Bad Copy

Ever since I walked across the bridge to Venice island in Manayunk, PA in early May, I’ve been struggling to find the words to describe what I experienced at Dave Hause’s Sing Us Home Fest. After two prior years of being jealous of the lineup, I had decided to pack my car with my camera, my friend, and my pup and drive from the Midwest to Philly to experience a new (to me) festival with, once again, a great lineup.

DAY 1

Friday night was just perfect. The event started just before 5PM and while the initial crowd was sparce, people kept strolling through the gates non-stop. Three piece rock band Quarry opened the main stage and got the crowd ready for the weekend. Anni, the photographer for the weekend, flagged me down. We had worked together not only on Bad Copy but on a prior website and had never met before. It was so great to finally be in the same space together, and she was able to show me the ropes for the event, as she was the one who had shot it for the prior two years! Next up was John Gallagher Jr. who is one of those singer/songwriters that you should know, you feel like you’ve heard of, and if you’re not familiar with already you kick yourself for not being a fan from the start. His full band set filled with “emo folk rock” was both soulful and energetic and had the ever-filling parking lot dancing along.

After John came the big even of the evening, the Hause Family Campfire. This was described by Dave himself as part Revival Tour (see Chuck Ragan circa 2011 if you’re lost here) and part Nashville campfire round. The stage filled with talented musicians including Tim McIlrath (Rise Against), Sean Bonnette (AJJ), Jon Muq, and Tim and Dave Hause. This was my, hands down, favorite part of the whole weekend. Each musician played one of their songs and the others chimed in with backing vocals and sometimes acoustic strums. There were stories told in between and laughs had. And while I had seen almost all of these men play acoustic before, seeing Jon Muq was not only my first experience with the Uganda by way of Austin, TX artist. Each of his songs were so powerful, so beautiful, and so moving, that Tim McIlrath commented at the end of each and encouraged the already raucous audience to keep making noise. By the end of the campfire set, there was such an energy of friendship and community established both on the stage and in the crowd; it was palpable. And it set the weekend off to a great start.

But things weren’t over yet. Those lucky enough to have VIP status made their way indoors into the nearby amphitheater to be treated to Dave and John Gallagher Jr. performing Green Day‘s American Idiot in full. At first, I assumed that the album maybe was a Hause family favorite, or possibly Dave felt that it was an album worth revisiting, especially in this political climate. But upon further investigation, it turned out that John actually was in the stage adaption of the album over a decade ago. Either way, it was epic to watch Dave & co play through the songs that marked a very different part of my life 15 years ago. A highlight was when Dave soldiered through “Jesus of Suburbia” with a giant poster board of lyric  and note help that was brought out by one of his cute nieces wearing a “HAUSE” merch shirt.

When the night was over, I filed out of the venue and texted my friend to come pick me up. It reminded me of when my mom used to drop me off at shows at The Riveria or The Aragon in Chicago when I was 14. I’d make her park around the corner so neither the kids nor the bands would see me and know that I wasn’t completely independent and revolutionary as a sophomore in high school. Haha. Day 1 in the books with core memories made that I will never, ever forget.

DAY 2

As I sauntered my way down the boardwalk over the canal which flanked either side of Venice Island, I crammed a slice of cheesecake into my mouth and backed it with a snickerdoodle cookie ice cream sandwich. I had visited Crust Vegan Bakery as I walked through the Main Street corridor and overbought and overloaded on sugar. I buzzed through the gates as my sugar high kicked into gear and caught Dave walking to the stage along side his lifelong friend. That was a theme of the weekend, family and friends. The aspects of community were palpable last night and today I saw more of the same.

I cozied up to a few friendly faces that I had stood near yesterday and caught Speedy Ortiz opening set. Fabulous as always and full of energy, they shook the sleep off the crowd with their signature blend of indie rock, introspective lyrics, and great stage presence. Next was Mary’s Morning Deathbed. Was this stage performance? Was this a band? I thought maybe this was a regional Philly-scene joke that I didn’t get being from Chicago. But no one in the audience was sure either. There were running themes of a band about to break up (again) and a love/hate relationship with John Mayer. By the end of the set, everyone was cracking up and cheering as the band played a cover of “You’re Body is a Wonderland.”

Today was the biggest and most packed of the three. Anni and I rotated between the outdoor mainstage and the indoor VIP stage which featured amazing singer/songwriters like Jared Hart (Mercy Union, The Scandals) whose powerful voice echoed through the amphitheater. Joe Gittleman of Mighty Mighty Bosstones fame also played the indoor stage to a packed room. Back outside, Tim Hause and the Pre-Existing Conditions took the stage to a huge Saturday crowd. I had only previously seen Tim perform his songs acoustically, mostly on tour with Dave. The songs translated perfectly and they were even more powerful with a full band behind Tim. One of the most moving parts of the set was when Tim shared that coming to Venice Island and being part of this festival for the last few years was challenging to him as he had a friend who had stumbled into the canal and was found dead. He had been part of a search party which walked up and down the island and canal searching for his friend’s body. But, Tim also shared that he and his friend grew up listening to punk and one of their favorite bands was The Bouncing Souls, who would be headlining the festival later that evening. It was one of about 200 truly beautiful moments from the weekend that moved me. I wasn’t crying and if anyone told you they saw me, they were lying!

Philly-based power-pop quartet Buzz Zeemer also played the outdoor stage. While they were one of the unknown-to-me bands, it was quickly made clear that they were an area staple and had been playing all around the city for decades. In between bands, a brass band called Big Boy Brass came out into the crowd and played brass versions of hits. It was such a fun way to pass the time as the stage was cleared and reset for the next act. Kids (12 and under were allowed in for free) were dancing alongside drunken adults and everyone was laughing and having a good time.

Dave and the Mermaid took to the stage as our phones all warned us of impending thunderstorms. For those who have not seen Dave Hause play, do it. I’ve followed the career of this man for around two decades and I can say that no matter is he’s with a full band or solo, headlining a festival or in a crowded, cramped basement venue his energy and presence is exactly the same. The set was a good mix of old and new. It included a cover of “The Impression that I Get” with Joe Gittleman coming out and playing bass. And of course the crowd went wild when Dave and the band played “Bury Me in Philly.” For years, I have felt like Dave’s feelings about his hometown of Philadelphia are almost parallel to how I feel about Chicago. And being in a crowd of locals, watching them scream along and throw their hands up in the air, confirmed that the city’s pride runs as deep as it does in the Midwest. But we haven’t won a Superbowl 🙂 

The Bouncing Souls took to the stage as the murmurs of a thunderstorm or torrential rain passed through the crowd. You could feel the tension as the band took the stage to “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”. The setlist was all bangers; they opened with “East Coast! Fuck You!” which was received with the same vigor as Dave’s “Bury Me in Philly.” Next was “Hopeless Romantic” followed by “Kate is Great” and that’s when it started to pour. It was literal buckets dumping down from the sky. The Souls were able to get through four more songs (“Manthem,” “Shark Attack,” “Ten Stories High,” and “The Ballad of Johnny X”) before they had to evacuate the stage due to danger from the storm. I ran inside and found a space in the corner of the amphitheater where I could dry off. Everyone else with VIP status (and even some without) felt the same; the room filled. Tim came out and began playing a few songs acoustic and taking requests from the crowd. Then Dave arrived and explained to the audience that the Souls wouldn’t be coming back to the outdoor stage; that was done for the night. But… they were on their way to perform a few songs acoustic in the amphitheater!

He grabbed a guitar and started playing “You Are My Sunshine” and the room instantly turned into a giant, soggy singalong. Dave launched into his set for the evening; he would be playing Bury Me In Philly in its entirety. He got through “With You” and “The Flinch” before the Souls joined Dave for “Lean on Sheena,” “True Believers,” and “Gone. Then, Dave resumed his Philly setlist. He spent a time in between songs talking about how this album doesn’t give the love – from him – that it deserves. It was written after he had been in a drought and was all about moving to California after living his whole life in Pennsylvania. Hearing Dave discuss his songs and his writing process has always been one of my favorite parts of his shows. He’s done this more and more in his solo career over the last few years and I always am enthralled to learn about the subject matter or the timeframe in his life when it was written or what he thinks about it now. After, still a bit soggy, we all marched out out of the venue into the night. The rain had stopped and I couldn’t help thinking that the 20-somethings that walked up and down Main Street looked much more put together than I did after a long day of festival and rain and taking it all in.

DAY 3

The final day of the festival was plagued by more fears of rain. I took the same walk from Crust Bakery down the riverwalk while I snacked on my treat. Today, it was an ice cream sundae in a cup. I showed up and took my place near the front of the outdoor stage among the now familiar faces. People that I had seen on Friday and had chatted with on Saturday were now as friendly as if we’d known each other for years.

Lullanas took the stage and opened up the day. The group is made up of twin sisters Atisha and Nishita Lulla who harmonize so beautifully, I gasped when they sang their first notes. They reminded me of Tegan and Sara’s early years, but much more delicate and gentle. I added them to the list of artists/bands that I needed to add to my rotation for the drive home. Next was Black Guy Fawkes. I had the pleasure of meeting Ian at Fest last year, but I missed his set. I was so happy to catch him today because his performance was dynamic! His song lyrics hit hard in a political way that makes you realized that you always knew what he is talking about, but you had never put it to words like that before. Fabulous. Just fabulous! In between bands, there was a new band playing to the crowd, the Ocean Avenue Stompers. They danced with the crowd and really set the tone for the day.

The first event of the day inside the amphitheater was the Blood Harmony Records panel. It was a time where Tim, Dave, and Alex Fang (one of the masterminds who not only reps Dave but also has a heavy hand in putting together the festival) answered questions from the audience about their music, record label, the festival, and much more. It was a time for reflection and honestly and laughter. They shared stories about the journey of building an independent label in today’s industry and the unforeseen complications that can arise. They also talked about what goes into making Sing Us Home every year and how, after last year which was plagued by cold pouring rain, there almost wasn’t a year three. And as the panel talked, I was able to connect even more dots. I have been lucky enough to have had a number of really great conversations with Dave over the last 20 years. And he is exactly the same one-on-one as he is speaking to a crowd. He is the same offstage as on. After years of doing this *gestures wildly at Bad Copy and my interviews, reviews, and posts* I’ve spent a lot of time with musicians and have seen them talk casually to me one way pre-interview and then flip a switch and become someone very different as soon as the interview begins. I’ve seen stager personas take over the person, making them into a ego-maniac who surrounds themselves with yes-people and never knows when to quit. Dave actually mentioned something similar when he shared that he kept himself grounded because he kept people around him, in his close inner circle, that were honest with him and knew when to tell him no. I thought about that comment for the rest of the day as I looked around at the community and connections that he built and fostered which created this three day event.

Back at the outdoor stage, Mobley captivated the crowd. This was, once again, another amazing artist that I had never heard of before this weekend and now was obsessed with. He is a one man band that offers up a blend of indie pop and alternative rock wrapped in one of the most captivating performances I’ve seen. He even incorporated members of the audience into his performance by making them “human instruments” and high fiving them to make music during one song. I’d never seen anything like it and, when he plays in Chicago in July, I’m not going to miss it. Back indoors, Guilhem captivated the amphitheater audience with his soulful melodies and poignant lyrics. You may know him from his work with Pouzza Fest up in Montreal, but you should know him from his amazing music. He has a new album coming out in September and will be making the rounds at festivals in the US and Canada this year to celebrate!

Back outdoors, there were two more sets until the end of the fest and they were both epic. First was Dave Hause and the Mermaid’s final set of the weekend. By the end of the festival, Dave must have played 100 songs, but his voice was still strong and clear as he went into his final set. This one hit some older classics like “Prague” and “Time Will Tell,” which flashed me back to the life I was leading when his very first solo album came out. I was young and living in California, drinking my calories, and just a very different person than who I am today. As his set continued, he sang along to his kids, spoke about his wife, his sobriety (especially while singing “Hazard Lights,” which has become my weekend anthem). It was so beautiful to witness him and the band playing through his discography,

And last, but definitely never least, Frank Turner took to the stage to end our amazing weekend. He gave us fifteen songs, all of which were belted back to him by the crowd. The tone was nothing short of celebratory, as Frank effortlessly blended his folk-punk roots with new sounds that resonated deeply with the crowd. His lyrics – always raw and heartfelt – struck a chord with everyone there and he proved to me once again, why he remains one of the most beloved performers in the indie-folk scene. And that was it, the end of Sing Us Home 2025.

Now, as I said all the way at the beginning of this piece, I’ve been struggling to put into words the experience and feelings that I felt over the weekend. So… here’s my best attempt at summing it all up. As I said before, I’ve been going to see Dave Hause in some fashion for over 20 years. From watching him front the Loved Ones and come out pouring Jack Daniels all over the front row of the crowd then chugging some of the bottle himself to his first solo shows after the band went on hiatus and partying long into the night to the more recent years of he and the band playing at more intimate venues, which cultivate a completely different show experience than every before, I have been there. Looking around and watching Dave play songs onstage to stage right, where his wife and kids were dancing and singing along was a completely different experience than any before. Knowing that many of these bands and artists have long standing relationships with Dave and his family, knowing that his childhood best friend was just backstage helping the festival process flow smoothly, seeing the love between he and his mentors in The Bouncing Souls set the tone for the weekend. I’ve spent my music-covering career going to festivals all over the country, and while I am always honored to be offered the opportunity to cover the event, this one felt different, more communal. Sing Us Home is not just another festival with a great lineup. It’s a labor of love that IS Dave Hause. There would be no Sing Us Home without Dave’s high highs and his lowest lows. The festival showcases webs of connections he’s made throughout his whole musical career. Most importantly, it is his love letter and gift to the city of Philadelphia, the place that – despite the fact that he lives on the other side of the county – he still calls home.

Check out our gallery of the weekend below!