The busy-as-ever Tim Kasher killed a few birds with one stone at the Saddle Creek Shop Thursday, Aug. 11. In less than an hour, Kasher promoted and celebrated his upcoming solo tour and the release of his new EP, did a favor for his record label, warmed up his pipes for Cursive’s sub-headlining slot at the MAHA Music Festival and pleased the rock-loving denizens of Omaha and beyond.

Flanked by Patrick Newberry (Cursive) and Sara Bertuldo (Millions of Boys, Honey & Darling) on back-up vocals and a variety of instruments, Cursive frontman Tim Kasher performed a free, raw and intimate set that clocked in at just over 40 minutes. The performance was short, but certainly sweet for the few that got to witness it, as the record store’s floor space is very limited. About 50 people watched the entire show, with a solid number of fresh people cycling in and out between songs. The audience filled the entire area and lightly spilled out into the storefront’s sidewalk.

 

Saddle Creek affiliates and fans alike were treated to pieces from Kasher’s solo efforts, including numbers from his soon-to-be-released EP, Bigamy: More Songs from the Monogamy Sessions, as well as a new Cursive tune. The songs, in true Kasher form, were sometimes barely audible, anxious murmurs and faint guitar notes — at other times there was full-on strumming with the songwriter howling, his head to the skies.

 

Minutes after the set concluded, Kasher engaged loitering fans. Faintly overheard conversations included a young girl from abroad who was coincidentally in town and got to see one of her favorite artists before leaving, and a man from Florida who was visiting for the MAHA fest.

 

A unique experience for friends and fans of the Saddle Creek veteran, the in-store performance was a fine precursor of what's to come from the local songwriting machine.

 

Stream the new album at Spinner.