Dawes has never been a flashy band. Throughout the course of their four albums, the California quartet has always been anchored by a humble modesty, a sentiment aligned with their folky Laurel Canyon forebears. Musically this translates to hip easy listening entrenched in the rock and folk of the Seventies. Their lyrics are about love, heartbreak, the simple things in life, and that California desire to live easy. These are topics everyone can connect with, which explains why, as frontman Taylor Goldsmith pointed out, Dawes’ show at Stubb’s on Thursday found the band in front of their largest Austin crowd to date.
It was still daylight when as fans trickled into the venue, but a loyal crowd had already gathered close to the stage for Langhorne Slim. The singer-songwriter glistened with sweat in the June Texas heat as he led his band through songs old and new, rallying the crowd every step of the way. Slim’s tunes were catchy enough and he belted them out with Joe Cocker-like soul. He’s always been an impressive songwriter, and if there was one thing lacking in the set it was not letting the songs speak for themselves. Instead, Slim spent much of his time climbing into the crowd and clamoring for chant-a-longs as if doing his best impression of neo-hippie folk acts like Edward Sharpe.
With the sun safely tucked away, the members of Dawes took the stage and jumped into “Things Happen”, a single off their new album All Your Favorite Bands. The song’s slow jam had the audience bobbing along as they eased into the set. Dawes has always teetered on the edge of sappiness, but even the coldest of hearts can’t help but find warmth in their songs. On songs like “Somewhere Along The Way”, “Time Spent In Los Angeles,” and even the melancholy “Million Dollar Bill”, Goldsmith and the band sang with childlike wonder as if they were experiencing the lyrics for the first time. The four members of Dawes gelled with one another, keeping every song succinct yet comfortable. On this tour they’ve upped their firepower with the addition of Duane Betts, son of founding Allman Brothers member Dickey Betts and a proficient guitarist. Betts chimed in with complimentary solos, adding fuel to the playing of Taylor Goldsmith. A highlight of the show came when Betts and piano player Tay Strathairn injected the staple “Coming Back To A Man” with rollicking boogie piano and loose, fiery licks, giving the tune an Allman-esque Southern rock feel. Betts continued to up the ante when he breathed new life into “Little Bit of Everything” with a searing slide solo.
Even with their largest Austin show to date, the members of Dawes stayed true to the modesty of their music throughout the night, humbly thanking the audience repeatedly. As their popularity grows, the band only seems more grounded. At Stubb’s, Dawes impressed not with wild, edgy stage antics, but rather their ability to bask in the moment as if it weren’t just another tour stop.
All photos by Arthur VanRooy.
