Dawes – Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, London 06/03/2012

On the last night of their European tour before they head to Nashville for a show, LA outfit Dawes certainly show no sign of running out of steam. The plaid-shirted crowd here tonight are evidence that the band have gained a well-deserved following on UK shores.Varying markedly in age despite front man Taylor Goldsmith insisting it to be a far younger audience than the previous evening’s show, the crowd is populated by salt-and-pepper haired followers. And with a sound so heavily indebted to Laurel Canyon set of seventies California it’s to be expected. Nevertheless, it only adds credibility to the authenticity of the sound they are so adept at channeling.

Dawes’ second and most recent studio album Nothing is Wrong won critical praise on both sides of the Atlantic and found Jackson Browne offering up his pitch perfect vocals for a couple of tracks. Goldsmith is a mere step away from being a vocal reincarnation, while his tonal similarity on record is exchanged for a youthful exuberance live; bringing a character and conversational tone to the fore when retelling these story-songs.

Certain numbers such as ‘Little Bit of Everything’ are one part The Eagles, one part Drive By Truckers’ perfect marriage of tale and infectious Americana, and though some observations may prove at times overly saccharine or clichéd, Goldsmith nevertheless delivers with such sincerity and crafts with such lyrical precision (and often humour) that we hardly mind.

The four piece, all offering exquisite West Coast harmonies throughout, inject far more into their live foray than their near flawless recordings can suggest. ‘So Well”s space-y Pink Floyd sound could almost be mistaken for an unknown original, and in the applause receives tricks but a few. In fact it’s when Dawes put the brakes on just slightly for these more self-reflexive numbers that they shine far over the high bar they’ve already set for themselves. It recalls not only Browne but echoes of Simon and Garfunkel.

That said, in Dawes’ brasher moments such as ‘Fire Away’, the formulaic and perfectly constructed retro pop song breaks for a bridge of glorious harmonies, before bursting in with a squealing solo from Goldsmith and his sibling, the ever comically expressive Griffin, on drums. Here’s a band who can seamlessly flip from one end of the spectrum to the other in the blink of an eye.

An immaculate sound from a band whose precision removes not an inch of emotion or joy from their performance, this coupling of impassioned vocals with exceptional musicianship marks Dawes as one of the best live bands around right now. There’s an expectation – hell, a certainty – for great things here. But for those who’ve had the pleasure of seeing them on this intimate tour, and indeed any shows in which they shared the stage with Jackson Browne and Jonathon Wilson, they’ll be hoping their secret doesn’t get out for a little while longer.