Dawes (band)

American folk rock band

Dawes

Dawes performing in 2018

Background information
Origin| Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres|

* Folk rock
* indie folk[1]
* indie rock

Years active| 2009–present
Labels|

* ATO
* MapleMusic Recordings
* Hub
* Loose
* Mercury
* Rounder

Members|

* Taylor Goldsmith
* Griffin Goldsmith

Past members|

* Wylie Gelber
* Alex Casnoff
* Tay Strathairn
* Lee Pardini

Website| dawestheband.com

Dawes is an American folk rock band from Los Angeles, California, composed of brothers Taylor (guitars and vocals) and Griffin Goldsmith (drums). The band has been described as being influenced by the Laurel Canyon sound, found in such artists as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young.[2]

## History

[edit]

Dawes at Codfish Hollow Barnstormers, Maquoketa, Iowa, 2019

Dawes was formed from the band Simon Dawes after the departure of co-songwriter Blake Mills.[3] The reformation abandoned the earlier band's indie-rock sound in favor of folk rock.[2]

At the invitation of producer Jonathan Wilson, the band joined informal jam sessions with artists Conor Oberst, The Black Crowes's Chris Robinson, and Benmont Tench."[4] These sessions influenced their debut album, North Hills, which was recorded in Laurel Canyon in a live setting direct to analog tape.[2] The resulting sound is one that Rolling Stone magazine referred to as "authentically vintage.[5] Wilco multi-instrumentalist Pat Sansone is also credited with appearing on the release.[6]

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.[7] Dawes played alongside Jackson Browne at the Occupy Wall Street event in Zuccotti Park, on December 1, 2011.[8] The band also appeared as themselves on the February 7, 2012, episode of the NBC television series Parenthood.[9]

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 their own Hub Records.[10][11]

The song "Just Beneath the Surface (Reprise)" from Stories Don't End was featured in the episode "Independent Movie" of the animated series American Dad!

On April 22, 2015, Dawes performed on The Late Show with David Letterman, paying tribute to Warren Zevon with their cover of "Desparados Under the Eaves". They also performed the song "Things Happen" on the show.

Duane Betts joined the band as a member of their touring ensemble in June 2015, performing as an auxiliary guitarist.[12] Taylor and Duane alternated playing lead guitar on songs. The band's fourth album, All Your Favorite Bands, was released on June 2, 2015. Three months later, 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 and became a permanent member of the band in July 2016.[13] Betts also left the touring ensemble, and was replaced by guitarist Trevor Menear.[14]

Dawes' fifth album, We're All Gonna Die, was released on September 16, 2016, on HUB Records. The record marked a distinct change of style, building on the band's previous Laurel Canyon folk rock sound with a sonic twist, adding in more synthesized keyboard sounds, heavier bass, and an overall different sound for the group (while still staying true to their roots). We're All Gonna Die was produced by former founding member of Simon Dawes, Blake Mills.[15] In November 2016, they announced their "An Evening with Dawes" tour, which began in January 2017. The "Evening With" tour is distinct from past tours because, instead of having an opening act, they perform 2–3 hour shows with a small intermission.

Dawes marquee, Beacon Theatre, NYC, Passwords Tour, 2019

Passwords, Dawes' sixth studio album, was released on June 22, 2018.[16] The band launched a marketing campaign for the album that encouraged fans to search for "passwords" posted throughout the internet. Once a password was found, it could be entered onto a page of the band's official website, where each part of the password represented a musical note. When entered correctly, these musical notes played various refrains from Dawes songs and unlocked exclusive content, including the singles "Never Gonna Say Goodbye" and "Telescope" as well as a Spotify playlist curated by Griffin Goldsmith.[17] In 2020, Dawes played a few shows with Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead after connecting through Jason Crosby.[18]

On July 22, 2020, Dawes announced their seventh studio album, Good Luck With Whatever, released[19] on October 2 via Rounder Records. In conjunction with the announcement, the band released their first single from the album, "Who Do You Think You're Talking To?"[20]

On May 6, 2022, Dawes announced their eighth album, Misadventures of Doomscroller. It was released July 22 via Rounder Records. The first single was "Someone Else's Cafe/Doomscroller Tries to Relax."[21] In July 2022, the band performed the single on CBS Saturday Morning for over 10 minutes, making it the longest single song performance in television history.[22]

In February 2023, Goldsmith announced that Wylie Gelber would be leaving the band to focus more time on his music equipment company, Gelber & Sons. Gelber played his final full gig with Dawes at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel Los Angeles on May 5, 2023.[23]

In December 2023, Lee Pardini announced he would be leaving the band.[24]

On January 14, 2024, Taylor Goldsmith announced that Dawes has begun work on their next album, titled Oh Brother, with a release date of October 11 announced. The band toured in advance of the album's release. The first single from the album, "House Parties" was released on July 17, 2024.[25][26] In July 2024, the band performed as Conan O' Brien's backing band for his set at the Newport Folk Festival; O'Brien also appeared in Dawes's video for "Mr. Los Angeles."[27]

Dawes, now a duo, toured in November and December, 2024 to support the release of Oh Brother.[26]

Both Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith were affected by the January, 2025 Eaton Fire in Altadena, California. The music studio they shared adjacent to Taylor's home burned down along with their entire instrument collection. Taylor's home was damaged, but not completely destroyed. His wife, actress and singer Mandy Moore, called it, "not livable, but mostly intact." Griffin and his wife's nearby residence burned to the ground.[28] Former Dawes bassist Wylie Gelber also lost his home in the fire.[29]

On January 30, 2025 Dawes performed "Time Spent in Los Angeles" at Crypto.com Arena as part of the star-studded FireAid benefit concert and livestream. They also joined Stephen Stills and Mike Campbell on a cover of Stills's Buffalo Springfield anthem "For What It's Worth" and Graham Nash on a rendition of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young's "Teach Your Children." Three days later, on February 2, Taylor Goldsmith, with Griffin on drums, sang "I Love L.A." alongside John Legend, Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, and St. Vincent to open the 67th Grammy Awards. On February 3, Dawes announced that they'd released a studio recording of "I Love L.A," with the proceeds benefitting MusiCares.[29]

## Band members

[edit]

Current members

* Taylor Goldsmith – lead vocals, guitar, keyboards (2009–present)
* Griffin Goldsmith – drums, percussion, backing vocals (2009–present)

Current touring members

* Trevor Menear – guitar (2016–present)
* Z Lynch – bass (2023–present)
* Adam MacDougall – keyboards (2025–present)
* Frank LoCrasto – keyboards (2023–2025, 2025–)

Former members

* Wylie Gelber – bass (2009–2023)
* Tay Strathairn – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2009–2010, 2012–2015)
* Alex Casnoff – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2011)
* Lee Pardini – piano, keyboards, backing vocals (2015–2023)

Former touring members

* Duane Betts – guitar (2015–2016)
* Ian Bush – percussion (2023–2025)

|

Timeline

## Discography

[edit]

### Albums

[edit]

#### Studio albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details  | Peak chart positions  | Sales

|
|
|

[30] | US
Folk
[31] | US
Rock
[32] | BEL
(FL)
[33] | UK
[34]
North Hills |

* Released: August 18, 2009
* Label: ATO

| —[A] | — | — | — | —  |
Nothing Is Wrong |

* Released: June 7, 2011 (US)
September 5, 2011 (Europe)
* Label: ATO Records, Loose Music

| 64 | 5 | 18 | — | —  |
Stories Don't End |

* Released: April 9, 2013
* Label: HUB

| 36 | 3 | 9 | — | 134  |

* US: 65,000[36]

All Your Favorite Bands |

* Released: June 2, 2015
* Label: HUB

| 37 | 1 | 4 | 160 | 137  |
We're All Gonna Die |

* Released: September 16, 2016
* Label: HUB

| 42 | 1 | 8 | — | —  |
Passwords |

* Released: June 22, 2018
* Label: HUB

| 52 | 3 | 8 | — | —  |
Good Luck with Whatever |

* Released: October 2, 2020
* Label: Rounder

| —[B] | 5 | 44 | — | —  |
Misadventures of Doomscroller[21] |

* Released: July 22, 2022
* Label: Rounder

| — | 24 | — | — | —  |
Oh Brother |

* Released: October 11, 2024
* Label: Dead Ringers

| — | — | — | — | —  |

#### Live albums

[edit]

Title  | Album details

|

We're All Gonna Live |

* Released: February 14, 2017
* Label: Hub Records

Live from Richmond, VA |

* Released: 2019
* Label: Hub Records

Live at Hotel Cafe, 2/12/08 |

* Released: June 18, 2021
* Label: Dead Ringers

Live from the Rooftop (Los Angeles, CA 8.28.20) |

* Released: April 22, 2022
* Label: Hub Records

### EPs

[edit]

Title  | EP details  | Peak chart positions

|
|

Folk
[31]
Stripped Down at Grimey's |

* Released: October 22, 2013[38]
* Label: Hub Records

| 25
Feed the Fire |

* Released: October 1, 2018
* Label: Hub Records

| —

### Singles

[edit]

#### As lead artist

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Album

|
|
|

AAA
[39]
"Time Spent in Los Angeles"  | 2011  | 17  | Nothing Is Wrong
"If I Wanted Someone"  | 2012  | 21
"From a Window Seat"  | 2013  | 10  | Stories Don't End
"Most People"  | 16
"Things Happen"  | 2015  | 6  | All Your Favorite Bands
"All Your Favorite Bands"  | 19
"When the Tequila Runs Out"  | 2016  | 5  | We're All Gonna Die
"We're All Gonna Die"  | \

"Roll with the Punches"  | 2017  | 23
"Living in the Future"  | 2018  | 16  | Passwords
"Feed the Fire"  | 23
"I Will Run"  | 2020  | —  | Non-album single
"Who Do You Think You're Talking To?"  | 7  | Good Luck with Whatever
"St. Augustine At Night"  | —
"Didn't Fix Me"  | —
"Free As We Wanna Be"  | 2021  | —
"Things Happen" (Celeste Version)  | —  | Non-album single
"Didn't Fix Me - Piano Version" and "Me Especially - Piano Version"  | —  | Sketches[C]
"Walls"
(featuring Mike Viola) | —  | Petty Rips[D]
"Mistakes We Should Have Made"[E] | —
"Strangers Getting Stranger"  | —  | Nothing Is Wrong (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
"Fisherman's Blues"[41] | —  | Non-album single
"Don't Send Me Away"  | —  | Nothing Is Wrong (10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
"Easy/Lucky/Free"'[F] | —  | Non-album single
"Someone Else's Cafe / Doomscroller Tries to Relax"[21] | 2022  | —  | Misadventures of Doomscroller
"The Interest of Time"  | —  | Non-album single
"I Love"'[G] | 2023  | —  | Non-album single
"House Parties"  | 2024  | \
  | Oh Brother
"Still Strangers Sometimes"  | \

"Surprise!"  | \

"I Love L.A."  | 2025  | \
  | Non-album single
"Time Spent in Los Angeles (for Altadena)  | \

"—" denotes singles that did not chart or were not released

#### As featured artist

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Peak chart positions  | Album

|
|
|

Rock
[43] | BEL
(FL)
Tip
[33] | IRE
[44] | UK
[34]
"Christmas in L.A."
(The Killers featuring Dawes) | 2013  | 43 | 81 | 100 | 92  | Non-album single

##### "This Is Life"

[edit]

(Winnetka Bowling League featuring Medium Build and Dawes)

| 2024  | \-  | \-  | \-  | \-  | Non-album single

### Other appearances

[edit]

Title  | Year  | Album

|
|

"Someday Never Comes"
(John Fogerty with Dawes) | 2013  | Wrote a Song for Everyone
"What It Takes"
(Lee Pardini and Dawes) | 2023  | Non-album single
"Raining Inside"

Brad Paisley with Dawes

| 2025  | Non-album single

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ North Hills did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 23 on the US Heatseekers Albums Chart.[35]
2. ^ Good Luck with Whatever did not enter the US Billboard 200, but peaked at number 24 on the US Billboard Album Sales Chart.[37]
3. ^ Sketches is the name of a two-song single.
4. ^ Petty Rips is the name of a two-song single.[40]
5. ^ "Mistakes We Should Have Made" was originally on Dawes' 2018 album Passwords.
6. ^ "Easy/Lucky/Free" is the B-side of a two-song single. "Million Dollar Bill" by Conor Oberst was the A-side.[42]
7. ^ Cover of Tom T. Hall song.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Fitzpatrick, Andy. "Dawes Coming to Kalamazoo State Theatre". Battle Creek Enquirer. Gannett Satellite Information Network. Archived from the original on May 28, 2024.
2. ^ a b c Collar, Matt. "Dawes". allmusic.com. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
3. ^ Josh Eells (November 11, 2009). "Breaking: Dawes". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 15, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
4. ^ Benjy Eisen (November 23, 2009). "Dawes Use the MacGyver Method for Equipment Repairs". spinner.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
5. ^ Eliscu, Jenny (October 13, 2009). "North Hills – Dawes". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 19, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
6. ^ Aly Comingore (December 17, 2009). "Dawes Plays Muddy Waters:L.A. Folk Rockers Channel Vintage California". Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved December 28, 2009.
7. ^ Shannon Cosgrove (February 19, 2011). "Q & A with indie rock band Dawes". University of California, Los Angeles. Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
8. ^ Jackson Browne & Dawes Play Zuccotti (VIDEO) Archived November 3, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Gosztola, Kevin; Firedoglake.com, December 2, 2011, accessed December 3, 2011
9. ^ Dawes Set to Make Cameo on NBC's Parenthood Archived March 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Vitcavage, Adam; pastemagazine.com, February 7, 2012, accessed February 14, 2012
10. ^ "New Song: "From A Window Seat"". Official Dawes band homepage. February 8, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
11. ^ "Dawes Face Fears on "From a Window Seat" – Song Premiere". Rolling Stone. February 7, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2013.
12. ^ "Duane Betts Is Now a Member of Dawes Touring Band". Jam Bands. May 9, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
13. ^ "Dawes in Delaware". Relix. December 21, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2016.
14. ^ Sutton, Larson (December 16, 2016). "Dawes: The Unexpected and the Inevitable". Relix. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
15. ^ "Dawes Announce New 'We're All Gonna Die' Album, Release 'When the Tequila Runs Out' Single". diffuser.fm. August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
16. ^ Vallejo-Lopez, Abdiel (April 27, 2018). "Dawes Announce Their Sixth Album, Passwords, Due out in June". Paste. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
17. ^ Johnson, Ellen (June 7, 2018). "Exclusive: Dawes Launch Passwords Site, Share New Single "Never Gonna Say Goodbye"". Paste Magazine. Retrieved June 8, 2018.
18. ^ "Dawes Covers Grateful Dead: Live at Relix". Relix. March 18, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
19. ^ Johnson, Ellen; Paste Staff (October 2, 2020). "10 New Albums to Stream Today". Paste Magazine. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
20. ^ Bernstein, Jonathan (July 22, 2020). "Dawes Preview New Album With Eighties Rocker 'Who Do You Think You're Talking To'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
21. ^ a b c Ellwood Hughes, Pip (May 6, 2022). "Dawes debut; Someone Else's Cafe / Doomscroller Tries to Relax' from upcoming album 'Misadventures of Doomscroller'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
22. ^ "Dawes Release New Album, Break Record On 'CBS Saturday Morning". July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
23. ^ "Dawes Delivers an Emotional Tribute to Wylie Gelber in His Final Gig With The Band at the Theatre at the Ace Hotel". Blurred Culture. May 9, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
24. ^ Broerman, Michael (January 3, 2024). "Dawes Performs Entire 2013 Album 'Stories Don't End' At The Capitol Theatre [Photos/Videos]". L4LM. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
25. ^ "The Secret Life of LP 9 part 1". January 14, 2024.
26. ^ a b Zeleniak, Maeve. "Dawes are back with "House Parties" from new album 'Oh Brother'". WXPN | Vinyl At Heart. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
27. ^ Mellin, Joshua (July 29, 2024). "Conan O'Brien Channels Bob Dylan in Epic Newport Folk Festival Debut". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
28. ^ Thomas, Carly (January 9, 2025) [January 8, 2025]. "Mandy Moore Says L.A. House Burned Down in Eaton Wildfire: "I'm Absolutely Numb"". [The Hollywood Reporter].
29. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (February 4, 2025). "Dawes Release Grammys Cover of Randy Newman's 'I Love L.A.' to Benefit Wildfire Relief". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
30. ^ "Dawes Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
31. ^ a b "Dawes Chart History (Folk Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
32. ^ "Dawes Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard.
33. ^ a b "Discografie Dawes" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
34. ^ a b Peaks in the UK:
* Stories Don't End & "Christmas in LA": "Chart Update 2013". The Zobbel Website. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
* All Your Favorite Bands: "Chart Update". The Zobbel Website. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
35. ^ "Dawes Chart History: Heatseekers Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
36. ^ "Upcoming Releases". Hits Daily Double. HITS Digital Ventures. Archived from the original on May 15, 2015.
37. ^ "Dawes Chart History: Digital Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2020.
38. ^ ""Stripped Down at Grimey's" Limited 12"". dawestheband.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
39. ^ "Dawes Chart History: Triple A". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
40. ^ "Petty Rips mini-EP ft 'Walls'". DawesTheBand.com. Dawes. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
41. ^ "Covering The Waterboys "Fisherman's Blues'". DawesTheBand.com. Dawes. July 30, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
42. ^ "Conor Oberst, Dawes Split 7" Recordings "Million Dollar Bill," "Easy/Lucky/Free" Now Available Digitally". Nonesuch Records. September 17, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
43. ^ "Dawes Chart History: Hot Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
44. ^ "Discography Dawes". irish-charts.com. Retrieved October 16, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dawes (band).

* Official website
* Dawes at AllMusic
* Dawes discography at Discogs
* Dawes discography at MusicBrainz
* Dawes Daytrotter session Archived February 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
* Dawes live audio recordings

* v
* t
* e

Dawes

* Taylor Goldsmith
* Griffin Goldsmith

Albums|

* North Hills
* Nothing Is Wrong
* Stories Don't End
* All Your Favorite Bands
* We're All Gonna Die
* Passwords
* Good Luck with Whatever
* Misadventures of Doomscroller
* Oh Brother

Associated acts|

* Simon Dawes
* Middle Brother
* The New Basement Tapes

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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