Live: Ethan Tasch Hits Brooklyn With "Got Him!"
Ethan Tasch has finally Got Him! Since 2020, the indie folk singer-songwriter has released a handful of singles and two EPs. 2023 saw his debut album Got Him! which charts his journey of being a musician. From its opening track to its last, the album chronicles Tasch's evolution from feeling lost to taking on the world.
Going on tour, Tasch made his way from L.A. to NY, appearing at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn this past week.
Charlotte Rose Benjamin opened the night, warming the crowd up with her alt/indie sound. Her first song, “Louis” quickly won over the crowd. Benjamin performed a mix of songs from her album Dreamtina including “deep cut” and “Cumbie’s Parking Lot.”
Benjamin also treated us to a couple of unreleased tracks and a cover of Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” getting the crowd singing along. At the end of her set, Benjamin had gained several new fans.
Ethan Tasch then took the stage with his band, sporting his white tee, Birkenstocks, and iconic charming overalls, embodying the essence of an indie/folk musician. With a red Gretsch guitar in hand, Tasch kicked off the night with his lively track "Holdup," immediately captivating the crowd.
Introducing himself, Ethan talked about the album he released in July and transitioned into its opening track, “He’s Getting Away!” The song establishes the tone for the rest of the album as Tasch sings about trying to catch himself, accompanied by an acoustic guitar and plucky banjo. “Did he go when he got up and ran?/God, I hope he's okay these days/Used to know him with the back of my hand.”
Keeping the crowd entertained between songs, Tasch and his band played “transition songs.” These little jam pieces kept the crowd's attention while the band re-tuned and swapped guitars. Jokingly, Tasch noted that they were “original compositions,” and he was surprised the crowd loved them so much.
The following two songs on the set list flowed perfectly together. “Love and Japan” has Tasch singing about a long-distance relationship. “I’m in love and you’re in Japan.” This was followed by "Whattaya Say," where Tasch continues to express the desire to be with someone and hope for mutual feelings.
On “Whattaya Say,” the track also has Tasch wanting to be with someone and hoping they feel the same. Underneath the cheerful melody melody, Tasch paints a picture of longing with his lyrics. “I wanna eat you but not in a weird way/Only to hold you in here and keep you safe/I wanna love you but not in a weird way/Just wanna hold you in here and keep you safe.” The chorus is a plaintive ask, “Whattaya say?” The audience joined in on the claps and "ba da da" bridge.
Playing “Shell” next, Tasch revisits the theme of loss of identity. “I’m a shell of myself, can you not tell?” From a video featuring him dressed as a crab on the beach, to ocean sounds in the track, and lyrics of “She sells seashells by the seashore/I sell myself at the front door”, Tasch draws parallels between feeling like a shell of himself and seashells. Despite the subject matter, the oceanic elements paired with the soft guitar turn the song into something light and addictive.
Transitioning to older material, Tasch played his first ever released song, "Room," which has garnered over 14 million streams on Spotify since its 2020 release. Tasch's voice carries introspection and soulfulness, backed by a smooth acoustic guitar, drums, and synth. “I’m out of room in my room.” Finishing up the song, he joked “That song’s about when you're in your room and you're about to lose it.”
Continuing with older material, next up was a personal favorite of mine, “Slide’s Getting Shorter.” Although released earlier on Tasch’s 2022 EP Sang About It, the song seamlessly fits the vibe of "Got Him!" with its contemplative lyrics about life's journey. “If most of my life I forget/How much of it really happened/When I make it to the wrong end/Will I know how long it lasted?”
Returning to Got Him! Tasch followed up with “Tetherball.” The soft acoustic song compares a relationship to playing tetherball with Tasch singing, “I revolve around you like a ball tied to a pole/If you push away harder, I might make a wider circle/But you'll always be there in the middle.” Tied to a relationship that feels like it’s going nowhere, Tasch ends by saying, “Tetherball always hurts a little.”
Things got more upbeat with Tasch’s “Come Onn” as he broke out a harmonica. Despite its upbeat indie folk melody, the lyrics delve into the challenging reality of pursuing one's dreams. Tasch sings, “I’m fine, but I think I might die tryna’ keep the dream alive/That’s fine ‘cause at least then I’ll die tryna’ keep the dream alive,” encapsulating the complexity of the pursuit.
As Tasch stepped offstage with his band, calls for an encore filled the venue. One group of friends kept the count from “one more song” to “five more songs.”
Returning solo to the stage, Tasch obliged the crowd with one final song. As the audience threw out suggestions, Tasch landed on a throwback, “Face Again.” Teaching the audience the repeating lyrics “I don’t want to see your face again/ I don’t want to see your face/ I’ll hate you until we face again/I don't want to see your face,” the entire crowd sang along for the final song.
Starting in October, Ethan Tasch will open for Charlie Cunningham on his tour.
Get tickets here.
See photos from the show here.