PHOTOS: DAVE HAUSE AT ASBURY LANES 4/28/11

These are a little overdue but here's some pics from Dave Hause's recent performance at The Asbury Lanes with Mikey Erg and Ian Graham from the band Cheap Girls.

I hadn't heard about Ian Graham or Cheap Girls before but wow Graham's performance was great and Cheap Girl's albums are even better. Check out two songs from them at the end of the post and go buy both their albums My Roaring 20's and Find Me A Drink Home now. Asbury favorite Mikey Erg followed with a collection of Ergs songs delivered via solo electric guitar and true to character repeatedly asked "What am I doing? Billy Bragg already did this and much better."

Despite the miserable weather, a full crowd made it down to the Lanes for Dave Hause. Rounded out by Pete Steinkopf on guitar, his sister on piano, and his best friend on drums, Hause delivered a great performance with a set drawing heavily from his solo record. The solo material easily worked in the live setting and the full band arrangements refreshed older songs "Come On Kid" and "Melanin" while newer tunes "Time Will Tell" and "Years From Now" had everyone singing along.

Hause voiced frustration with record label Paper & Plastick's long and continuing delay on delivering his new record to customers despite the fact it was "released" in February. Full disclosure, I ordered the record from Paper & Plastick back in February and have yet to receive it. When I contacted the label in March about the delay I received a response which curtly reminded me of the definition of a pre-order which now apparently includes when the pressing plant messes up, multiple times.

Anyway, it was good to know that Hause was aware of the situation and shared many of his fans feelings on the situation. In response, Hause has been selling vinyl copies of his new album with limited edition hand screened sleeves. If you're going to buy the album, I suggest grabbing one of these very cool records at the shows.

"Meet Me At The Lanes" was played in honor of its namesake and made for a memorable moment. Spotting a teenage fan in the crowd rocking a Replacements t-shirt Hause quipped "Wow if I was a girl you're age I would totally give you sex for wearing that shirt" and launched into a fantastic cover of "Can't Hardly Wait" featuring some help from Ian Graham and Mikey Erg. I'm not sure there could have been a better way to close the show.

Click any of the pics above to check the Flickr gallery or go there direct.

"Hey Hey I'm Worn Out" from the album My Roaring 20's by Cheap Girls

"Stop Now" from the album Find Me A Drink Home by Cheap Girls

 

"Can't Hardly Wait" by Mike McLaughlin.

MUSIC NEWS: DAVE HAUSE PAYS HOMAGE TO MARTIN SCORCESE

If you follow this blog then you are well aware that I have been hyping Dave Hause's new solo album Resolutions pretty much nonstop, with good reason because it's one of the best released this year so far.

In the first music video for Resolutions, Hause and director Jason Shevchuk pay homage to none other than Martin Scorsese, specifically Scorsese's 1968 short film The Big Shave. For the non film nerds out there, The Big Shave was Scorsese's comment on the Vietnam War and was produced as his final project while at NYU. It's said upon the film's screening, Scorsese was approached by a well known producer who would help Scorsese acquire funding for his first feature length film, Mean Streets.

The original version juxtaposes increasingly violent imagery with Bunny Berigan's song "I Can't Get Started" while The Hause/Shevchuk version features similar imagery set to Hause's "Time Will Tell." So what do you think is Hause commenting on?

MUSIC NEWS: The First Great Album of 2011 - Dave Hause's Resolutions

Dave Hause is a name you might recognize, but not exactly know why. Hause has been part of the Philly/NJ punk & hardcore scene since the early 90's first with Step Ahead, then with The Curse, then Paint It Black. Or you might know him as that guy who used to roadie for the Bouncing Souls. But most likely you've found yourself singing along to one of his songs as front man for The Loved Ones.

In 2009, Hause put The Loved Ones on hiatus and like many of his punk-gone-acoustic contemporaries hit the road with a fistful of stripped down songs and a Martin steel string. His new solo album Resolutions bares the fruits of that endeavor. And it's in this state that Hause, maybe for the first time, finds his own truly distinct voice.

While The Loved One always turned in strong albums, their influences were worn on their sleeve.  In many ways, Resolutions presents Hause in his most comfortable, confident, and natural form. "Selfish Masquerade" and "Louisiana," two standout songs from The Loved Ones 2008 album Build & Burn, provided a first glimpse of what a Dave Hause solo record might hold in store. Hause follows in that vein for Resolutions and delivers ten fantastic songs dealing with the harsh realities of adulthood and dreams fallen short of, while simultaneously garnering offerings of faith & confidence to keep moving forward by.

Many of the songs on Resolutions will be familiar to those who caught Hause's appearances on the Revival Tour featuring Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry or while opening for Brian Fallon's solo performances. The previously sparse tour favorite "Melanin" has been given a rousing revision and follows opener "Time Will Tell," as much a one-two punch if there ever was one. "Come On Kid" has seen a transformation of sorts as well. Once a somber tinged plea to a friend from a not entirely-confident-himself Hause, "Come On Kid" is now a full on anthem of redemption on the horizon. "Pray For Tuscon" slows things down a bit accompanied only by a mournful pedal steel and brush of organ to great effect. The title track does not mince words or intentions for this record with Hause singing "... I want to shed my skin... we can't go on this way..." The first five songs on Resolutions will quickly rise to the top of the "most played" list in your iTunes library.

If there is one slight misstep on Resolutions, it's "Prague (Revive Me)." "Prague" is in no way a bad song but a jarring transition to the second half of the album. Upon first listen it seems out of left field but repeat listening reveals it to be a deserved part of the album. In the tender "Heavy Heart," Hause revisits the roll of cornerman, providing a boost of confidence and reassurance to a timid friend. "Years From Now" speaks to the next generation of music kids coming up, asking them to carry the torch for the community while at the same time improving it. "Rankers & Rotters" is one last raucous song of identification and inclusion -  this is who we are and this is for us. The album closes with "Meet Me At The Lanes," a heartfelt nod to the friends whom Hause has undoubtly learned from and been helped by, along the way.

Instantly accessible melodies combine with resonating lyrics to give you an album that will soon be counted as a favorite in your record collection. Dave Hause's Resolutions is a collection of superbly crafted songs by a songwriter in top form. The first listen will hit your ears, the second will hit your heart. Buy this album now, you'll be happy you did.

Resolutions is available direct through Paper & Plastick on limited edition vinyl in three variations, CD, and digital download as well as on iTunes.

Preview three tracks from the album below:

Resolutions - Dave Hause

C'mon Kid - Dave Hause

Years From Now - Dave Hause

As well as two excellent cover demos that didn't make the record:

When It Don't Come Easy (Patti Griffin) - Dave Hause demo

The Cheapest Key (Kathleen Edwards) - Dave Hause demo

PHOTO CREDIT: Jessie DeFlorio

MUSIC: Two Bands I Wouldn't Usually Listen To... And One Guy I Would

The Ravonettes
In And Out Of Control

Bang



Last Dance



Suicide





























Smile Smile
Truth On Tape

Tempo Bledsoe



Beg You To Stay




























Dave Hause
Demo

The Cheapest Key - Kathleen Edwards cover

PHOTOS: Brian Fallon with Dave Hause - Bowery Ballroom 01/15/10

Eerie Von mentions in his new book that in all his time shooting The Misfits live, he remembers very little of being at their actual shows. He'd spent most of the performance searching for shots and figured that his photos would serve as his memories. Fair enough. I guess it's always been the same for me.

I didn't want that to be the case for this show. So I made sure to enjoy the show and grab some pics. And shit, was it one hell of a show.

Dave Hause opened up with a great set. It's no secret this guy has an amazing voice and in the acoustic setting it was on full display, in all it's raw and naked glory. The highlight - a great cover of Kathleen Edward's "The Cheapest Key." Brought me right back to seeing her on the very same stage in 2003.

Fallon's set was half Gaslight songs, half cover songs and oddly enough none of his "solo" songs. There's not much I can say about the show that the setlist doesn't say for itself. It was amazing.

It seems that at some point, all Jersey bands or artists inherit the drunken Giants Stadium parking lot crew. The only sour note of the night was the crowd - completely obnoxious. If they weren't screaming requests (before and during songs) or screaming where they were from, they were talking over Fallon's stories. It was a stark contrast from the crowd at last year's Bowery show, that night you could hear a pin drop.

**Extra special thanks to Jon and Hollie from that Gaslight camp for giving me a photo pass at the last minute. The people behind the stage are just as great as the ones out front.


Brian Fallon with Dave Hause - Bowery Ballroom, NYC, 01/15/10

1. What You Gonna Call Your Pretty Little Baby? (Odetta)
2. Old White Lincoln
3. Have You Ever Seen The Rain? (Creedence Clearwater Revival )
4. Great Expectations
5. The 59 Sound
6. Dollar Bill (Screaming Tree's )
7. Miles Davis And The Cool
8. I Do Not Hook Up (Kelly Clarkson)
9. High Lonesome
10. Blue jeans & White T-Shirts
11. The Navesink Banks
12. Here's Looking At You Kid
13. The Broad Majestic Shannon (The pogues)
14. We Came To Dance

Encore : W/ Dave
15. Call It Off (Tegan And Sara)
16. Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash)
17. Long Ride Home (Patty Griffin)
18. Ball & Chain (Social Distortion)