(Dave) Hause Party

by Ryan Pangilinan

For many people, Dave Hause is largely known as the frontman of Fat Wreck’s punk-by-way-of-Americana band The Loved Ones. But for anyone who has seen Kid Dynamite’s documentary, “Four Years in One Gulp,” Hause is also one hell of a storyteller, so it’s no wonder why his last few releases have been particularly fleshed out with lush narratives. This is true of his debut solo album, “Resolutions” (Paper + Plastick). Hause’s weathered voice unites each track on the album, which recalls a myriad of American pop music influences such as blues, folk, gospel and old fashioned rock & roll.

Upon arriving back from an Australian tour, Hause took time out to talk shop with Totally Crushed Out about his solo work and why he’s okay with being the funny frontman.

Totally Crushed Out: Dave, I’ve heard some of your solo material and I feel that they’re a little bit more than just “The Loved Ones acoustic.” They are certainly steeped in blues, which is something that you don’t hear often from people who’ve come out of the punk/hardcore scene. Did you want to forge an independent identity as Dave Hause the solo artist vs. Dave Hause of the Loved Ones?

Dave Hause: It’s not that premeditated.  I think the nature of a band is such that you can make broader statements, communicate bigger ideas and almost reach more people if it’s done right.  That’s what I’d like to do with the next Loved Ones record. As far as playing solo, it’s a more intimate affair, I can use that medium to write and play songs that resonate on a much more person to person level.

I know you did some dates on one of the last Revival tours, but you also opened for AFI. How was the reception for the latter?

It was actually amazing. I got a call from them to come play some shows and they offered me a lot of money to do so, which was really generous.  They’re old friends, and so I was pretty fired up to get paid to play and to hang out with them for a few days.  As I started to walk up on stage to play I suddenly realized “You idiot!! You’re about to play to 2,000 AFI fans with an acoustic guitar!” and almost panicked.  Their fans were so great, really into it and I had some great, weird shows.  

You recently released the 7” on Paper + Plastick, are you going to follow that up with another solo recording or will you be diving into a new Loved Ones record?

My debut full-length record, “Resolutions,” comes out today, February 1st, on Paper + Plastick. I’m almost done writing the new Loved Ones record and we’ll track it in the spring.

One of the last times I saw you, was when The Loved Ones toured with Gaslight Anthem and you were chiding the Seattle crowd and cracking wise. In many ways, it seems that humor in punk rock is all but lost these days. What keeps a smile on your face?

My attitude is to not take myself or other people too seriously, especially at a rock and roll show.  It’s supposed to be fun, and while we are doing something that is important to us and to the crowd, we aren’t removing rubble off of crushed folks in Haiti or curing cancer. We’re making up songs, singing them and having a good time.

You’ve also completed a tour of Australia and New Zealand. What was that experience like?

Incredible.  The Bouncing Souls and Hot Water Music are some of my best friends and favorite people, so to go down there and open for them in paradise was one of the best touring experiences of my life.  I loved it.  

The Loved Ones has been around for a while now and certainly you, as an individual performer, have been around the block. Do you feel like you’re at a point now where you’re comfortable enough to tour when you want to and not out of necessity, as many bands are apt to do when they are starting out?

We’re making it up as we go. Once the Loved Ones record is done, we’ll tour the world on it because we love to.  When it gets stale, we’ll take time off.  My record comes out today and I’m planning on touring a ton on it, then jumping into Loved Ones mode. The dumbest thing for a band to do is break up because they’re burnt out.  Just rest, regroup, reassess, and come back to the thing that works instead of torching the whole thing.

“Resolutions” is out now on Paper + Plastick. Dave Hause’s tour dates can be found on his Myspace page.