H20 celebrates 20 years, Father’s Day in Houston

Toby Morse is a father on multiple fronts; a proud punk rock dad and one of the forefather’s of the hard core scene. Sunday night In Houston, Morse and H20 brought the band’s 20-year anniversary tour to Walter’s Downtown, while simultaneously celebrating Father’s Day.

Toby Morse and H20 exercise "positive mental attitude." (Mike Damante)

Toby Morse and H20 exercise “positive mental attitude.” (Mike Damante)

Father’s Day spirit was in the air as Morse had his own son Max with him (Max even leant his vocals to “Guilty By Association” and played the drums after the set) and saluted the dads in the crowd, some who took their own children to the subdued Sunday show. Morse addressed the fathers in the crowd saying their number one job was to be a role model for their kids, before H20 tore into “Role Model.” In between songs, Morse also reminisced about young Max falling asleep during a the Cure show and taking him out on a Box Car Racer tour.

The set was short, yet satisfying as H20 worked in all the crowd favorites like “Sunday,” “1995,” “What Happened?” and the rip-roaring opener “Nothing To Prove.”

Being the 20th anniversary tour, H20 returned to its do-it-yourself roots, playing smaller, more grassroots venues on the tour with no barricades to the stage, “no rules” and and according to Morse, the stage was “open to everyone.” The DIY vibe was a perfect representation of the band’s ethos and fitting for a 20 years tour.

Mike Damante