Dawes has had a hell of a year.  After releasing their first album, North Hills, in 2009, the band toured constantly, building a fan-base of thousands willing to sing along to the instant anthem of When My Time Comes.  On the road again with a new album worth of songs, and after Taylor and Griffin also released music as Middle Brother (with members of Deer Tick and Delta Spirit), they are in fine form.

We met the band in between some of their high profile outings.  After touring as a backing band for Robbie Robertson, they hit the road with Alison Krauss and Union Station.  We met them just a few days before they headed over to the Newport Folk Festival to back up M. Ward and transform into Middle Brother.  Dawes dominated the fest, in all of its different forms.

We met up with the boys to get a few of their songs in a laid back setting.  Down in the basement of the theater, with the sounds of banjo wafting down the hallway, we huddled up in their dressing room.  We set them up right in front of a line of lights and mirrors, and watched as Taylor swayed back and forth between bulbs, the rays of light flashing and disappearing with the rhythm of the music.

Two of the songs here, If I Wanted Someone and How Far We’ve Come are from the latest album, Nothing is Wrong.  We had to put in a request, though, for That Western Skyline, the beautifully heart-breaking story that opens their first album, North Hills.  It may not be an anthem, but it certainly shows off some fine storytelling skills from Taylor Goldsmith.

This week, Dawes comes back to Boston and hits the Royale on a shared bill with Blitzen Trapper.  Be there to join in the sing-along and watch a band continue to rise.  Here’s a glimpse at the acoustic versions of some songs you’ll hear.

How Far We’ve Come:

That Western Skyline:

If I Wanted Someone:

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