In the early 2000s, the band Simon Dawes, formed by high school friends Taylor Goldsmith and Blake Mills, brought a Malibu flavor to the solidifying indie rock sound. Once Mills left, it reformed as simply Dawes featuring Taylor Goldsmith and his brother Griffin. It also ditched the “indie” label and settled into a more folk sound, keeping that ocean breeze but incorporating a Laurel Canyon flavor. With each successive release, Dawes’ sound becomes more enigmatic, taking pop sensibilities and flipping them upside down, or at least, sideways with introspective lyrics. The group released the album Oh Brother last year, resulting in an inviting but slightly demanding address to the modern world, full of great melodies.

Dawes

Fri, Sept 26, 8pm, $59

Guild Theatre, Menlo Park

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