Dawes Makes Sharp, Smart Rhythms Happen

LA folk rockers Dawes have created what I'd like to call a corn on the cob tidy little jam with "Things Happen". On the front side you get a magnificent drumroll. On the backside you also get the exact same drumroll. In between I'm struck dumb in a tingling sense by Taylor Goldsmith's guitar, most specifically how he finds the avenue to make his instrument veer into the most ear opening depression spiral you'd ever want to come across. I have to confess I haven't heard a G-chord wrung out for maximum effect quite like this. Meanwhile, over on drums, Griffin Goldsmith taps, taps, taps in the slow method turtles and snails crawl. As audio plot devices go that's how I come to the conclusion "Things Happen" represents downer in the key of walking away from promise and all that a new day possibly ushers in. Yeah yeah, the accompanying video clip isn't populated by individuals who've forgotten which muscles to use to push a smile to their faces. Matter of fact the costume designer deserved a raise, free booze, or the sexy siren of his choice for permitting Dawes to flaunt its whimsical side. That works wonders for audience perception because it runs counter to the barely holding back sobs mindset the guitar chords rip open, a flesh wound made to look mean as possible. Don't turn to Wylie Gelber for assistance since he's too busy lunging his bass into the festering sore we're uneasy witnesses to. Taylor has essentially cleaned up the whole "Shit happens" take on life as we know it. He definitely has a point thinking that the past can't ever stay dead and buried. Dealing with it's the only means to subdue it if not make it bearable. You're taken aback at how Taylor delves into the memory bank, specifically what might happen were he to wring out every last drop. Important concept memory. Our bodies are comprised of atoms. Our souls are comprised of memories, the tangible proof we aren't just transient beings. We left our hand prints in front of Earth's rotating Mann's Chinese Theatre through the fun, somber, and everything in between moments. Those moments give testimony to the notion we weren't spectators in this life. We made noises, joyful, somber, you name it we inserted our soundtrack and pushed go to blast off. Anybody striking an aggrieved tone at how life has turned him/her inside out recognizes the blunt force trauma behind the statement "Let's make a list of all the things the world has put you through." For the majority of us a proper recitation to take several hours, hours we may have deposited in too many of the wrong places anyway. Similarly acid tongued we get "Let's raise a glass to all the people you're not speaking to." Burning bridges strikes me as a waste of cosmic bling but some folks do a bang up job of pushing away every strand of connection that might have redeemed them. What unvarnished truth. The words are as uncompromising as the melodies. If you're not exhausted on some level after you've taken a listen then you have my unqualified respect. It was a supremely wise move not allowing Tay Strathaim's keyboards to gain much all access pass level stage presence. He says hello then promptly recedes into the background so the bass and drums can sap what reserve energy you'd amassed up until then. "Things Happen" makes its artistic concept reach full flesh by staying pretty matter of fact. We may not like the outcomes but who can deny the conclusion. Things do happen. Lives get altered forever. Destinies curve in ways you'd never imagine they could. You wish you could throw your arms around the bass and lend assurance everything will turn out fine. In place of that you follow the weary notes crossing fingers that the last gasp isn't imminent. Best wishes to Dawes. May its last gasp be equally off in the distance also.