L.A. indie rock band, Dawes, have been racing up the charts with their hit “Time Spent in Los Angeles.” The band is part of the Laurel Canyon sound, which often cites influences such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Neil Young, among others. 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.
Dawes released their second album, Nothing Is Wrong, on June 7, 2011 and toured the US co-headlining with Blitzen Trapper. They are playing in Centennial Olympic Park with the Flaming Lips as part of the “Party in the Park.”
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
My first gig that I ever attended on my own was The Violent Femmes at Vassar College. I think I was eleven. Don’t really remember too much of it though. It was a long time ago.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
The best gig that I ever played…..that’s a hard one. Three come to mind. One..playing a sold out Webster Hall last year. NY is always fun to play. Im from upstate so getting to play for your family and friends in that capacity is alway great. Playing with Jackson Browne and Jonathan Wilson in Spain. I think that gig speaks for itself. And the Ramble up in Woodstock last winter. I know we feel so lucky to have been able to hang with Levon before he passed. He was such a hero to all of us. We got to share the stage with Levon, Jackson Browne, Garth Hudson, Donald Fagan, Jimmy Vivino, and all the Midnight Ramblers. It was really a once in a lifetime gig.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
The best show? I don’t know that’s a hard one. There have been so many. Just the other night I saw our good friend Blake Mills along with Matt Chamberlain, Mike Dillon, and Mike Elizando. It was an unbelievable improvised set that blew minds. I got to see Keith Jarret at Carnegie Hall. Its strange…I rarely go see music that’s not a friend. When you play a lot the idea of hanging out in a club or venue isn’t the most appealing thing if you don’t have to be there.
Gig you would most like to play?
The gig I’d most like to play….The Ramble was pretty much at the top of that list. But I look forward to pretty much every gig as long I get enough rest the night before. I think that Newport Folk Festival this summer is going to be pretty great.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Dream lineup..Man I don’t know. There are so many musicians that would compile that list. It would be the longest show ever. We’ve been so fortunate to get play with so many of heros. Just the other day we got to be on stage at a Woody Guthrie Tribute with Graham Nash, Kris Kristofferson, Jackson, Van Dyke Parks just to name a few …But that’s just a small amount of guys I’d like to play with. I’m just excited to play with the people I have played with and the ones that I know I’m going to get a chance to in the future that I can’t really put together an all time favorite list that would fit on the page.
Catch Dawes Saturday May 19th at Centennial Olympic Park
