Show Review: Tim Kasher at Schubas
Tim Kasher - Schubas (11/20/2010) “We’ve only put out one album,” the notoriously drunken Tim Kasher soberly announced early in his November 20th set at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago. ”So we’re gonna be playing some older songs tonight.” He and his four-piece band then followed with a rousing rendition of “You’re No Fool” from 2004’s excellent “Album of the Year” (that’s the title). It was no surprise that Kasher scattered songs from his quieter and more introspective band, The Good Life, across his set list on this night. What surprised and delighted the capacity crowd, however, were the two climactic end-of-set songs that he wrote for the band and the album that garnered him his greatest fame. Cursive’s “The Ugly Organ” is angsty. It’s bitter. It’s volatile. Not qualities you’d expect from a singer-songwriter type show. But with just an acoustic guitar, drums, bass, keys, and the occasional melodica, Kasher and band delivered memorable renditions of “The Recluse” and “Driftwood: A Fairy Tale”. As the latter reached crescendo and the entire sold-out crowd screamed, “Liar, liar!” with Kasher, the energy in the room was palpable and left me with goose bumps. As a concert-goer you live for those types of moments and don’t soon forget them. While that was the most indelible moment of the night, the rest of the set was tight and energetic. The band shined on new songs, “I’m Afraid I’m Gonna Die Here” and “Bad, Bad, Dreams”. And when things became quieter on the stripped down “Strays” and “Prodigal Husband” the audience was attentive to each lyric - and, after all, that’s really what it’s all about. Some guys write love songs. Kasher “thinks he should probably write a love song” within a love song. Some guys write about sex. Kasher writes about a problem libido leaving him wanting to “lop the thing right off”. Some guys write about missing lost loves and wanting them back. Kasher writes about wanting to fuck old girlfriends as conquest and drunkenly e-stalking acquaintances at all hours of the night. It’s specificity, it’s self-awareness, it’s over-sharing, it’s nuance, and it’s honesty. And when it all comes together live as flawlessly as it did at Schuba’s on this night, it makes for a great fucking show. Pitchfork Scale: 9.5/10
reviewed by John Ronzani
schubas, show review, tim kashner