I think I heard most if not all of the songs he played last night (off his upcoming solo record) when he decided to play an apartment show a few months back, which turned out to be right across the street from my place. It was just him and a keyboard player showcasing the new material and I was blown away by the set. Last night however, he performed the same songs with a full band arrangement and the difference it made was as if he had written an entirely new album. It really only vouches highly for his strengths as a songwriter and performer as each song, while seemingly familiar, took on a whole new life.
Most of the songs are trecked territory for Kasher in terms of subject matter; the expectations that come with getting older and having to be an “adult”, love, usually hand in hand with loss, the one(s?) that got away, the ones that fucked you up, the ones that were just no good and you knew it, and the foreign comforts of settling down and the feelings of being shackled that come with that. Just because the territory is familiar doesn’t mean it seemed stale though, he is able to tackle and retackle the subjects with such biting honesty, originality, and even a sense of humor in some cases that every line seems fresh. If I wasn’t excited for the new album before, which I was, I’m now sitting in anticipation for it’s release like a little kid waiting for mail on the stoop.
Other things of note:
- The Tonic Room was a great place to see a show. Tiny bar with an even smaller stage set essentially on the floor and everyone gathered around filling the space. An intimate setting for intimate jams.
- He played a Tom Waits cover “I want you” (Thanks @LoveChristine), which he apparently played at his sister’s wedding this past weekend (the reason he was in town). “I looked through all the songs I’ve ever written and just laughed. There were no songs that I could play at her wedding, I mean come on I love my sister, so I went with a cover.”
- Also played “Night and Day” by the Good Life. Those were the only two songs that were not off the solo record.
“…Love made us lazy…”
Ps> Thanks again to Schwartzica for the heads up on this show otherwise I may have missed it.
