Dawes: Road Tested, Newport Approved
Hear More Songs From This Session
Dawes visited WFUV just days after its unannounced appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in late July. Lead singer Taylor Goldsmith is also part of the band Middle Brother (which was already on the bill), and that created the opportunity for a rocking, impromptu Dawes set, which the group followed by jumping on stage with M. Ward. That spirit of collaboration is a big part of how this Los Angeles quartet approaches its music — in fact, it was recently called upon to back Robbie Robertson for a series of appearances.
Goldsmith is a bit of an old soul, and an artist who makes no secret of the influence that songwriting greats have had on his music. Jackson Browne, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young surely had an impact on him, and because of that, he's one of the most promising young songwriters out there. Just listen to the craft of "A Little Bit of Everything," or the stark honesty of "Coming Back to a Man" — both on Dawes' sophomore album, Nothing Is Wrong.
As comes through in this session, Goldsmith is as thoughtful and introspective in conversation as he is in his songs. This stripped-down four-song performance features two Goldsmiths, with Taylor backed by his kid brother (and Dawes drummer) Griffin, who provides solid harmony vocals.
More From This Series
Favorite Sessions
Alialujah Choir: Bowler Hats And Harmonies
This Portland trio lives by two rules: Have fun and harmonize. Watch it back that up for OPBmusic.
Favorite Sessions
David Bromberg: In The Studio, A New Lease On Life
The folksinger and guitarist recently returned to music, reinvigorated after a 17-year respite.
Favorite Sessions
Stephin Merritt: A Few Ways To Off Your Ex
The Magnetic Fields' frontman stops by the WFUV studio to perform "Your Girlfriend's Face."
Comments
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use. See also the Community FAQ.
NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its website or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.