The first time I saw Dave Hause was at Portsmouth’s Wedgewood Rooms in 2011, he was the opening act of The Revival Tour alongside Chuck Reagan, Dan Andriano and Brian Fallon, a tour he told a packed Thekla on Wednesday changed his life.
At the gig eight years ago, easily one of the best I have ever been to, he accidentally kicked my now ex-wife in the head during a botched stage dive (he did apologise profusely).
The next day I went out and bought his debut album Revelations. I have been a fan ever since.
Funny thing is I can’t count the amount of times I have seen him live; supporting the likes of The Gaslight Anthem, The Offspring and Alkaline Trio, but oddly never headlining, or with his backing band The Mermaid.
I have to say, it really was worth the wait.
The night started with support from the stupendous Drew Thomson Foundation. A charity and musician I have since donated to, and definitely will be again.
Thomson was an utter delight; funny, honest, entertaining, and down to earth in equal measure.
The kind of rare musical talent which is equal parts stand-up and master songwriter.
Battling through a cold Thompson delighted the crowd with tales of over coming alcoholism which were the inspiration for his song Pace Yourself, his love of songs about heartbreak, and the death of his grandmother before playing his tear-jerker dedicated to her memory, Stay.
Next up, were Aberdeen’s Cold Years, a band you can just tell are going places, playing with a confidence far beyond their years and a slickness destined for much bigger venues. I have a feeling they will be another one of those ‘I remember when’ bands.
Then it was Hause’s turn and he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand from the off.
The man can sing, and should by rights be playing much bigger venues, but has never quite broken through like his friends in the Gaslight Anthem did (although admittedly, Brian Fallon and co. playing with Bruce Springsteen may have had something to do with that).
With superb sing-along tracks like C’Mon Kid, Dirty Fucker, and We Could Be Kings, and recent additions from his latest album Kick, Saboteurs, and The Ditch, he got the whole room moving.
In between songs he was engaging and funny, at one point he helped auction off the last of Drew Thomson’s merch, so he didn’t have to take it back to Ontario with him.
When he wasn’t rocking, or joking, Hause was crooning; playing some more ‘vulnerable songs’ as he called them. These included my favourite track off the new album, Fireflies, and an acoustic version of Prague, the same track he opened The Revival Tour with when he first visited the UK, and it transpired, Thekla all those years ago.
Closing out with one last barnstormer, Hause said he was off home to see his kids, but that he would be back next year.
I for one, am counting down the days.