Americana country-folk outfit Dawes was the first act I caught at XPoNential. The California band always seem to be around these parts, opening for bands like Deer Tick, Phosphorescent and Cory Chisel.
As you can tell by these photos, lead singer Taylor Goldsmith doesn't hold back his emotions on stage. He has a Springsteen-like attack on their CSN&Y harmonies. Even with some of his more laid back tunes like "Love Is All I Am", his voices rises above all the music as he if shouting it from the rooftops. The harmonies are where it's at, backed with that sweet organ sound that I'm a sucker for. To get that sound, they set up shop at Laurel Canyon to get the laid, back easy 70s feeling.
There's Edward Sharpe piano player Tay Strathairn overlooking Dawes like a watchful Buddha. The two bands team up tomorrow for a sold out gig at Webster Hall. Dawes also plays the early show at Maxwell's this Friday.
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