Concert Review: Dawes (Columbus, OH; 11.14.24)

Dawes took the stage at the legendary Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio, Thursday night (November 14, 2024), delivering a night of heart-wrenching Americana, sweeping rock, and undeniable musicianship. While the set was heavy with songs from their new album, ‘Oh Brother’ (10.11.24; Dead Wringer), the other songs spanned their career. The evening showcased the band’s signature blend of thoughtful lyrics, intricate instrumentation, and the kind of chemistry that can only come from brothers playing together. 

The night began with a surprisingly great opening act, Winnetka Bowling League, a band that introduced the crowd to a more upbeat, indie-folk edge while leaving plenty of room for introspection. I say “surprisingly” because I wasn’t familiar with them until they played, and they blew me away. While WBL is a relatively new band, lead singer Matthew Koma has had a wild career, including performing EDM music and collaborating with Britney Spears and Shania Twain. This background must give WBL the gratefulness and enthusiasm of a new band while having the performing chops and musicianship of veteran performers. Drummer Kris Mazzarisi seemed to be having a particularly good time. 

WBL’s ability to effortlessly shift from laid-back, toe-tapping tunes to raw, confessional ballads provided a perfect build-up for Dawes, a band known for its own introspective lyricism. Their performance felt like a breath of fresh air—bright, engaging, and full of potential—and they definitely earned their share of applause from the growing crowd. At one point, they even brought out Dawes to sing the ever-catchy “This is Life” with them, a song they wrote with Dawes and Medium Build.

Dawes opened their set with “Still Strangers Sometimes,” a melancholy song about distance in long-term relationships set to a deceptively catchy beat. Dawes, fronted by the ever-charismatic Taylor Goldsmith, has been crafting thoughtful Americana for over a decade, and their live shows have evolved into something special— it was clear with this new song that Thursday night was no exception. 

From the first chord, the band’s musicianship was apparent. Goldsmith’s voice, a smoky blend of gravel and warmth, carried the weight of every lyric with an almost palpable vulnerability. The band—rounded out by his brother Griffin Goldsmith on drums and current touring members, Trevor Menear on guitar, Z Lynch on bass, Ian Bush on percussion, and Frank LoCrasto on keyboards—wasted no time creating that signature Dawes sound: tight grooves, emotive melodies, and a sense of expansive intimacy.

While the setlist had plenty of new songs (the album is only a month old), there were plenty of fan favorites from “All Your Favorite Bands,” “We’re All Gonna Die,” and “Nothing is Wrong.” They also covered the Middle Brother song “Million Dolllar Bill.” It’s a slower song, but it gave LoCrasto a moment to shine on keys during a standout solo. “We always play a slow one like that early in the set to test you,” Taylor joked after they finished the song. 

They picked up the energy by bringing opener Matthew Koma back out on stage to jam on “Comes in Waves” and “When My Time Comes,” delivering back-to-back guitar solos, and then at the end of the song Taylor spun the mic out to the crowd and let them sing the chorus: “When my time comes / Oh oh oh oh.” The song “Someone Else’s Café/Doomscroller Tries to Relax” came next, another fan favorite with trippy drum solos and moments of 70s era ballads, really showing off their range in sound. ” 

Taylor played “St. Augustine at Night” solo after that, giving the crowd some more introspection and a moment to breathe. He brought Griffin out to play with him on “Surprise!” Both of these were tour firsts. The band came back afterwards, and the set ended with the plaintive “All Your Favorite Bands,” which saw the audience swaying together and singing along. The camaraderie between the band and their fans was evident.

One of the standout aspects of the show was the band’s ability to balance intimacy and expansiveness. While Dawes has always been known for their reflective lyrics, their live shows feel almost like communal catharsis. The band lets their musical ideas stretch and breathe. Goldsmith’s thoughtful lyrics pair with genre-bending instrumental improvisations that take the songs from recorded form and into a fuller, more dynamic live expression. The instrumental breakdowns are more than just filler—invitations for each band member to shine, showcasing their undeniable musical chops. 

For the encore, Dawes closed with, “Hilarity Ensues,” a surprising choice, given that it’s a newer song. But the subdued nature of the song showed Dawes had delivered a show that felt both personal and universal. 

Noticeably absent from the set was one of Dawes’ best tunes, “A Little Bit of Everything.” (What the hell, guys?)

The set showed how a band can stay true to its roots while finding ways to grow and evolve. With Winnetka Bowling League’s hopeful, folk-inspired indie rock setting the stage, Dawes brought their blend of thoughtful Americana, introspective songwriting, and high-energy musicianship to a city that has long embraced the genre.