Dad Band Hullabaloo to Play 20 Shows in 20 Days to Benefit San Diego Charity 

San Diego family music act Hullabaloo (musicians Steve Denyes, Shawn Rohlf , and Brenden Kremer) puts out upbeat, festive rock tunes that remind me of The Pogues, Johnny Cash, and pub nights spent in New Orleans’ French quarter.

Yet their songs are friendly enough to stream during your toddler’s playdate – or kid-friendly rock show!

Over the past 20 years Hullabaloo has performed more than 4,000 shows at venues ranging from local libraries, museums, and birthday parties to fancy concert stages like Austin City Limits, Philadelphia’s World Café Live, the Hard Rock Café, and LEGOLAND.

To celebrate the release of their 15th album, Live from Sun Studio — recorded at Memphis’ legendary Sun Studio — the band will perform 20 shows in 20 days in the San Diego area this February. Proceeds from the shows benefit one of their favorite charities, Feeding San Diego, which rescues food that would otherwise be left to spoil and provides it to people in need. 

[SEE RELATED: SMITH & YARN’S NEW ALBUM MIXES REGGAE, COUNTRY, AND MORE]

We recently caught up with the guys in the band to learn a little more.

Q: Can you tell me a bit about how the band got started 20 years ago? 

Steve Denyes: I made a little homemade album of classic kids songs for my nieces and nephew as a holiday gift soon after they were born. A couple of months later, Brendan’s twin daughters’ first birthday rolled around.

Brendan Kremer: We played all those classic kids songs in my backyard for my daughter’s birthday party and everyone just had a blast.

Q: When did Shawn join the band (and the fun)? 

Steve Denyes: We immediately asked Shawn to join the band, but he turned us down. He was super busy with his own band, musical theater, and playing in for several other bands. We ignored all that and just kept asking him to play with us.

Brendan Kremer: It was gradual, but eventually, we tricked him into it. The first tour he joined us on was in 2012 when we went out to play on the East Coast and the Austin City Limits Festival.

Shawn Rohlf: That was an excellent time to officially join the band! Those shows in New York City and the ACL Festival were so much fun.

Q: A couple of you met in kindergarten. Did it strike any of you when you were under age 6 that you wanted to play music professionally? 

Steve Denyes: I would run around the house with a cheap guitar “Hound Dog” to anyone that would listen. I dreamed of being Elvis.

Brendan Kremer : I think the idea that a regular person could actually DO this didn’t occur to me until high school.

Shawn Rohlf: 100%! It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.

Q: Playing music for kids and families can be a bit of a different vibe than playing for grown-ups. What made you guys decide to form Hullabaloo, and play for all ages? 

Steve Denyes: In some ways, I think it chose us. We just had so much fun at that first show, we never looked back.

Brendan Kremer: It was a great way for me to keep playing music without taking time away from my family.

Shawn Rohlf: My kids knew that music was my job, but they never got to see me on stage until I started playing with Hullabaloo. That was super fun for me and for them.

Q: How has fatherhood influenced your sound/artistry? 

Steve Denyes: It was becoming an uncle that did it for me. Making music for my nieces and nephew is what started it all.

Brendan Kremer: It’s come full circle for me. I spent the early years exposing my daughters to what I though was great music. Now, they are sharing the music they love with me.

Shawn Rohlf: Both my sons play music now. They just took to it. Playing music with them is as good as it gets.

Q: You’re playing a lot of shows in February — 20! How are you preparing for that? 

Steve Denyes: It’s going to feel like the old days! Before the pandemic, it wasn’t unusual for us to do 350 shows in a year.

Brendan Kremer: I’m going to need to ice my hands — I play the cajon, a wooden box drum with my hands!

Shawn Rohlf: Bring it on! The more music, the better.

Q: The February shows will benefit Feeding San Diego — why is this such an important beneficiary to you?

Steve Denyes: This community has supported us and made this life possible for two decades. I’m beyond grateful for that. This is just a way we can raise funds and awareness for an organization doing great work in our hometown.

Brendan Kremer: The work that Feeding San Diego does is incredible. Diverting food that would otherwise spoil and getting it to people that need it is brilliant.

Shawn Rohlf: I’m amazed at how efficient they are! A single dollar can facilitate getting two meals to people in need.

Marisa Torrieri Bloom is the editor and founder of Rockmommy.