Dawes: A Quick European Chat With Wylie Gelbert
Dawes are an American rock band based in LA and have so far released two albums and spent far more time on the road than your average UPS delivery van. They are about to embark upon yet another live tour crossing the Atlantic to play in the UK before jetting back for a New Year eve bash in California. They have just finished recording their third album and hope to have it released early next year. With all that going on I was very fortunate to grab a quick chat with bass player Wylie Gelbert.
H: Can you tell me a little about how Dawes originally formed. I know it was formed from Simon Dawes after Black Mills left.
W: Yeah, Simon Dawes was the original band. I met Taylor and Blake when I was still in high school and that was the band they were in and I ended up joining and we did one studio record with the four of us and a few tours. Then half the band really wanted to stay on tour and the other two guys, incredible musicians that they are, didn’t want to be on the road so much so that’s why it sort of broke up. We had been living in a band house so everyone’s moved out except me and Taylor and Taylors little brother Griffin who’s like fifteen or something at the time started coming around and moved into the house and that’s what became Dawes. We did a couple of shows and some songs and arrangements and we had to find a fourth member which took a really long time. I mean it was a pretty smooth transition between the two bands as far as these things go.
H: I was going to ask about the new album because I know that you have been in the recording studio recently.
W: Yes.
H: Was that in Ashville?
W: Yes, Ashville North Carolina.
H: How did you find that?
W: Well the producer we worked with this time this guy …….. King lives in Nashville which is like four five hours away and we were going to do it there but I think the idea of not doing it in LA this time was to get out of it and away from all the people we know. Being in a place where we live and we can record and only concentrate on that and Nashville is such a major city and going from LA to Nashville isn’t all that far to go and it just happens to be one of the most beautiful towns in the US.
H: I’ve seen some photos of the studio. It seems to be some sort of old converted church is that right?
W: Yeah, there are two studios that are owned by the same guy. Yeah it has a huge stained glass window and where you’re playing there are these tall old art ceiling, it’s a really cool room.
H: That sounds very atmospheric.
W: Yeeeeeees.
H: I’m guessing that all the recording went well, so are you finished in the studio now as I know you’re going on tour soon?
W: Yeah we’re done. We’ve got to mix it and master it still but it is done and yes we leave on the 19th with Mumford again.
H: So do you think that you will have a release date soon for the album or is it going to be more like spring to summer next year?
W: We haven’t thought on a release date yet, we’re still working on a title, but probably around May or June.
H: So you don’t have a title yet?
W: No we don’t but we should!
H: So you’re going back on tour with Mumford & Sons are you looking forward to that?
W: Yes, definitely, we just finished up with them in the states and it couldn’t have been a nicer more fun experience. They are the nicest guys and the shows are huge so no complaints!
H: I know you’ve added in four of your own shows to the Mumford tour which is going to be busy are you all prepared for it?
W: Yeah, it’s rare that we’re not on tour so it’s nothing too daunting for us in terms of schedule.
H: So you’ve got all the tricks of the road down pat then?
W: Yeah we know how small a bag to pack with our belongings.
H: Are there any bands that you would love to play with or go on tour with?
W: Yeah there are a bunch of knarley bands here in LA that we like. I’m not the best one to ask really, I tend to rely on the other members of the band to tell me who’s out there that are really cool. The band Papa in LA that I like, they’re friends of mine and I try to get them out on the road.
H: Is there anywhere in particular that you’re looking forward to playing or somewhere you would love to play?
W: No necessarily, I’m pretty open to anywhere that comes along really.
H: Now I know that you play bass in the band how did you get into playing that particular instrument?
W: That’s really the only instrument that I play, I learnt in the third grade. When I was younger my Mom got me a record called ‘Fresh’, it was really my first record ever, and she played it for me and I was really into it and she asked me “What do you like about it?” and just tried to explain to her what I liked and said“Your talking about the bass.” and then she got me one.
H: You said you rely on the other guys to let you know what new bands are any good but what sort of music do you like?
W: I’m really into a lot of soul music and New Orleans music, for me as a base player, the best bass player are in those genres of music. I’m sort of wedded to that type of music, for better or worse, I’ve been listening to it since I was a kid.
H: So do you think that it has been a big influence in your bass playing and your musical style?
W: Yes, definitely, every time I play bass in Dawes, I’m not trying to turn Dawes into a soul band, but it’s definitely part of my mind set. I feel that with the bass you can be heavily influenced and it’s about how to incorporate that influence. There’s a reason that soul music just makes you want to dance.
Dawes will be performing their own headline shows soon at Oxford – Bullingdon Arms 28thNovember, London – Dingwalls 29th November, Leeds – Brudenell Socia Club 1st December, London – Notting Hill Arts Club 2ndDecember, and Manchester – Ruby Lounge 9th December amidst the now sold out Mumford and Sons tour…
Loose Music are pleased to announce that acclaimed Los Angeles band Dawes have been confirmed as the main support for Mumford & Sons on their “Tour Of Two Halves”. The sold out tour runs between November 21st and December 16th and includes shows at Cardiff’s International Arena, The Manchester Evening News Arena and London’s O2 Arena. The complete list of tour dates is below.
Summer 2012 saw Dawes playing Latitude Festival, T In The Park and Hard Rock Calling in support of their second album “Nothing Is Wrong”. Back in the USA Dawes shared the stage with Mumford & Sons on their sold out Gentlemen Of The Road Tour.
Press reaction to Nothing Is Wrong: –
“Dawes’ sound is redolent of faded denim, scuffed cowboy boots and hours spent on a tour bus”
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
★★★★★ THE INDEPENDENT
“like early Jackson Browne or Jimmy Webb, albeit with a more knowing, rootsy swagger” AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE MONTH
★★★★ UNCUT
“Dawes can proudly count themselves among the best bands to come out of Los Angeles”
ALBUM OF THE WEEK
★★★★½ THE SUN
“strong songs delivered with serenity and confidence”
★★★★ MOJO
“It’s as close to a perfect Americana album as there’s been this year”
THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
“the super-tight LA outfit have picked up where the Eagles left off”
★★★★ THE TIMES
Support shows with Mumford & Sons
21/11 Torquay, Princess Theatre
22/11 Portsmouth, Guildhall
23/11 Ipswich, Regent Theatre
25/11 Dundee, Caird Hall
26/11 Carlisle, Sands Center
27/11 Llandudno, Venue Cymru
04/11 Newcastle, Metro Radio Arena
05/12 Glasgow, SECC
07/12 Birmingham, LG Arena
08/12 Nottingham, Capital FM Arena
10/12 Manchester, Evening News Arena
11/12 London, The O2 Arena
13/12 Cardiff, Cardiff International Arena (CIA)
15/12 Belfast, Odyssey Arena
16/12 Dublin, The O2
http://www.dawestheband.com/ /