Hello Dave

Exhausted but exhilarated, the four members of Hello Dave walked off the stage at a sold-out Vic Theater in their hometown of Chicago. It was April 1, 2000, and Hello Dave had just finished a two-hour set, headlining the Fresh Tracks Bands Across America Tour for an equally exhausted but exhilarated audience. Having been on the road for four weeks straight, driving in from Colorado only that morning after playing a sold-out show at the Soiled Dove in Denver, the band was tired. But as the crowd screamed for more, the band members only needed a split second to decide to give another encore. Taking the stage again, Hello Dave and the crowd each gave the other all they had left and the energy level quickly rose to a fever pitch. With the crowd’s singing almost drowning out singer Mike Himebaugh’s vocals, the evening ended in typical Hello Dave style: the band and the audience connecting in such a way that the audience almost became part of the band.

This relationship between Hello Dave and their audiences has earned the band an intensely loyal fan base that often travels hundreds of miles to catch a Hello Dave show, even with the band’s constant touring. Logging in 203 shows in 1999, and well on their way to surpassing that number in 2000, Hello Dave has an amazing persistence and dedication to bringing their music to their listeners across the country and in return, the loyalty and enthusiasm of their fans is unwavering.

Wicked Revelry, the band’s fifth and most accomplished CD to date, will continue to provide music fans with what they desire most: memorable songs that leave favorable, lasting impressions with the listener. Showcasing the creative talents of the members of Hello Dave as never before, the songs of Wicked Revelry have amazing potential for national radio attention. With a unique sound derived from several different genres, Hello Dave’s music captivates audiences of all ages, spanning generations and musical tastes. The combination of the band’s varying musical influences is smoothly woven within their songs, which blends richly textured rock, folk and pop sounds with alternative, funky, southern blues rhythms.

Martin Stebbing (Wilco, Poi Dog Pondering), producer of both West and 16 Tons, has called Hello Dave “the hardest working band I’ve ever known”. With over 17,000 copies sold to date, West is full of positive, uplifting songs that comprise the backbone of Hello Dave’s most familiar songs. On 16 Tons, the band continued to incorporate the upbeat qualities of their previous releases, but added a higher level of songwriting, moving the band forward with a more sophisticated edge.

Recorded at a small, but jam-packed club in Chicago in front of several hundred fans, the widely anticipated and newly released Wicked Revelry captures the live feel of Hello Dave with studio quality sound. The first single off of the album, “Summertime”, exemplifies the radio-friendly, engaging feel of Wicked Revelry  and the spirit and energy of the band during a live performance.

When lead vocalist, songwriter, and rhythm guirtarist Mike Himebaugh picked up a guitar for the first time in 1990, little did he realize that he would lead Hello Dave from its inception to its present status as one of the nation’s most recognized touring groups. The diversified yet cohesive folk rock sounds of Hello Dave are woven together by Mike’s insightfully  playful and sometimes deeply personal lyrics. Combined with his animated on-stage presence and charming vocals, Mike has garnered much critical acclaim from both his industry peers and music fans alike. It is no wonder that Mike has become surrounded by a team of only the best musicians and songwriters.

When percussionist Bryan Resendiz joined Hello Dave after the release of West in 1996, his solid yet versatile drumming style and dedication added a talent that helped to elevate the band’s playing quality to the next level. Because his personal musical influences are wide-ranging, Bryan has introduced several new and different elements to Hello Dave’s own unique rock & roll sound while confidently moving the band forward.

Allen Wetzel,  bassist, vocalist and songwriter, brought with him an extensive musical background, having played previously with such Chicago bands as Soul Intention and Speed Duster. Allen has added impressive backing and lead vocals, a rich bass sound, and contributed as an accomplished songwriter on Wicked Revelry.

Injecting a strong blues influence into Hello Dave’s music, lead guitarist Mike McGohan truly excels on the guitar with his energetic playing style. Like other members of the band, Mike has a well-rounded musical background, also contributing on harmonica and backing vocals that complement Mike Himebaugh’s voice perfectly.

Hello Dave’s belief in the importance of giving back to their audience can be exemplified by the practice of often giving away merchandise and free show tickets to their legions of supporters. In addition, Hello Dave keeps in touch with fans not only through touring, but also through their website, www.mountainrecords.com, by posting daily travel logs and messages. Also, believing in the importance of getting their music in the hands of the listeners, Hello Dave will offer their fans a chance to download free music from Wicked Revelry through the Mountain Records website.

Having shared the stage with such bands as Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Train, Sister Hazel, Better Than Ezra and Leftover Salmon, Hello Dave has proved its staying power through perseverance and hard work. The friendliness and accessibility of the band members have earned Hello Dave industry and well as public praise and marked them as a band not to be missed.

Armed Forces Entertainment Tour