Dawes

Dawes have cultivated a devoted audience by fusing the soft acoustic textures and layered vocal harmonies of the Laurel Canyon tradition with the loose, idealized Americana pioneered by the Band. Anchored by lead singer and songwriter Taylor Goldsmith, the ensemble first gained traction in 2011 through its second album, Nothing Is Wrong, which attracted widespread critical acclaim. Later releases brought additional chart honors, among them the top position on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart for both 2015’s All Your Favorite Bands and 2016’s We’re All Gonna Die. The band also placed several singles inside the Top Ten of the Adult Alternative Songs chart, among them “Things Happen” in 2015, “When the Tequila Runs Out” in 2016, and “Who Do You Think You’re Talking To?” in 2020. While achieving these commercial benchmarks, Dawes preserved an exploratory drive, adopting an ’80s adult contemporary atmosphere on 2020’s Goodluck with Whatever and exploring jazzy, Steely Dan-style rock on 2022’s Misadventures of Doomscroller; 2024’s Oh Brother stands as the first album recorded solely by founding brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith.

The group originated in the Los Angeles suburb of North Hills, formed by brothers Taylor Goldsmith on lead vocals and guitar and Griffin Goldsmith on drums, together with Blake Mills on guitar and Wylie Gelber on bass. They initially performed under the name Simon Dawes, derived from the middle names of Goldsmith and Mills, but after Mills departed the lineup the ensemble adopted its current name and added guitarist Alex Casnoff, soon succeeded by Tay Strathairn. Departing from the more aggressive indie-rock approach they had employed as Simon Dawes, Dawes quickly embraced a roots-oriented guitar sound shaped by the 1960s and 1970s.

Following their introduction to producer Jonathan Wilson, the musicians joined informal jam sessions at Wilson’s residence alongside Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, Benmont Tench of the Heartbreakers, and Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. The relaxed atmosphere of those gatherings shaped the band’s aptly named 2009 debut, North Hills, which was captured live to analog tape in Laurel Canyon, imparting an authentically vintage character to the recordings. Their second album, 2011’s Nothing Is Wrong, retained a comparable sonic approach and reached number 18 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart. That year the group also performed at the Occupy Wall Street protests and appeared as themselves on the prime-time network series Parenthood.

The ensemble’s eagerly awaited third studio album, Stories Don’t End, emerged in 2013. Produced by Jacquire King, whose credits include Kings of Leon, Modest Mouse, and Josh Ritter, the record also featured contributions from former Simon Dawes bandmate Blake Mills. The Hub-issued All Your Favorite Bands, tracked at Nashville’s Woodland Studios under the guidance of David Rawlings, whose past collaborators include Gillian Welch and Old Crow Medicine Show, appeared in June 2015. The warmly received set ascended to number one on Billboard’s Folk Albums chart and number four on the Top Rock Albums chart, elevating the band’s visibility.

By summer 2015 keyboardist Strathairn had exited, with Lee Pardini stepping in as replacement. Dawes returned to the studio and issued their fifth album, We’re All Gonna Die, in September 2016. Once again produced by longtime associate Blake Mills, the release featured the opening single “When the Tequila Runs Out.” Later that year the band embarked on the An Evening with Dawes tour, presenting nearly three-hour performances with an intermission and no support act.

In 2018 they delivered their sixth album, Passwords, whose lyrics and themes addressed navigating the modern world and social dynamics of the 2010s. The Dave Cobb-produced Good Luck with Whatever followed in September 2020 and peaked at number five on Billboard’s Folk Albums chart.

With 2022’s Jonathan Wilson-produced Misadventures of Doomscroller, Dawes pursued a more expansive direction, pairing existential themes with excursions into jazzy soft rock. Further personnel shifts occurred in 2023 when longtime bassist Gelber and keyboardist Pardini departed amicably. Rather than recruit replacements, brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith continued as a duo. In October 2024 they released Oh Brother, a minimalist set captured primarily live in the studio.