Concert Review: Far Caspian @ Union Stage (10/3/25)

Far Caspian (Photo courtesy of Chromatic PR)

Far Caspian started the nine city US leg of their tour at Union Stage on October 3^rd, and by all indicators fans new and old had a good time.

Far Caspian is a project from Joel Johnston, and when touring he adds a 5-piece backing band. Joel is from the UK, and his recording studio is in Leeds. Joel is touring for his third album, 2025’s Autofiction (via Tiny Library Records), which he produced, mixed, and played every instrument you hear on the album. Yet for live renditions, you need three more guitars, a set of drums and the critical keyboard to accompany Joel’s vocals and guitar.

After the New York band, A Beacon School, gave us an energetic opening set, Joel and his band kicked off the show with three songs from Autofiction, starting with the appropriately titled “End” about how, in the end, the relationship fell apart. The single “First Day” got a big cheer from the nearly full crowd. Before “An Outstretched Hand / A Train From Here to Kerry”, Joel told us about how they went for food in DC (I think they had fish) and one of the band members got really sick, but “the show must go on” so he was a trooper and still joined the rest of the band to play the guitar. The song itself is about a long drive home with someone in the rain, overcoming the cold and wet to ultimately reach the light and home.

I first came across Far Caspian on YouTube as a recommendation after listening to the band Still Corners on repeat way too much. The algorithm kept shaking its head, ‘Dude, you know there is other music out there, right?’ So I gave in and checked out the Far Caspian video, and the ethereal dream and synth-pop elements that Still Corners invoke in their music was immediately evident and my mood got better, if that’s possible. Okay algorithm, you win this round.

Next came “Let’s Go Outside” the first of three songs they performed from 2018’s Between Days EP. Upon reflection, these three songs were all excellent and are among my favorites from this set. This song also garnered a big cheer and is about exploring together in the journey of life, while overcoming doubt. The dreamy chord progression hit the dopamine centers of my brain just right.

Autofiction is a literary genre that brings together true elements of an author’s life, woven into a fictional narrative. The true elements of Joel’s life that went into creating the album are around processing his mental health burdens (he was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 2021), self-forgiveness, recovering, finding new joy in life, and exploring gratitude. His motto for the album was ‘I’m enjoying this right now and therefore it’s good enough’. Yet, the songs feel better than good enough. They performed seven songs from the new album, including “Here Is Now” more than halfway through the set. It was among my favorites from the album. It speaks to the hope in healing and moving towards a positive future. It was written after Joel was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and I think the chaotic swirling notes were also a good metaphor for life.

“Between Days” is maybe my favorite song from Far Caspian. It sounds so cheery and hopeful, yet it’s a nostalgic look at our past relationships, with the heartbreaking ending of the repeated refrain, ‘I remember’. So do we.

Joel described “Heirloom Part 1” and “Heirloom Part 2” (played together) as their favorite song to perform so far on the tour. These were bonus tracks on 2023’s The Last Remaining Light album. It’s long and started slow with discordant guitar notes and lowkey lyrics before turning into a total jam musical meltdown (in Part 2). In a good way. I assume they enjoy it because it evolves so intensely.

They closed the evening (no encore) with “Finding My Way Home” the last song from the EP Between Days, cementing my previous comment that this is a great EP and a great way to send us off for the night to find our way home.

The only regret on the night was the sound on the vocals could have been a little better, as it was sometimes difficult to make out all the lyrics.

Head over to your favorite music listening/buying situation and give Autofiction a spin. Don’t forgot to throw Between Days into your cart as well and click ‘Buy’. And be on the lookout for the next time Joel brings his Far Caspian project to DC.

Setlist