Dave Hause: ... And The Mermaid

As far as intros go, it really does not get much better than this. Trumpets, belted verses, instruments slowly stacking on top of each other. Dave lets you know immediately that you are in for something special. It also becomes clear right away that this is not a hardcore punk record in the Loved Ones sense. This sits much closer to Springsteen flavored Gaslight Anthem or contemporary Chuck Ragan than anything adjacent to Madball or Rise Against.

I went in with literally no expectations. I did not even know the album was coming out, and by the end of the first listen I was completely sold. The ‘59 Sound vibes hit almost immediately, which makes sense given Hause’s history with The Gaslight Anthem. Even if modern Gaslight is not ‘59 Sound Gaslight.

Every woo, whoa, oh, and gravelly growl on tracks like “Look Alive” feels genuine. Authentic, never corporate. Dave made it clear he just wanted to plug in and play, no tricks and no overproduced nonsense, and that ethos bleeds through every song. It is refreshing in a way that feels increasingly rare. Even though their styles are pretty far apart, there is an early Chris Carrabba aura hovering over the record. Simple songs, technically tight, built to be sung along with. You can easily imagine these tracks playing on MTV back when music was still part of their deal.

There are no obvious standout tracks here, but that feels intentional. Everything is comfortable and solid. It is a true no-skip album, even if there is not one song you are impatiently waiting to hear. The strength is in the consistency.

I have enjoyed Dave Hause’s previous work and his earlier bands have their share of gems, but I have never felt this connected to his music before. This album turned me from a casual listener into a genuine fan who is already hungry for whatever comes next. Some of it is a little sappy, and at times it can lean preachy, but it never feels forced. No one is telling you how to feel. Dave is just walking you through his own journey. And I am fully on board for the ride.