Dawes Welcomes Inner Critic, Says "No, Thank You" To The Comment Section

Dawes Welcomes Inner Critic, Says "No, Thank You" To The Comment Section

Author: The Bluegrass Situation April 16, 2026 Duration: 56:22
We are so excited to kick off our Interviews at Sea series with DAWES! We had the chance to talk to brothers Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith aboard Cayamo: A Journey Through Song during their 18th voyage in March 2026 in front of a packed audience. The guys have been performing as Dawes since 2009, but the band has been a duo since their 2024 album, 'Oh Brother.' The Goldsmiths have been singing and playing together their whole lives inspired by their musician father, Lenny Goldsmith, who toured as the lead singer of Tower of Power in the 1980s. Taylor was never told it was hard to play guitar or sing, so he just did it. He always knew he wanted to be a professional musician. We talk about the ways his musical career turned out as not quite what he had expected. We also touch on how their singing has evolved over the course of their lives together. Both Taylor and Griff are fathers, so of course we asked about the freedom that comes with priorities changing in their lives and careers – as well as what toys they may have regretted ever letting their kids have. One thing following Dawes around for the past year is the aftermath of the January 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. Both brothers and their parents suffered immense loss due to the flames sweeping through Altadena, destroying thousands of homes and causing over 30 deaths. Griffin's son was born two weeks after the fire, a month early. Dawes became the musical face of the disaster with an emotional performance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' and opening the GRAMMYs with Randy Newman’s “I Love LA” with a veritable supergroup: Sheryl Crow, Brad Paisley, Brittany Howard, St. Vincent, and John Legend. The brothers get into what the experience taught them about healing and reaching a place where this tragedy does not define them. We hear a bit about Taylor's love of collecting first editions and his fear of the comment section and we wrap up with a fun "Which One?" lightning round. Thanks to Dawes! Follow Basic Folk on social media: https://basicfolk.bio.link/ Sign up for Basic Folk's newsletter: https://bit.ly/basicfolknews Help produce Basic Folk by contributing: https://basicfolk.com/donate/ Interested in sponsoring us? Contact BGS: https://bit.ly/sponsorBGSpods Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

There's a certain magic that happens when musicians are given the space to talk not just about their craft, but about the life that feeds it. That's the heart of Basic Folk, a series of conversations that feel more like catching up with an old friend than a formal interview. Hosts Cindy Howes and Lizzie No bring a genuine curiosity and easy warmth to each episode, creating an environment where artists often share stories and insights they might not elsewhere. Since 2018, this podcast has carved out a vital niche, actively seeking to honor and platform the incredible, sometimes under-the-radar, voices within the roots music world. You'll find a beautifully diverse tapestry of sound and experience here, from technical wizards and Grammy-winners like Molly Tuttle to culturally pivotal figures like Leyla McCalla, all united by their connection to folk music's expansive tradition. Produced by The Bluegrass Situation, each episode digs into the personal journeys, creative struggles, and quiet triumphs that shape the music. It’s less about celebrity and more about substance, offering listeners a chance to intimately understand the people behind the songs. Tune in for thoughtful, humorous and deeply human dialogues that remind you why folk music, in all its forms, remains a powerful force for storytelling and connection.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Basic Folk
Podcast Episodes
The Mammals Do Not Want Your Old Farm Equipment, ep. 339 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:00
Mike and Ruth Merenda have been making music together as the Mammals since 2001, with a little break in 2008 to play as Mike & Ruthy. They've been back as the Mammals since 2017 with a couple of great albums, most recent…
Joe Henry & Mark Erelli Wanted to Hang Out, So We Let Them, ep. 338 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:22
Joe Henry has released 15 studio albums, apprenticed for legendary producer T Bone Burnett and, in turn, has produced many other musicians' albums on his own, including three GRAMMY Award-winning albums – for Solomon Bur…
Laurie Lewis' Bluegrass Love Letter to California, ep. 337 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:15
A foundational participant in the '70s Bay Area bluegrass scene, Laurie Lewis knows the power of collaboration. She's been a part of an ensemble in recent years that's called "Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands" with Laurie…
Great Lake Swimmers' Tony Dekker: Accidental Bandleader, ep. 335 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:40
Accidental bandleader and beloved Canadian Tony Dekker joins us to talk about Great Lake Swimmers' new album, 'Caught Light.' Tony is up to old tricks again, like recording in a remote and weird place (in a century-old f…
Mary Chapin Carpenter is the Woman in the Truck, ep. 334 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
Mary Chapin Carpenter's latest album, 'Personal History,' is as lush in production and color as the beautiful farmland she calls home in Virginia. Carpenter will often wake up early for sunrise walks with her dog, Angus,…
2025 Wrap-Up: Gals Chat, A Corn Cob, Alaska, and One Man, ep. 333 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:57
To send 2025 off into the great abyss, we have a sensational year-end Basic Folk roundtable featuring Lizzie's group chat: Kaïa Kater, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, and Isa Burke. It can feel so challenging to know which media you…
Madison Cunningham is Embarrassed All the Time. ep. 332 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
Our episode with Madison Cunningham was one of those all-time Basic Folk moments where a guest gets really deep really quickly. I'm so grateful to have had the chance to speak with this brilliant young torchbearer of the…
Frazey Ford Revisits the Subtle Grooves of 'Indian Ocean', ep. 331 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:19
Frazey Ford has always loved soul music. She fell in love with Otis Redding at age 11 and discovered people like Ann Peebles along the way, but it was Al Green that really knocked her out. She loved the layers, the expre…