Dawes are well on their way to being one of the best rock and roll bands in decades. Since 2010, they have been touring like crazy and have released 3 albums. Composed of brothers, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Geiber and Tay Strathairn. Dawes television debut was in 2010 on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Dawes has played alongside with Jackon Browne, Conor Oberst and Chris Robinson (The Black Crowes).
Hopefully you are one of the lucky ones who get to rock with them on Friday. I was able to get to know the band a bit before the show!
Dawes has been compared to Crosby Stills and Nash. Who's your biggest musical influence?
It's always changing. A lot of major artists that have changed the ways songwriting is approaches like bob Dylan or Paul Simon or David Bowie. Also a lot of contemporary greats like Bill Callahan, Bonnie Prince Billy and my best friend, Blake Mills. Recently I've been listening to a lot of Tom T. Hall.
What were you writing about when you started? How has that evolved? What experiences did you draw from in the past? And now?
I wasn't writing about anything when I started. I was just a kid and I wanted to sound like I knew what I meant. But I didn't. Having a clear intent with a song didn’t start until the earliest Dawes songs which were "Bedside Manner", "Peace In The Valley" and "Blood and Guts" which can be found on the Middle Brother album. I write about things I find myself meditating on for a few days or weeks or however long before they turn into something I'm writing about. And I typically don't see it coming until it’s on the paper. And I don't write just about my own experiences. Sometimes they're mine. Sometimes they're a friend's or a stranger's and sometimes I make them up.
Dawes has worked with so many amazing artists. Do you have a most memorable? If you could work with any other artists, who would that be and why?
To say one was most memorable would imply that another wasn't particularly memorable for some such reason, which wouldn't be true. We like playing with others because it keeps us learning more material and therefore learning how to be a better band. For a group of guys that have gotten to play with some of our biggest heroes, to talk about who ELSE we'd wanna play with would feel a little selfish at this point. We just hope that along with making our records, we continue to back up other songwriters through the years as well.
What's it like on the road? Paint a picture of a day in the life on the road…
Spend the first part of your day finding out where coffee and a shower will be. Some days that's a lot more challenging than others. Then after that we wait around til soundcheck. After soundcheck is dinner, then the show, then we catch up with any friends we have in that town before heading to the next town. Thrilling stuff.
What advice do you have for a new artist just starting out?
A lot of bands feel like they need to get on tour as soon as possible, even if they're playing to no one or even if they don't have any product out yet. I think it's better to develop a fan base locally and then attention will start to turn your direction and getting on tour will take care of itself.
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Dawes w/ Shovels & Rope
The Southgate House Revival
Friday June 14th
7p Door / 8p Show
