Dawes‘ Taylor Goldsmith hosted a Billboard Live At-Home concert Tuesday (April 21) on behalf of his band to raise money for MusiCares, which provides emergency relief to the music community.
Dawes’ fans live for their spirited folk-rock gigs, but in the era of quarantine, Goldsmith slowed things down for a soothing set on his acoustic guitar. His “Time Spent in Los Angeles” felt less earthy like the original synth-tinged tune that’s perfect for driving down Pacific Coast Highway and more breezy for a Malibu beachside bonfire. But the 34-year-old frontman didn’t just have to adjust his songs in the absence of his three bandmates; he had to adjust his banter in between the songs in the absence of a real-life audience.
“It’s so weird singing songs… it’s like being on stage with a mirror in your face,” he told the online viewers who converted their cheering in the comments section. “I get distracted by my corona wrinkles. I should be thinking about the song, right?”
Goldsmith also played “Roll With the Punches,” “Feed the Fire” from their last album Passwords from 2018, “Something in Common” (which he revealed features every guitar chord) and “All Your Favorite Bands.”
Watch Goldsmith’s entire Billboard Live At-Home performance below, and donate to MusiCares here.
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