Caspian - Portland House of Music, Portland Maine Review

 

Caspian
Portland House of Music, Portland Maine
Thursday May 7, 2026

Support - Dead Gowns

In recent weeks Caspian had a lot of great updates for fans, with glimpses of them working in the studio. A few months ago the band announced they were returning to Dunk!festival and then soon after a "one off/warm up" gig at Portland House of Music.  A quick look at the calendar showed it as a Thursday...but....I thought I could pull it off.  Reached out to some like minded local fans and had a bite.  I was able to have a wing person!  I then reached out to a former co-worker who had moved back to Maine and he and his wife also decided to join.  Neither of them had seen the band so this was a thrill!  (I'll omit names and provide initials for now)

Left my home and connected with "W" just over the border in New Hampshire.  The drive continued and we then connected with J+A.  J had asked me earlier if I wanted to do much and I said that due to the time and distance a simple "burger and beer pre-show" would be fine.  We arrived and had plenty of time so J took  me to a Bullmoose location and I combed the bins for a little bit.  Something I enjoy and they were gracious w/their time but it was then time to "get closer to the venue".  We parked and headed to dinner.  After that it was back to the car to grab sweat shirts and we walked, I'd say it was under a 10 minute walk.  Very cool to be in a place where people are comfortable and before you know it we were ready to walk in.

The hall is a cool space.  We walked in and were "elevated" above the stage.  We were early enough so we decided this was the spot we were going to hang out at.

Dead Gowns was the support and I admit I didn't know anything about them.  What I did learn its largely a project by Genevieve Beaudoin.  It was a solo, acoustic set.  The crowd grew and were respectful as she worked through her 35-40 minute set.

Caspian hit the stage right at 9pm.  The band was in it usual layout (facing stage)  Jonny (guitar) to the left, then Jani (bass), Justin (drums) in the middle back, Phil (guitar) and Cal guitar.

Stating out with The Dove->ASA the build was steady.  Knowing this was going to be a warm up gig for the Dunk!Fest I felt we were going to get some standards the band performs.  This is a good thing.  They had not performed live in over 150 days.  Any "rust" was shaken off quickly.  The set proceeded with "Halls of Summer" and "Malacoda". The band was locked in and did have some what of a light show to go along with the songs to further set the mood.  We got "Of Foam and Wave" as song that I felt they had abandoned for a while (and was right)  It's great to hear.  Up next was "Division Blues" and Phil spoke for the first time.  He let us know they had wrapped the up the recording of the record (no news on release date) but that was wonderful to hear.  We got the recording of "Bluebird" that always hits me and then it took of in to "Gone in Bloom and Bough".  We've been spoiled with a saxophone breakdown of this a few times (there was not tonight) and they gave a heavy version as always.  

"Arcs of Command" followed and this song very well could be a closer, but nope....we put it in the set to punch you hard.  A song they should never ever stop playing.  We got the "new song" song.  I was lucky to heard it back in November of 2025 at Sonia in Cambridge MA.  Phil shouted "we need a name so let us know".  Per band sources back in November it was a working title of "Burnt Reynolds".  The song really is a clean and almost joyful tone.  I don't want to say "bouncing" but the song has a few parts where the band locks in to a groove.  They don't fly all over the stage, but they still hammer down hard.  I really look forward to the direction they are going if the record follows suit.  I also notice the band "smiling" when they play this song.  It is refreshing to see them get such a charge out of what "new" things they can  bring.

The band ended with "Castles High, Marble Bright".  I told J+A (again, first timers) "if you don't' get this song...you won't get Caspian".  Happy to report they got it.

Show was over about 10:15pm.  No encore (seems to historically the norm for them which is fine).

Few more quick shots

Off in to the night we went.  Sweaty, smiling and elated.

The "facts" 
Set times - 9pm - 10:15pm ET
Capacity - (per site) 300.  The show was not sold out, but a "comfortably close" size
Last  US show played before this:  Cambridge MA , November 30, 2025 (158 days)
Last live show before this: Manning Bar, Sydney Australia December 7, 2025 (151 days)
(used information from the bands Setlist FM page for some of this so...)

Setlist:
The Dove
ASA
Halls of Summer
Malacoda
Of Foam and Wave
Division Blues
Gone in Bloom and Bough
Arcs of Command
Burnt Reynolds
Castles High, Marble Bright

Song Breakdown:
The Dove - appears on "The Four Trees"  last time played November 30, 2025.  Total times played: 34

ASA - appears on "The Four Trees" last time played December 7, 2025  Total times played: 60

Halls of Summer - appears on "Waking Season"  last time played December 7, 2025. Total times played: 126

Malacoda - appears on"Tertia"  last time played  December 7, 2025  Total times played: 117

Of Foam and Wave - appears on "Tertia".  last time played December 6, 2025  Total times played: 64

Division Blues - appears on "On Circles"  last time played December 6, 2025   Total times played 24

Gone in Bloom and Bough - appears on "Waking Season".  last time played December 7, 2025 total times played 161

Arcs of Command - appears on "Dust and Disquiet".  last time played December 7, 2025  Total times played 170  (this song is only second most in order of appearances to "Sycamore" (183)

Burnt Reynolds - unreleased, unofficial title.  Last played December 7, 2025.  Total times played live - 5

Castles High, Marble Bright - you can find the 2 song "ep" on bandcamp.  last time played December 7, 2025  total times played 109