'Christmas in L.A.' : The Killers ft. Dawes

Last year I complied a list of the most depressing Christmas songs of all time. The Killers' 2013 Christmas single benefiting (RED), could easily make that list. "Christmas in L.A." features Owen Wilson as a struggling actor, wondering how mush longer he can stay in a city that seems just about impossible to call home. Dawes co-wrote the tune and also play on it.  

Music from Parenthood : CCR, Dawes, Ofelia, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound

Adam got blindsided.

Tonight's episode of Parenthood ("The Ring") offered more than the usual helping of solid musical selections. Here's what they were.

First up, Zeke enjoyed his new-found pseudo-bachelorhood to "Fortunate Son by Creedence Clearwater Revival.



Next up, while Jasmine and Crosby talked about son Jabar's ballet classes, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound sang "Rouse Yourself." You might remember them from an earlier post this summer. Best line of the song: "If we are forever, I hope we just get better."



Making a return of sorts to Parenthood, is Dawes song "Just Beneath the Surface (Reprise)" in the background while Zeke Skypes Camille, who is hanging out in Italy.



And finally, our ending montage song was "Hawk Fly Tiger Run" by Ofelia. Not a whole lot out there right now on this female artist from L.A. Maybe we'll hear more form her soon.

'Most People' : New Music Video From Dawes

Dawes premiered their brand new video for "Most People" yesterday on CMT. The video is comprised of tour footage, including a brief appearance by Grimey's New and Preloved Music here in Nashville, as well as Lightning 100. (Check 3:08.) See if you can spot your city.

A Decade of Concerts

Things I learned in Grad School: Wordle

Today marks the end of the first decade of my concert-going life. Back in 2003, my dad got me tickets to see Matchbox Twenty with openers Sugar Ray at the AmSouth Amphitheater here in Nashville, and ever since I've been chasing the good spirits that come with catching a much-loved band live.

If you're interested in a full account of that first show, you can check out a post I wrote last year for all-around-cool Tumblr Gigs Reflex.

I'm a big believer in documenting things, so I got a little excited when I found a MB20 concert DVD tapped in Atlanta, a mere three nights after their Nashville date called Show: A Night in the Life of Matchbox Twenty. Rest assured it's on my Amazon Wish List.




But beyond capturing MB20 on video or blogging about some of the bigger shows I see, I decided this year to put together a Google Docs spreadsheet with the nuts and bolts of every show I've been to in the past ten years– headliner, opener, venue, date, and who came along. While seeing shows shouldn't be a numbers game, I can't say I don't enjoy adding rows to the document. I used the columns devoted to venues and artists to make a word cloud using Wordle. I suppose the big story of my concert-going life is that I end up at the Ryman Auditorium more often than not. I was surprised to see Syracuse's Westcott Theater as big as it is since I was only up North for a year, but I guess looking back, I made more than a few stops. I was also pleasantly amused to realize that I've seen friends' bands as many time as I've seen some of my favorite acts like Andrew Bird or The National.

Style-wise, the outliers in this mix are definitely T.I. and Public Enemy, but yes, I have indeed seen them. Dawes should probably be a bit bigger considering that the three times I've seen them have been well inside of one calendar year. Special points for that, right? What else. I'm weirdly proud to have seen the Flaming Lips. Even if they're not my favorite or even most familiar band, they are probably my favorite live show to date for not only being a joyous spectacle, but for this particular performance at Rites of Spring when it started raining lightly as they came on stage and we were just all so happy to have survived the mosh pit for N.E.R.D.. The show that represents the biggest achievement is probably the Avett Brothers from last month. You can't even really make it out on the Wordle, but know that it took me six years to catch them on tour.

So, that's the decade. It's been great and my hearing has probably suffered as a result, but I've also found that going to shows is one of my favorite things to do. I'd call that a gift.

Here's to the next ten years.

Dawes Plays the Ryman Auditorium

From a balcony seat.

Last week things went silent here at TMI as I was in Peoria, IL most of the week doing bridesmaid duties at my college roommate's wedding. It was an intense weekend capped off by a quick flight home Sunday and a trip to the Ryman Auditorium that night to catch Dawes. 

The show was great for a couple reasons. For one, this was my third Dawes show this year and it was definitely the best. They seemed genuinely happy and appreciative of the significance of playing the Ryman. It's holy ground. The vibes were just so good and the audience was particularly vocal. They were basically hitting on the band the entire night. It was great. The other reason it was a memorable night is that it was my Dad's first Ryman concert. I thought it was a good match with Dawes' Ryman debut. Plus, it's a band that we both can agree on.

Dawes played about 19 songs. You can check out a Spotify playlist the Ryman made here. They mostly performed tracks from Stories Don't End and Nothing is Wrong, throwing in "When My Time Comes" and "That Western Skyline," which they used to close out the show because it's the first track from their first album North Hills. They played pretty much everything I wanted to hear: "From a Window Seat," "Most People," Time Spent in Los Angeles," "Peace in the Valley" etc. "Something in Common" was particularly nice. They put a little echo on Taylor Goldsmith's vocals and tamed the arrangement on the verses, making the song even more desolate and heartbreaking than usual. Dawes also performed "Moon in the Water," which they said they don't normally trot out because it's a quieter song that needs an audience responsive to the song's tone.

Midway through, Goldsmith brought out Jonny Fritz (formerly Corndawg) to sing "Goodbye Summer" off his recent album Dad Country, which Dawes played on. Fritz is something of an odd and interesting figure in these parts, so it was fun to actually see him sing live. He was wonderfully quirky and sort of scooted/shuffled around the stage and off it when the song ended.

Another quick point– opening act Shovels and Rope is worth your attention.

So, that was that. I'll stop here before I start to gush. Dawes remains one of my favorite bands to see live, if not my favorite. From the first few notes of opening song "From Window Seat," I marveled how strong they are as a band, even though it's a fact I know well.

Catch a show if you can.

5 Reasons to See Dawes Live + 'From a Window Seat' Music Video

Get More: 

From A Window Seat, Dawes, Dawes Videos

Just a couple items this morning, and they're both Dawes-related as the band's third album Stories Don't End drops today.

First up, after catching the band at Grimey's in March, I put together a piece for Consequence of Sound where I humbly submit my argument for why you should go to a Dawes show if you've got the chance. Grimey's co-owner Doyle Davis was kind enough to talk to me about the in-store, as well. Check out the link below and maybe stop by your local record store for a copy of Stories Don't End if you haven't already made that decision.

Read more...

Secondly, CMT premiered the music video for the new album's first single, "From a Window Seat." The director successfully transformed the flight attendant's safety demonstration into what looks like the remnants of a pagan ritual, so I'm happy. Also, frontman Taylor Goldsmith meets a future version of himself on the plane and I couldn't help but think of that hilarious New Girl episode where Nick Miller runs into a guy at his bar who might just be him in decades to come. Watch the video above.

Stream the New Dawes Album

Here's the best use of your time this Tuesday: Dawes has partnered with Amazon to stream their new album Stories Don't End a whole week early. In case you're thinking you've got to get your album from Amazon to hear it or some nonsense like that, no worries. The stream is free to all (allowing you to snag a copy from your local independent record).

I'm a few tracks in. I've already felt like sobbing a few times (dammit, Taylor Goldsmith), but mostly it's great and it's very exciting to hear new material.

Take it for a spin! The stream is available until April 9.

Dawes Play Grimey's Too

Props to my friend Emily for taking this for me.

For weeks I've been looking forward to catching Dawes play an in-store performance at Grimey's Too here in Nashville. So after standing in a line outside in the cold, 150ish people crammed into Grimey's new indie bookstore extension where it was considerably warmer and brighter. Dawes played for just about an hour, opening with "From a Window Seat" and hitting a bunch of new tracks from their April 9 release Stories Don't End, including "Just My Luck," "Something in Common," "Hey Lover," "Someone Will," and "Most People." They also worked in "Time Spent in Los Angeles" and closed with "A Little Bit of Everything" from Nothing is Wrong. 

There was a lot to enjoy about the afternoon. For pre-ordering the album earlier in the month to get a spot at the show, the audience also recieved really nice screen press posters to get signed. It was also exciting to see these guys in a smaller space. Since they've just announced a Ryman show June 9, I get the idea it's all up from here.

Dawes is an easy band to love. Especially after seeing them live, you get a picture of how solid their musicianship is. Plus, the lyrics. They always get me. There's so much music I like, but Dawes' songs fall into the category of music I react to. I'm particularly crushing on "Most People." There are a couple of lines that go "Most people don't talk enough about how lucky they are. Most people don't know what it takes for me to get through the day." That's some good drama.

Anyway, if you weren't there, you can hear several songs the band played earlier in the afternoon for local radio station Lightning 100 at a secret show.

New Single from Dawes : "From A Window Seat"

Welcome back to your one stop shop for Dawes news. The band released its new single "From a Window Seat" today via Rolling Stone. They played the song while touring Nothing is Wrong this summer. When I caught the band at the Cannery Ballroom in August, frontman Taylor Goldsmith told the audience the song was about "getting the fear" on an airplane. He goes further in the Rolling Stone article to describe how his escalating fear of flying yielded a certain amount of absurdity, and he wrote about it.

I'd like to think he's talking about the part in the song where likens the safety demonstration to some kind of tribal dance in tribute to the gods. Love it. I also love this line: "The hero in the song that I am writing doesn't know he's just an image of myself." That's meta, dude.

Stories Don't End hits shelves April 9.

Dawes Tweet Album Art

via @dawestheband

You're going to think I spend my day watching Dawes's Twitter profile. I do not. However, I do have another album update to report. They tweeted the album artwork for Stories Don't End, out April 9th. All I can say is, looks like a pretty good time. My posse and I had a similarly awesome fire in the backyard some months back. Anyhoodle, so now we've got the album title, release date, track listing, trailer, and artwork. I can only assume tour dates will follow... first single... a music video or two. 

I suddenly feel the need to go outside. Stay tuned. 

Dawes Release Album Trailer

Today on the Dawes beat, we bring you more tidings of the new album, Stories Don't End, due out April 9th. Check out the trailer featuring footage from the studio in Asheville, North Carolina where the band recorded last fall. You can hear two songs on the trailer, the second being "From a Window Seat." As far as the first, no idea what it is but it sounds sweet.

Dawes Tweet Album Track Listing

You know what? Screw press releases. I prefer hearing news from the horse's mouth (the horse in this case, being L.A. band Dawes).

Dawes tweeted the track listing to their April 9 release Stories Don't End.

01: Just Beneath the Surface
02: From a Window Seat
03: Just My Luck
04: Someone Will
05: Most People
06: Something in Common
07: Hey Lover
08: Bear Witness
09: Stories Don't End
10: From the Right Angle
11: Side Effects
12: Just Beneath the Surface (reprise)

At least a couple of these you might have heard if you've caught them live (tracks 2 and 6). Anyway. That's all I've got for now. Stay tuned.

Dawes to Release New Album in April

dawestheband.com

You've got plans for the April 9. That's when L.A. band Dawes is set to release its third album Stories Don't End. 

Frontman Taylor Goldsmith talked to Rolling Stone about the new album which was recorded over the span of five weeks at a studio in Asheville, North Carolina. 

"These are the same four guys that you've gotten to know very well on the first two records, but at the same time, this album feels like a growth," Goldsmith told the magazine, discussing balancing Dawes' 1970's Laurel Canyon sound with something more contemporary.

Check out the rest of the interview with Rolling Stone here. 

Dawes Tweets 'New Record is Done'

Occasionally Twitter bears some pretty sweet fruits. Today, if you were paying attention, you might have caught Dawes sending out a tweet that said they've finished their new record. No more details beyond that, but in a steady stream of food-related Instagrams and political douchebag-ery, this is definitely news worth tweeting about.

Early Days: Simon Dawes

During the time The Musically Inclined went on hiatus this spring/early summer, I developed a great love for L.A. band Dawes, which weirdly is not really reflected in this blog. Case in point: Death Cab for Cutie has a whopping 31 post tags. Well, I guess there's nothing stopping me now. In reading up on the band, I found out about an earlier incarnation, if you can call it that, called Simon Dawes featuring Taylor Goldsmith and bassist Wylie Gelber plus a couple randos. They didn't last too long, but they managed to pack in an LP,  two EPs, and opening gigs with the Walkmen and Band of Horses (to name a few) in the three-ish years they were active. There are some scattered Youtube videos out there, and only one of their EPs, Final Noise, is on Spotify. The part of Simon Dawes I like the best is how not Dawes it is (Alternative? Indie rock? Punk lite?). It's fun to hear the difference. A while ago I read an article that basically said when Simon Dawes gave out to Dawes, it was like the they started wearing boots and plaid shirts and just took on that Jackson Browne-Laurel Canyon-70s California rock-thing, and after hearing the early stuff, I'm was thinking, "My God, they kind of did." How do you just do that? How do you just drop a style and cop another one? Must take some intense dexterity.

I'd like to be disappointed or something, but I'm not. It's like running across an old high school yearbook photo. The two Simon Dawes on Spotify are hard to ignore. "If You Were A Girl" has a very mid career Beatles-esque melody. "The Awful Things" is raggedly energetic and is probably implying an influence I don't know. The lyrics are Goldsmith good, too. "I know the bookies at the corner store. They taught me secrets of the universe and how to talk to girls– a sticky situation that'll put your tongue in curls." I'm going to pick up their debut album Carnivore when I can and see how the rest goes. Check out the Spotify playlist above for those two tracks.

Dawes and Mumford Cover the Beatles

I took great joy in writing that headline, in case you were wondering. Last week Mumford and Sons played a show at the Chicago Theatre and tackled a cover of "With A Little Help From My Friends" with a little help from opening act Dawes (see what I did there?) Folks, it is quite lively. Frontmen Marcus Mumford and Taylor Goldsmith alternated verses. There was much bouncing around on stage. It's a performance like this that makes me wildly jealous of musicians. Check it out.

Dawes at the Cannery Ballroom

Photo: The Musically Inclined

Dawes returned to Nashville and the Cannery Ballroom Sunday night, headlining the venue for the first time.

Frontman Taylor Goldsmith remarked that the band has gotten used to introducing themselves and their songs to unfamiliar audiences, but playing in Nashville it felt like "we know each other." The show had that kind of ease of familiarity to it, like the highest goal was not so much to win fans as it was to please the ones who came out. Even from opener Simone Felice of the Felice Brothers, who brought Nashville's own Apache Relay out to sing tribute to the late Levon Helms via "I Shall Be Released," the night sprawled from a place of community and comfort.

Seeing Dawes perform live certainly brings out a greater appreciation for Taylor Goldsmith's guitar skills. He gets a chance to showcase more than his voice and his songwriting. It's a kick watching him play. Goldsmith moves at the mercy of the music, balancing on his toes or side hopping across the stage.  A live show also means the audience gets the most out of songs like "When My Time Comes" and "How Far We've Come," which naturally demand crowd participation.

Fun fact: Taylor Goldsmith is actually this blurry in real life.

The set list consisted mainly of songs from their last album, Nothing is Wrong, with a handful from their debut album North Hills. They also played two songs, "Something in Common" and "From the Window Seat," off their next record. The latter is about getting "a case of the fears" after being in an airplane for too long, Goldsmith told the crowd.

Early in the set John McCauley (Deer Tick and Taylor Goldsmith's Middle Brother bandmate) joined the band for a few songs, taking verses on "Million Dollar Bill" and "When My Time Comes."

Dawes spaced out well the tunes from their repertoire that best let them jam and expand, like "Peace in the Valley" and "My Way Back Home." Those songs were also a good chance to watch drummer Griffin Goldsmith's intense drumming faces.

Thank you, Google Images. 

For the encore, Dawes played three more songs including "The Way That You Laugh" and heartbreaker "Moon in the Water." Then came those chords we'd been waiting to hear. Cannery Ballroom went into full singalong mode and Felice came back on stage and perched by the drum kit to belt along with everyone else: "You've got that special kind of sadness! You've got that tragic set of charms!" For a band from across the country, it sure felt like they were playing on home turf.

Here's to hoping they'll be back soon.

This Week: Music on TV

It's been a pretty exceptional week for music on the TV. Here are a few of the highlights in case you've been spending your nights apart from the idiot box.

Dawes guest spot on NBC's "Parenthood"

Parenthood may have been one of the last shows you might think of when considering cool, taste-making soundtracks, but over the course of its run, the show has featured songs by The Avett Brothers, The Head and the Heart, and Josh Ritter to name a few. Last night, LA band Dawes made an appearance on the show as themselves.

Alabama Shakes play Conan
With debut album Boys and Girls on the way April 10, we can't wait to hear more from the Shakes. Until then, here's the video of their performance of "Hold On," plus a second song, "I Ain't the Same."

Austin City Limits airs Wilco performance
Popeye (see post below) was nowhere in sight, but Jeff Tweedy & Co. held it down pretty well. Check out the episode, which featured eleven songs from various albums. No doubt Olive Oyl was in the front row.

Watch Wilco on PBS. See more from Austin City Limits.

The Musically Inclined's Top 10 Finds of 2011

Every year when December rolls around, The Musically Inclined knows two things: it's time to run and duck from the rancid strains of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad," and it's time to step back and talk about what was great this year. 

The latter is more fun, obviously. To this point, you may have already been inundated with 'best of' lists ranging from albums, to music videos, to singles, but hopefully The Musically Inclined can offer you something slightly different. (It's Bon Iver-free!)

We'll get to that in a second. First it should be noted that 2011 was the year that saw some crazy changes in the social habits of music-listening, like Turntable.fm and Spotify's invasion of the US and your productivity. (At the moment, I'm listening to M83's danceable record Hurry Up, We're Dreaming because a friend shot it over to my Spotify inbox. Oh, brave new world.) 

2011 was also a year for monster returns, like Paul Simon, Wilco, Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes. We waited and they delivered. 

Buddy Holly tribute albums ran amok and we were definitely rolling in the deep with Adele (whatever that means). 

More importantly than rounding up every little bit of significance from the year, it's time to clean house and get ready for 2012. Hopefully, it'll bring the kind of music we can hardly believe we lived without.

That said, back to the project at hand. Below are the rules for how songs can make The Musically Inclined's Top 10 Finds of 2011, and under those are the best discoveries of the past twelve months. Click here for the Spotify playlist and take them for a spin yourself. 

1. It can be any artist or band TMI hadn't listened to before January '11.
2. Songs have to be good. Catchy? Bouncy? Quirky? Sure, but mostly they just have to be solid. Doesn't hurt to be fun and mildly screwy, either.

That's all. Scroll on. 

1. Somebody That I Used to Know : Gotye

Without a doubt, 2011 belonged to Australian singer/multiinstrumentalist Gotye, even if it was only for the last four months of the year. The track comes courtesy of his latest album, Making Mirrors. The song itself is slinky and power packed. Gotye channels the best shades of Sting. Plus, you'll find some of the coolest, most unique sounds and samples on not just this song, but the whole album. Beyond all that, I'd be remiss not to mention fellow Australian singer Kimbra, who lends her vocals for the "other side of the story" of this relationship gone bad. It's a standout on an album standouts, and the music video is nothing short of excellent.

2. Time Spent in Los Angeles : Dawes

Shifting over to a very different sound, second on the list is Los Angeles band Dawes with the first track off their album Nothing is Wrong. There's some great drama in this song. After all, it kicks off with the line "These days my friends don't seem to know me." Pain! But for all the melancholic minor chords, it's a heartening story line of finding out that what you wanted all along, comes from the place you left in the first place. Frontman Taylor Goldsmith and his hearty everyman voice tug on all the right heartstrings. Home is home and sometimes nothing beats it.

3. Let's Go : Madi Diaz

Nashville should be proud Madi Diaz calls it home. Last April, I caught Diaz at Vanderbilt and knew immediately after hearing "Let's Go" that it was going to make it on the list this year. The song is airy escapism and Diaz's vocals are pretty and unaffected as usual. Bring on some good weather and an open calendar. Unconvinced? Check out the video.

4. Rivers and Roads : The Head and the Heart

The first time I heard this song, I was almost unnerved by how timely it was for my friends and I. Recently graduated and scattered, "I miss your face like hell" represented perfectly what several of us were feeling. Every lyric and mournful harmony hit a little bit closer to home. But situation specifics aside, "Rivers and Roads" builds beautifully as if to diminish the sadness. There's almost something cathartic about the loud repetition of the truth that it's "Rivers 'til I reach you."

5.  Hold On : Alabama Shakes

Alabama Shakes is a great reminder that there is always untapped talent out in the world. Hailing from Athens, Al, the Shakes have got a sound so solid and soulful, it's difficult to imagine they only surfaced this year. "Hold On" is the best home for frontwoman Brittany Howard's gift-from-the-rock-gods voice. If you've managed to miss the buzz on these guys, get on board, man.

6. Another Like You : Hayes Carll

"Another Like You" may not be the classiest entry on the list, but it's definitely the most fun. Hayes Carll and Cary Ann Hearst bring us a hooky ballad of the bar. Drunk, mildly belligerent and politically at odds, the guy and gal in question trade jabs and end up in the elevator "making out like Bonnie and Clyde." Hearst's Southern rasp alone would make the song if not for the clever one-liners. Good times all around.

7. Pumped Up Kicks : Foster the People

Yes. Foster the People. This year's Passion Pit. Young, peppy and high-pitched. This entry was a toss up between "Pumped Up Kicks" and "Helena Beat," the opening track to the Los Angeles band's debut album Torches. Both are good, both are catchy, but "Pumped Up Kicks" has that weird buzzy sound punctuating the background. Ergo, winner.

8. We Will All Be Changed : Seryn

This one is a bit of a late addition to the list, but in a year where folk influence and exploding harmonies ruled, "We Will All Be Changed" was a natural fit. Seryn is a band from Denton, Texas. As good as their debut album This is Where We Are is, I'm a bummed there hasn't been more talk about these guys (exempting an appearance on Paste's Best 50 albums of the year and scattered write-ups in Texas media). Here's to hoping 2012 is the year they catch on.

9. Everything Must Spin : Ryan Driver

Check out this charming, funky little track from Canadian artist Ryan Driver. "Everything Must Spin" is philosophy lite, focusing on the cyclical nature of the life. Driver drops in quirky lines like "I don't know how I got home last night, but if I did I guess I'm alright." We'll definitely keep an eye out for what else Driver has to spin. Points for the penguin on the album cover.

10. Mexican Mavis : Boy & Bear

I suppose if you start a list with an Australian, you'd best end with one... or several. Boy & Bear is an indie rock band from down under that will have you fooled into thinking that you're hearing a Fleet Foxes track in the first few moments of "Mexican Mavis." Fortunately, the band delivers more than just that. It's three minutes of cool shifts and rich layers.

So, there you have it. I'll save you the trouble of scrolling back up. Here's the link again to the Spotify playlist.

Here's to a year's worth of new music in 2012!

Time Spent in Los Angeles : Dawes

File this one under "Song Crushes." I've got a few days off and I'm spending some time catching up on music I've been meaning to listen to over the past month or so. Recently, I downloaded the Dawes/Blizten Trapper tour sampler from Noisetrade and this evening I discovered "Time Spent in Los Angeles by Dawes off their 2011 record Nothing is Wrong.

Dawes is from LA and the song is about being gone. I really love the melody, but the lyrics are what really get me because they fit very well with my current state of being far from home.

Ex 1: "When people aks me where I come from, to see what that says about a man, I only end up giving bad directions that never lead them there at all."

You know how it is trying to explain where you're from. You never do it justice, and more you describe it, the less real it feels.

Ex 2: Now I know what I've been missing and I'm going home to make it mine. And I'll be battening the hatches and pulling in the sails.

Definitely want to get back to Nashvegas and pull in the sails. I love that the song talks about placing such great importance on leaving and going to a million different places, only to figure out the most important thing is home.

The chorus is great too. That's where they get to talking about LA. And being originally from Los Angeles myself, I love it all the more.

Lead singer Taylor Goldsmith has a relatable, everyman kind of voice. It's clear and familiar, like someone you went to school with.

Check it out! And really listen to the lyrics. And to the guitars. The whole thing's good.