American folk-rock band Dawes laid down an amazing set at Austin’s beloved Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater on Friday, November 2. Based in sunny La La Land, Dawes has been dishing out their unique, vintage-sounding tracks since 2009 and have steadily climbed up the music ladder since.
Featuring brothers Taylor (lead vocals and guitar) and Griffin (drums) Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber (bass) and Lee Pardini (keyboards), Dawes is said to echo music from iconic folk artists of the past such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. I personally adore their music’s slight resemblance to that of Jackson Browne, another favorite artist of mine.
Being a fan for over five years, I was ecstatic to see Dawes perform for the fourth time in my favorite city and favorite venue (they claim to love Stubb’s as well which is no surprise given how often they stop there!). Though I’d seen them a few times before (the previous time being front and center), I found myself strangely nervous as I approached the photo pit, knowing that I would soon within be arms reach of Taylor, my latest musician crush (Mandy Moore is a lucky gal).
The set kicked off with a few of my favorites, the perfect soundtrack to take photos to (I think I was the only photographer up there simultaneously dancing and shooting, zero shame). With no headliner, Dawes set lasted three hours with a short intermission in the middle, and I ate up ev-er-y minute of it.
Songs in the full (and very large) set included the following (those bold with links are personal favorites):
- Living in the Future
- We’re All Gonna Die
- Somewhere Along the Way
- My Girl to Me
- Never Gonna Say Goodbye (dedicated to Beto!)
- From a Window Seat
- Now That It’s Too Late, Maria
- When the Tequila Runs Out
- Things Happen
- Feed the Fire
- A Little Bit of Everything
Intermission
- Time Flies Either Way
- How Far We’ve Come
- Something in Common
- Right on Time
- Telescope
- Most People
- Time Spent in Los Angeles
- Crack the Case
- Roll With the Punches
- When My Time Comes
- All Your Favorite Bands
Encore:
Blown away for the fourth time, I found myself wishing they could perform for an additional three hours. Dawes graced us with a beautiful Friday evening that left us on a high through the whole weekend. Come back to ATX soon, Dawes, ya hear?
For more information on Dawes, their tunes, and where to catch their next show visit https://dawestheband.com, and be sure to check out photos from their show at Stubb’s below!
Leigh is a native Texan gone temporary New Yorker and now proud Austinite. Passions include but are not limited to music (both as a spectator and dabbler), traveling & cultural adventures, film & television, true crime, design (of the fashion, interior, and graphic sorts), and photographing & writing about all the aforementioned. Self-acclaimed coffee connoisseur & wino, cat aficionado, book worm, and nature junkie.