While the future of Cursive was unclear a few short years ago, frontman Tim Kasher is pleased the Saddle Creek group has continued on. For one thing, he finds himself enjoying performing live much more.
“The plus side to having made a lot of records is that we have a lot of songs now,” Kasher tells Billboard.com. “I get tired of doing the same songs all the time, so this way at least we’ve got more than just the ‘new stuff.”
After taking a short hiatus from the group to record with the folksy side project the Good Life, Kasher returned to the studio this year for “Happy Hollow,” Cursive’s first effort since 2003’s “The Ugly Organ.” With ruminations on Christianity, politics and other “big issues,” Kasher considers it a solid concept record.
“We really didn’t focus that much on the current [presidential] administration, although it’s obvious what kind of period we were in when we made this record,” Kasher says. “I grew up Catholic, so that’s why I’m passionate about religion. I’m an atheist now, but, with this record, that’s not a negative word, it’s a choice. Our theme is choice.”
The Omaha, Neb.-based group is in the midst of a tour supporting “Happy Hollow,” and will share the stage with Jeremy Enigk, Chin Up Chin Up and the Thermals through the end of November.
Cursive is also writing while on the road, with intentions to cut another new album in January to have ready for fall 2007. Kasher is unsure when he’ll return to the Good Life, but he has embarked on another solo project: a screenplay called “Help Wanted Nights.”
Here are Cursive’s tour dates:
Oct. 15: Denver (Ogden Theatre)
Oct. 17: Salt Lake City, Utah (Club Sound)
Oct. 18: Boise, Idaho (The Venue)
Oct. 20: Seattle (Neumo’s)
Oct. 21: Portland, Ore. (Roseland Theater)
Oct. 23: San Francisco (The Fillmore)
Oct. 26: Los Angeles (Avalon)
Oct. 27: Sand Diego (House of Blues)
Oct. 28: Pomona, Calif. (Glass House)
Oct. 29: Las Vegas (House of Blues)
Oct. 31: Tempe, Ariz. (Marquee Theatre)
Nov. 1: Tucson, Ariz. (Rialto Theatre)
Nov. 3: Colorado Springs, Colo. (The Black Sheep)
Nov. 9: Omaha, Neb. (Sokol Auditorium)
Nov. 10: Iowa City, Iowa (Picador)
Nov. 11: Columbia, Mo. (The Blue Note)
Nov. 12: Memphis, Tenn. (Young Avenue Deli)
Nov. 13: Birmingham, Ala. (Bottletree)
Nov. 14: Atlanta (Variety Theatre)
Nov. 15: Asheville, N.C. (Orange Peel)
Nov. 16: Charlottesville, N.C. (Satellite Ballroom)
Nov. 17: Charlotte, N.C. (Tremont Music Hall)
Nov. 18: Carrboro, N.C. (Cats Cradle)
Nov. 20: Tallahassee, Fla. (The Moon)
Nov. 21: Gainesville, Fla. (Reitz Union Ballroom)
Nov. 22: Orlando, Fla. (The Club/Firestone)
Nov. 24: Houston (Warehouse Live)
Nov. 25: Austin, Texas (Emo’s)
Nov. 26: Dallas (Gypsy Ballroom)
Nov. 27: Tulsa, Okla. (Cain’s Ballroom)
