Years active 2009–present | ||
 | ||
Past members Alex Casnoff, keyboardsTay Strathairn, keyboards Members Taylor Goldsmith, Griffin Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber, Tay Strathairn, Alex Casnoff Genres Folk rock, Indie folk, Indie rock Albums Profiles | ||
Dawes is an American folk-rock band from Los Angeles, California.
Contents
Description and history
Dawes is composed of brothers Taylor (guitars and vocals) and Griffin Goldsmith (drums), along with Wylie Gelber (bass) and Lee Pardini (keyboards).
Dawes was formed from the band Simon Dawes after the departure of co-songwriter Blake Mills, subsequently abandoning a post-punk sound in favor of folk rock. Dawes has been described as having a Laurel Canyon sound derived from artists such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.
At the invitation of producer Jonathan Wilson, the band joined a local informal jam session that included Conor Oberst, The Black Crowes's Chris Robinson, and Benmont Tench. The band recorded their debut album, North Hills, in Laurel Canyon in a live setting to analog tape, resulting in a sound that Rolling Stone magazine called "authentically vintage". Wilco multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone is also credited with appearing on the release.
The band made their television debut on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on April 14, 2010. Dawes released their second album, Nothing Is Wrong, on June 7, 2011 and toured the US co-headlining with Blitzen Trapper. Original keyboardist Tay Strathairn did not appear on Nothing Is Wrong due to other commitments and was temporarily replaced by Alex Casnoff. Strathairn returned to the band in late 2010. Dawes played alongside Jackson Browne at the Occupy Wall Street event in Liberty Park, on December 1, 2011. The band also appeared as themselves on the February 7, 2012 episode of the NBC television series Parenthood.
In February 2013, the band released the single "From a Window Seat" from the 2013 album Stories Don't End on Red General Catalog and Hub Records.
In December 2013, the song "Just Beneath the Surface" from Stories Don't End was featured in the episode "Independent Movie" of the animated series American Dad!
In early 2015, Duane Betts joined the band as a member of their touring ensemble. Taylor and Duane alternate playing lead guitar on songs. On September 30, 2015, the departure of keyboardist Tay Strathairn was announced in a Facebook post. Lee Pardini began playing keyboards on the band's winter 2015/2016 tour.
On August 16, 2016, Dawes announced the release of their fifth album, We're All Gonna Die, on September 16, 2016, on their own HUB records.
Live albums
Other appearances
Songs
All Your Favorite BandsAll Your Favorite Bands · 2015
Things HappenAll Your Favorite Bands · 2015
When My Time ComesNorth Hills · 2009