Ethan Tasch Brings Stillness to the Stage in Chicago
Tasch and LaSusa at their show at Schuba’s Tavern in Chicago
The atmosphere at an Ethan Tasch show feels like stepping into a dream where nothing is rushed and everything is intentional. There's a gentleness in the way the music moves—like sunlight filtered through linen curtains or the hush of morning air before the city wakes. Tasch and his band carry themselves with a relaxed ease, but underneath that softness is an unmistakable sense of skill and connection. Each note feels carefully placed, not to impress, but to soothe. The show doesn’t demand your attention—it earns it with quiet confidence, wrapping the room in melodies that feel both weightless and grounding.
Ethan Tasch is a singer-songwriter originally from San Francisco and now based in Los Angeles. He picked up the guitar around age eight, inspired by his father, and eventually pursued a degree in Popular Music at the University of Southern California. During college, a spontaneous sunrise trip to the Golden Gate Bridge with friends left him with a hand injury—he cut his finger on a sharp edge while climbing a ledge. “I didn’t cut my tendon, but I had to get stitches,” Tasch recalled. Though limited in his ability to play, he could still strum chords, and that was when he began focusing on songwriting and singing. Just before graduating in 2020, he released his debut single “Room.” Though it was written a year prior, the song’s theme of being stuck inside resonated deeply with listeners during the early pandemic lockdowns.
In July 2023, Tasch released his debut album Got Him!, produced primarily by Caleb Nelson—best known for his work with Mt. Joy. The album was met with critical acclaim, praised for its warm blend of acoustic textures and indie-pop sensibilities. Collaborations with Wallice, Remi Wolf, and Spill Tab add vocal depth, while instrumental contributions from Michael Byrnes (Mt. Joy) and Dan Bailey (Father John Misty) elevate the arrangements. Lead singles “Shell” and “Whattaya Say” landed on Spotify’s New Music Daily and were featured on Zane Lowe’s show, while outlets like Rolling Stone, Billboard, and The Line of Best Fit gave the album glowing reviews. Songs like “Holdup,” “Tetherball,” and “Wherever I Am” explore themes of self-discovery and growth, delivered with a softness that gives the listener space to settle in. The deluxe edition, released in March 2024, features guest appearances from Claud, Jordana, Boyish, and Slimdan, further showing Tasch’s collaborative spirit.
We had the opportunity to attend his recent Chicago show, the second-to-last stop of a three-leg tour that wrapped in the Midwest. The performance had an easy, laid-back energy—like walking into a space where everyone already felt comfortable. Tasch led the way on guitar and vocals, joined by Mikey LaSusa on bass, Trevor Zemtseff on drums, and Wyatt Moran on pedal steel. The pedal steel added a rich, drifting quality to the sound—something you don’t hear often live, but that made a big impact. Its shimmering slides and subtle bends gave the music an atmospheric edge, floating just above the grounded rhythm section.
The group’s chemistry was natural and unforced. They shifted instruments mid-set—Tasch on bass, LaSusa on keys, Moran picking up a guitar—with a casualness that felt both practiced and playful. At one point, the crowd was invited to vote on the next song with their applause, and later, a surprise cover of “Jessie’s Girl” brought a fun jolt of energy to the room. Throughout the set, the band tossed out free merchandise to the loudest fans and those who knew all the lyrics—a small but thoughtful gesture that fit right in with the show’s tone. Rather than rushing off after the final song, Moran, LaSusa, and Zemtseff stayed on stage for a short Q&A, engaging with the crowd in a way that made the night feel personal.
Although Ethan Tasch hasn’t announced any upcoming tour dates, he recently released a self-produced EP titled Mixtape. It captures the same kind of honesty and mellow confidence that defined his live show—a sound that doesn’t push too hard, but invites you in and stays with you long after the last note. It was a pleasure to sit down with Ethan and experience the show firsthand—a rare chance to connect with both the artist and the atmosphere he so effortlessly creates.
