File under: you shoulda been there.
The last time I covered a Dawes show, they were the first of two openers for former wunderkind Ben Lee at the soon-to-be-musicless Berbati’s Pan in PDX. To say the venue was empty for the opening set wouldn't be much of a stretch, but the bartenders and I were certainly impressed enough to exchange the classic eyebrows-raised head nod. Hell, I even bought a t-shirt after briefly exchanging courtesies with Taylor Goldsmith.
This was 3 months before the release of their only album (North Hills) and long before the now seemingly legendary Newport Folk Festival performance which turned a whole new set of listeners onto the power of seeing these boys live.
Two years later, seeing them headlining a show at Royale in Boston with the likes of the charming, throwback hippy-pop Vetiver and the amazing Eau Claire power duo Peter Wolf Crier was nothing less than fantastic. A musical feel good story, if you will. One that restored faith that even in today’s often upside-down musical world, the right people can end up getting the credit they deserve. Good on ya, Dawes.
Oh and for the record, I bought a Peter Wolf Crier shirt.
Play video