Dave Hause and Northcote – Live in Vancouver (Feb. 23, 2014)

Music is a connector of people.

The Dave Hause and Northcote stop in Vancouver on their co-headlining tour proved just that – albeit in a roundabout and convoluted fashion.

Walking up to the Media Club, we were a mishmash of miscreants. Friends from Edmonton, Mission, Victoria and – yes – even a few from Vancouver were all in line and waiting to go. Getting there overly early in order to secure a few missing tickets, we were quickly informed that the entire show is running behind due to the snow storm that hit BC the night before.

With the knowledge of the delay at our disposal, our merry crew of music fans opted to brave the tumultuous weather – or as our Edmontonian friend put it, the nicest winter day ever – and drink some back alley beers. Armed with a few six packs, we caught up and joked around in the crannies of the library and wandered back to the venue an hour later, all a little worse for the wear.

Despite the weather delay, the one hour goof off session made it so we missed the always talented Ben Sir of Edmonton’s Worst Day Down and the first handful of Dave Hause songs. Disappointing for sure, but as we heard the chorus of Father’s Son, it didn’t matter what we had missed – we were there in the moment.

Hause was in a much happier mood than when he was last in Vancouver and still on top of his game focusing heavily on Devour songs that had many people enthusiastically singing along. Playing alongside his brother, it was C’mon Kid, from Resolutions – along with the title track from that album – that really brought up the energy in the final few songs of his set. So much so that Hause felt compelled to join in, bringing his microphone stand into the middle of the crowd for the final verse of Shine On; by which time our Penticton friend had joined us and it was a family reunion sing-along.

Northcote continued the musical celebration in his almost-hometown. Up there completely by himself, Northcote was much calmer than his counter part but let his soothing voice float above the crowd. A humble excitement flowed from him, as his banter came across sincere and genuine. While he failed to play Worry during his co-headlining spot, his set remained a stellar performance of acoustic songs that wrapped up just after midnight.

People quickly filed out – it was Sunday night after all – but for my group of Western Canadian travellers, the night was only partly done. We returned to our apartments, playing music and swapping stories. It was a joyous night of music, friends and laughter – all held together by the wonderful acoustic strumming of Dave Hause and Northcote; a beacon of music that united us again.