Dawes makes the days of Utopa Fest move easy

There is a place called Utopia, TX and not too long ago it was descended upon by artists and music lovers to create an oasis as close to music perfection as one might find. It was away from the reaches of wireless and 3G (because apparently you can't have your Utopia and Google it too) and nestled among the hills where I often expected to glance up and see John Wayne riding by, waving his hat and proclaiming that he's not bad for a one-eyed fat man.

Utopia Fest 2011

It was quiet in the noises of life, rich in the soundtrack of musicians delighted to play beneath the Texas sky to a crowd so delighted to listen and dance. The clear musical highlight of the festival was Dawes, an independent rock group out of sunny Los Angeles. The combination of their talent and musicianship, Taylor Goldsmith’s poetic and poignant lyrics, and their genuine, energetic and soulful performance made for the kind of moments that had my friend shouting, “Why can’t all concerts be exactly like this one!” Hours later, back at our campsite, we sat around with our neighbors quoting lyrics and gushing about their performance. Dawes had certainly made our night move easy. 

Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes at Utopia Fest

I spoke with Taylor after his performance. Standing in the dark by some shrubbery behind the stage, I asked (in a not so subtle homage to Almost Famous), what it is that he loves about music. He reflected, “I like the environment that it creates. Even when we were on stage just now, I was looking at all these silly light up tents and thinking that I’m standing here with 1,000 or so like minded people out in the middle of the Texas mountains, so far away from anything. Here we are getting to know each other better and it’s all because people play music.” 

Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes at Utopia Fest

Those words stuck with me long after our conversation and I thought about these festival strangers who I camped with, shared morning coffee with, on whose shoulders I danced and who helped me change a flat tire at the end a long weekend, all because of our love of music. 

Dawes is breaking out in all kinds of major ways. Taylor Goldsmith has been called “the best songwriter in America,” by Esquire magazine, their video for Time Spent In Los Angeles is climbing the VH1 charts, and last week they played with Mumford and Son’s at the World Cafe 20th Anniversary Concert. And yet, despite all of these major accomplishments, he can still see the magic and joy in a small crowd gathered in Utopia, TX. It is this genuine nature and incredible talent that will take him far for years to come. 

Meeting Taylor last year at ACL along with Chris Chu of Morning Benders