Dawes (photo by Matt Jacoby)
Dawes, Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons, and Jason Boesel (Team Love) at Great Scott, Allston, Saturday, February 20
(21+ show; 9pm)
Some really heartwarming, lovely music here. Dawes – Taylor Goldsmith (vocals, guitar), his brother Griffin Goldsmith (drums, vocals), Wylie Gelber (bass), and Alex Casnoff (piano, vocals) – came out of Taylor and Wylie’s earlier band Simon Dawes. This newer incarnation marks a growing musical sophistication and maturing songwriting style.
Their debut album North Hills (self-released mid-2009, given a wider release in August on ATO Records), was produced by Jonathan Wilson, an important fixture on the Laurel Canyon scene. This area of L.A. has a rich history that has spawned such artists as Joni Mitchell, David Crosby, The Byrds, and Jackson Browne. Indeed, Dawes’ rich harmonies are very reminiscent of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and are a nice complement to their rootsy folk leanings (though it seems they rock it out more live). Taylor’s lead vocals have been compared to that of The Band‘s Richard Manuel (and Dawes has some very “Band-like” moments).
As for their inspiration, Taylor’s favorite artists include Nabokov, Fitzgerald and Rilke; Will Oldham, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt. He and his brother Griffin were musically raised (and introduced to R&B and soul) by their father Lenny Goldsmith, former lead singer of Tower of Power. The band was named in tribute to Taylor and Griffin’s country music-loving grandfather, Dawes Lafayette Goldsmith.
Appearing with Dawes at Great Scott on Saturday is Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons (nice rootsy and rocking Americana, with some gospel influences) and singer-songwriter Jason Boesel. Jason has previously been known for his drumming with Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, The Elected, and Conor Oberst and The Mystic Valley Band. On his recent solo debut Hustler’s Son, he performs his own songs.
Other East Coast Dates: Feb. 19 at the Bowery Ballroom, NYC; Feb. 21 at The Monkey House in Burlington, VT; and Feb. 24 at Johnny Brendas in Philadelphia, PA. For their full tour schedule, see their MySpace.
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