Co-headliners Dave Hause & the Mermaid and Strike Anywhere recently delivered a night at Baltimore’s Ottobar where you could feel the community in the room. People happily packed themselves into the venue and despite such tight quarters, the atmosphere remained remarkably gracious. Fans navigated the shoulder-to-shoulder space with a level of kindness that any music scene would envy.
Fans travelled from at least as far as Chicago and Virginia Beach, a testament to the bands’ dedicated followings, and unlike other shows where crowds often shift between sets, most stayed rooted in place, fully engaged from start to finish, on Feb. 19. Both bands kept the sense of real community alive, reminding everyone why live music, and venues like Ottobar, still matter.
For Hause & the Mermaid, this was opening night for their 20-date Cellmates Tour. The live set was eye-opening in the best way for some newcomers to their sound, and you could feel the excitement from both band and crowd. The set felt personal, drawing audience in with raw vocals and a powerful delivery. Hause took time mid-set to talk about how music can help stop the “doom scroll” of daily life, which reminded us all to stay present and connected with each other. At one point, a kid who couldn’t have been more than middle school age joined the singer-songwriter to share some lyrics and the mic, then happily crowd surfed back to his spot in the audience. The night’s performance had a level of gratitude and participation that seemed to transcend the moment at hand.
Strike Anywhere delivered a wallop of energy to the crowd. Known for their politically charged, anarcho-punk ethos, the band’s message still remained rooted in mutual respect and community. The crowd’s enthusiastic response included a heavy dose of participation that made the room feel alive. This reviewer caught an errant knee to the forehead as a stage diver took flight by just the third song. Fans were absolutely prepared to sing along, and the reaction to songs like Sunset on 32nd later in the set showed that they were still all-in on the experience.
Both bands’ bass players stood out for their copious amounts of energy, clearly having just as much fun as the audience. And the fill-in sound technician deserves special mention for his real-time adjustments that ensured every note landed perfectly. Taken together, the night followed a thoughtful arc: starting with the self-reflection and personal storytelling of Hause & the Mermaid’s folk-punk, and building toward the politically charged, socially conscious energy of Strike Anywhere’s heavy hitting anthems.
All pictures copyright and courtesy of Ally Ramsey for Parklife DC.
