live @ Black Cat 4.24.2000
Tim Kinsella once told a interviewer “I’d rather engage people than entertain them” and his performance at the Black Cat Monday night, the first in a week of East Coast solo dates, certainly bore little resemblance to what most people who play electric guitars and sing call entertainment. Kinsella is the driving force behind Chicago-based avant popsters Joan of Arc and previously sang with much-loved emo-rockers Cap'n Jazz. Ever since Cap’n parted ways, Kinsella has been searching for ways out of rock and roll’s formal structures while still utilizing its emotional power. Monday’s intimate, informal set was akin to paging through his notebooks.
Accompanied by an electric guitarist whose quiet, fingerpicked lines parried with his own, Kinsella’s approach occasionally evoked fellow Chicagoans Gastr Del Sol’s non-linear approach. His roller coaster vocals -- essaying word games like “don’t regret forgetfulness/forget regretfulness”-- hinted at British individualist Scott Walker. Mostly Kinsella sounded like Kinsella during the 45 minute set of pieces which were ostensibly the frameworks on which Joan Of Arc will build its next album.
Kinsella certainly had the attention of those who came out for the gig, (they sat rapt: a roomful of people auditioning for the title role in “Tommy”), and for those hooked on the lanky artist’s demanding, but fascinating version of rock music, it was an intriguing look at his creative methods.
Local trio Scaramouche opened the show with an promising set that recalled the great art-punk era of English bands like the Raincoats, Delta 5 and Kleenex.
Washington Post, April 2000
