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It’s all too common to stumble upon a new-old band (new to me, old to others) only to have my heart broken by tales of its demise or other circumstantial lore that solidifies the fact that I’ll probably never see them play live. But by some miracle, Cursive has never fallen into that category.
Since forming in 1995, the Omaha-born, emo-infused band has not only continued to tour, but also steadily released new music over the years, giving fans something to anticipate, dissect and enjoy.
Cursive gained recognition for a blend of chamber emo—incorporating classical instruments like the cello—and post-hardcore musical stylings. Over time, they’ve been considered a “band’s band,” with many acts in the alt-music scene citing them as an influence. But beyond that seemingly tight fandom, there stands a dedicated fanbase of non-musicians who’ve held the band’s emotionally resonant sound close to their hearts.
That's true especially for Domestica, their third studio album, released in 2000, which chronicles frontman Tim Kasher’s divorce and catapulted the band into a wider mainstream spotlight. Although it follows themes of infidelity, the difficulty of maintaining a relationship and the inevitable scarring of a failed union, the band has claimed it is not a “divorce album.”
Regardless of its thematic roots, Domestica was my introduction to Cursive back in high school, when egocentrism and teenage depression was at an all-time high and tracks like “The Martyr” and “The Casualty” were replayed daily on my iPod Nano. As a whole, the album showed us how eclectic musicianship, strained vocals and balanced moments between dark and light can heighten and transform the idea of rock music and carve out a subgenre all its own.
Following that breakout release came six albums between 2003 to 2019, and now, armed with its latest album Devourer, Cursive returns to the Vegas stage at Fremont Street's Backstage Bar & Billiards. Joining them are Pile, an indie-rock trio from Boston, and the homegrown "emogaze" band Twin Cities, making for a promising night of noise.
CURSIVE With Pile, Twin Cities. February 17, 8 p.m., $25+. Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.us.
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