Los Angeles rockers Dawes stopped by the Fillmore in Philadelphia for night three of tour in support of last year’s Oh Brother album. The dreary weather didn’t keep their fans from picking out their best band tees and going out for a fun Friday show that showcased the new record and threw it back for beloved back-catalog cuts from these XPN faves.
Michigander | photo by Ellen C Miller
Michigander is joining Dawes on tour for the next three weeks, and they brought perfect rainy night vibes to open the show. The band (who is part of the just-announced XPoNential Music Festival lineup) put out their self-titled debut album this winter, and frontman Jason Singer cuts from it in duo format with guitarist Jake LeMond. In between songs, they were conversational and funny, engaging the early-bird fans.
The floor was filled by the time Dawes was ready to start their two-hour set, and they came out strong with the opening track off Oh Brother, “Front Row Seat”. Even with a full six-piece band, the bulk of the stage was kept clear so frontman Taylor Goldsmith had space to run around, making for an energetic show.
Dawes | photo by Ellen C Miller
Everyone was all smiles all night, even midway through when Taylor tried finding common ground with his Philadelphia fans by mentioning the Dodgers and pointing out that we’re all champions. The Philly fans responded in typical Philly sports fan fashion- with some light-hearted “boos” and “go birds.”
While they performed a handful of the tracks off Oh Brother, the band also included their older hits and favorites in the 18-song set list. At exactly the halfway point, the XPN staple “When My Time Comes” got everyone on the floor and balcony dancing and singing along. They then slowed it way down right after with Taylor signing “Time Spent in Los Angeles” solo; his brother Griffin joined for a duo performance of “Enough Already,” and the full band returned to rock us through the rest of the night.
Dawes continues their tour on April 16th in Davenport, Iowa before making their way across the midwest and back east. They’ll return to the area on July 10th to play Concerts Under The Stars in King Of Prussia with Phosphorescent. Full dates and ticket information can be found on their website; see more photos from The Fillmore below.