I feel confident in saying every person leaving the sold out Dawes/Shovels & Rope show on Friday evening was more than pleased. That being said, it would probably be hard to say definitively who had a better time: the audience or the bands. Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith beamed, thanking the crowd in-between songs and mentioning that Madison was one of their larger stops on their current tour.
The chemistry is undeniable between married couple Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, who make up Shovels & Rope. The pair effectively blends elements from the traditions of country, blues, bluegrass, and rock to create a sound that is truly unique. They got the crowd riled up as they performed hits such as “Hail Hail” and “Birmingham” off of their 2012 album O’ Be Joyful. They’ve already had a big year so far, and there is no question why once you see them perform. The energy they create is contagious; they make damn sure that everyone in the audience pays attention to them as they should. They’re poised to return to Madison on September 26 at the High Noon Saloon and you’d be smart not miss it.
Dawes, being the experienced and talented gentlemen they are, was ready to please the large Madison crowd. Their recent work has oft been compared the ’70s-style rock tradition including Jackson Browne, Neil Young, and other California bands of the like. The comparison is fair, but they’re still doing everything that made us fall in love with their music back in 2009 with their debut album North Hills.
Songs off their 2013 album Stories Don’t End, such as “From a Window Seat” and “Most People,” were given plenty of room on stage to expand through Goldsmith’s perfected guitar solos and instrumental breaks. His ability to craft characters and stories that draw an audience in could be likened to artists more on the folk side, such as John Prine or Dylan. This is where Dawes sits comfortably, in between California rockers and storytellers with something important to say.
They peppered their set with older favorites “Time Spent in Los Angeles,” “That Western Skyline,” and “When My Time Comes” — all songs that have aged so well, growing with the band and becoming classics for those who have been with Dawes since the start.
Other unforgettable moments included a Griffin Goldsmith (drums/vocals) led rendition of Bob Seger’s “We’ve Got Tonight,” and an encore that included a cover of the Traveling Wilburys’ “End of the Line” in which Shovels & Rope joined Dawes back on the stage. Friday night showed us that Dawes is truly a modern and evolving band, with roots based in old rock sound and immense songcrafting skills.