2025 started terribly for Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith, the brothers who form the core lineup of folk-rock outfit Dawes. They both lost their homes in the Altadena fire in Los Angeles in January, as well as their recording studio with pretty much every piece of equipment they owned. In a twist of tragic irony, it is perhaps fitting that their most recent album, released this past fall, was titled Oh Brother, even if they surely didn’t intend it to take on this new tone. Picking up the pieces after such horrific events is a challenge, but the Goldsmiths have now dedicated fifteen years to Dawes and, with a new album to promote, it was only a matter of time before they had to hit the road. On Sunday, April 27th, the band wrapped their first tour since these events transpired with a powerful show at Portland, Oregon’s Revolution Hall.
Bands like Dawes – indie rock and folk- often play the same setlist night after night. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it lends a sort of predictability to the show. The fans that gathered to catch their show on Sunday were lucky to be treated to a varied setlist that spanned their entire career. This started with the new tune “Mister Los Angeles,” featuring a percussive throwdown from Ian Bush (playing his last show with the band) and Griffin on drums with breezy guitar work from Taylor to complement the song’s humorous lyrics. As the band bounced between different albums, they also distinguished their own musical eras. They have dabbled in poppier fare in recent years compared to the more folk-driven sounds of their early days, with plenty of sonic territory explored in between. “Who Do You Think You’re Talking To?” carried a feisty 80s rocker energy, while “Right on Time” was an early highlight with its stomping beat, Trevor Menear’s slide guitar, and those signature rich harmonies from the Griffin brothers.
Lest anyone think Dawes’ occasional poppier leanings have translated to a less rocking live show, the band doubled down on giving Portland the biggest sound possible. Longtime favorite “Most People” felt as timeless and catchy as ever, with Taylor giving it an almost sensual, jazzy guitar solo before the band exploded in a Grateful Dead-worthy jam. This was juxtaposed with a solemn and moody take on “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” accentuated with an emotional wallop of organ and slide guitar. The band immediately picked up speed with a version of “Still Strangers Sometimes” that showcased a spaced out Moog solo from keyboardist Adam MacDougall (Circles Around The Sun/Black Crowes) and dueling guitars, while the thick and vibed out Steely Dan-esque “Telescope” was injected with a tease of The Cure’s “Lovesong” before the sunny folk of older tune “Love Is All I Am” featured Taylor singing a snippet of Tom Petty’s “Wildflowers.”
Another major standout came during the one-two punch of “Someone Else’s Cafe / Doomscroller Tries To Relax,” transforming into a funk-laden jam vehicle that got the audience grooving along as it bordered on prog rock, before Taylor laid down a strong Michael McDonald-style vocal and blissful guitar before Macdougall’s beautifully elegant piano solo outro. “My Time Comes” was given the solo acoustic treatment as Taylor let the fans sing along to the chorus, and newer tune “Ghost In The Machine” shined with its exuberant, Santana-like 60s psych-soul guitar blaze. The set closed on a high note with the silly ode to questionable drinking “When the Tequila Runs Out” before the touching and triumphant rock ballad “All Your Favorite Bands.”
If there was one thing made clear during Dawes’ set in Portland, it’s that their recent loss did little to dampen their spirit. The band was in fine form throughout the performance, playing with the same fervor that has made them such a live draw for the last fifteen years. Even when they returned to the stage and encored with a spot-on cover of Randy Newman’s joyously comical anthem “I Love LA” – a song they and every other resident of Los Angeles surely must be sick of by now – they played it with cheerful abandon. It was perhaps fitting that they followed it up with the new track “Hilarity Ensues,” because sometimes in the face of tragedy, the best thing to do is smile, laugh, and savor good music.
