Trying My Hardest

Dave Williamson is entirely comfortable being a suburban parent who cares too much. Instead of clinging to any residual youth culture, he leans completely into his try-hard dad persona, cheerfully admitting to bringing orange slices to pickup basketball games. The set succeeds on this unpretentious frequency, offering a genial look at the domestic chaos that comes with raising boys.

Released by Stand Up! Records in late 2019, Trying My Hardest is Williamson’s second full-length release. The material avoids political posture and cynical edge in favor of clean, highly realistic family storytelling. Highlights of the performance include a breakdown of capitalist Christmas traditions and a memorable segment about the terrifying experience of having a toddler perched on a toilet in the dark, demanding assistance. At this stage in his career, Williamson was already well-known for his heavy touring schedule and his barbecue-centric podcast, Meat Dave, and this set channels that same relaxed, backyard-grill-master energy.