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On and off stage Tim Kasher is two different people. On stage he is the lead singer of Cursive. He is one of the founders of the burgeoning Omaha music scene, though you'd be hard pressed to hear him use that word. But whether the word leaves his lips or not, a scene is what it has become.
Cursive, Kasher, Matt Maginn/bass,Clint Schnase/drums,Ted Stevens /guitar,Gretta Cohen/cello, is one of Omaha's most successful acts, second only to Conor Oberst, whose angst filled lyrics have made their way into the hearts of many a troubled teen by way of his two bands, the critically acclaimed Bright Eyes and Desaparecidos. Both Oberst and Kasher's lyrics are filled with thoughts of insecurity and cynicism about these same thoughts. In "Art is Hard," the best song off Cursive's latest release The Ugly Organ, Kasher sings about the "art" of making a hit song:
Cut it out-your self inflicted pain is getting too routine the crowds are catching on to the self inflicted song Well, here we go again the art of acting weak Fall in love to fail to boost your CD sales
Kasher sings these words with power behind them. He holds sway over the crowd like a preacher and his parish. The crowd is buying everything Kasher has to offer, which is exactly what he predicted. Kasher can write a song that mocks you and make you love it all the same because he is just so damn sincere.
But off stage Kasher has a much smaller presence. The new beard that covers half his face doesn't help. Before Cursive performed he quietly mingled in the bar, but was immediately cornered by a group of smitten girls. He disappeared soon after. It was the same once the concert was over. On stage he was a force to be reckoned with, but once he took off his guitar and stepped away from the microphone he looked like he could be shattered with a soft blow. It was easy now to see the man that had written lyrics like the ones above.
The Ugly Organ, Cursive's fourth full-length album, is a much more refined album then the band's previous releases, but live the songs are all as equally raw. Kasher voice rips into each line, the only harsher sound in the club is the whine of Cohen's cello. "We've always set our goals pretty low. You just want to play this one good show," explains Maginn. "We never have and we try not to in the future too. I think it keeps your music more honest and your personality more real."
And it is this honesty that draws in their fans. Cursive doesn't spend time worrying over the possibility of selling out; they admit that they already have and speculate on its repercussions. They don't waste time with witty banter during song breaks and although the tour had a political bent, the comments were kept to a minimum. One of the opening bands Ranier Maria, who played an excellent set, tossed jokes back and forth about the administration, but Kasher kept his remarks brief. "It would be cool if we could all vote for the same person," he hurriedly added in between songs. The crowd cheered, but Kasher paid no mind, he quickly got back to what he does best-the music.
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