Faces
19. Seven Days
20. Contention