Tom Brosseau
11/1/7
Logan Square Auditorium in Chicago
This is the second time I’ve had the opportunity to see Tom Brosseau, the talented singer songwriter who was born and raised in North Dakota and swoons with a tenor to accompany his acoustic guitar finger plucking (and occasional harmonica playing) in a more traditional folk style. Perhaps the best reference point to describe his sound would be Joel Thibodeau of Death Vessel. It’s delicate unnerving stuff and at times Tom’s vocals climb to various heights as if desperately alive and preparing to jump from the top of a skyscraper.
Though I feel very strongly that Tom Brosseau deserves larger audiences, the acoustics at Logan Square Auditorium did not suit him as well as Schubas. Mainly, the club tends to become echoey towards the back and the farther the distance from the stage, the greater the distortion no matter who is playing. I’ve had issues there before (once, in particular when I arrived a little late to an Andrew Bird concert.) Tom should really have a captive audience for his songs because, though he’s not going to knock you over the head with any wailing electric guitar solo, he provides a certain intellectual stimulation that is really rewarding.
Why am I mentioning this? Mainly, because if you choose to see Tom Brosseau the next time he’s in town, and I would recommend it, make sure you gather near to the stage while you’re lending a respectful ear. Although you’re sure to come across many singer songwriters playing in various Chicago clubs on any given night, there’s something that makes seeing Tom Brosseau more worthwhile than all the rest. Primarily, it’s the fact that he puts everything he is into his songs. In an honesty about the world and its people, there are no put ons or deliberations for effect. The fact that we all exist is inconsequential. Tom Brosseau is utterly himself in a way that any human being rarely shows another and it’s disarming. Just listen to him sing “How To Grow A Woman From The Ground,” easily his strongest song of the night, and you’ll see what I mean.
Though I don’t know much personal information about this towering blonde folk hero, I should mention that I’ve noticed he’s a fan of John Fante and the prose of his blog can at times be as poetic as his lyrics. Furthermore, I can recommend his newest and 6th album to date, Grand Forks which varies from the plucky on tracks like “I Fly Wherever I Go” to the downright somber on “Down on Skidrow” with some nice violin and pedal steel accompaniment. Though he hasn’t had these instruments joining him on stage either time I’ve seen him, witnessing Brosseau in the flesh is something altogether amazing in it’s own way.