2010

It would be easy to develop a salty predisposition toward Americana/Soul act Dawes. Upon releasing their debut LP North Hills in early 2009, the music media enveloped them in a roar of buzz like a swarm of locusts, quickly propelling them to “it“ band status. Fortunately for Dawes and their fans, the band possesses an intangible quality that dispels any need for distaste toward this group of youngsters – one whose oldest member clocks in at just 24 years old. That intangible is humility.

In a coming out party of sorts on Friday night at the Bowery Ballroom, the band radiated pure joy and genuine appreciation about getting to where they are today, so much so that it became almost impossible not to root for them. Not only did frontman Taylor Goldsmith repeatedly reflect on previous trips to the city, playing to less attentive crowds and minimal accolades while supporting other bands and in much less glamorous rooms, but they made it clear that it wasn’t just about them. It was about a collective “us.” Goldsmith literally thanked the fans at every opportunity, making it clear that it wasn’t just Dawes that’s been getting bigger, it was about everybody in the room getting bigger together. These guys understand that they aren’t doing this alone.

To put it simply, Dawes is a happy band. North Hills, while a very solid album, does almost zero justice to the band’s live performances. Taylor Goldsmith possesses charisma on par with Bruce Springsteen and their songs – while simple at their core – serve as lightning rods to channel the band’s electric personality out to the crowd. During the highlight tune of the night, When My Time Comes, a song with an overt metaphor for the evening, the band had the entire crowd not just singing the title lyric, but (I kid you not) screaming it at the tops of their lungs. They even got the crowd dancing, singing, and belting out unabashed cheers. I know that I got goosebumps on three separate occasions and I doubt if I was alone.

READ ON for more from Ryan on Dawes at the Bowery…