Dawes and Vetiver Test Out New Songs in Chicago

It seemed to be a night for new jams on Wednesday as both Vetiver and headliners Dawes tested out new songs from their forthcoming albums at Chicago's Lincoln Hall.

Vetiver set the stage first, with their pastoral folk sound resounding through the venue, accented by organ and harmonica flourishes. "This is our last show with Peter Wolf Crier and Dawes, which is a bummer," frontman Andy Cabic revealed after several songs. "We're leaving them to go into the studio and work on our new record," he continued. The crowd cheered and Cabic led the rest of the band into a new song called 'Heartbreak.'

Dawes frontman Taylor Goldsmith joined Vetiver for three songs, including crowd favorite, 'To Find Me Gone,' 'Another Reason to Go' from 2009's 'Tight Knit' and an additional new song. Closing their set with the boppy B-side, 'Wishing Well,' Vetiver got fans' heads nodding as they provided a perfect transition for Dawes to take the stage 15 minutes later.

Female screams cut through the air as Goldsmith appeared back onstage with the rest of Dawes in tow. Playing a mix of songs from their 2009 debut album, 'North Hills,' including 'That Western Skyline,' 'When My Time Comes,' and 'Love Is All I Am,' Dawes also echoed Vetiver by introducing several new songs into their set. 'My Way Back Home' was a reflective look at life on the road and 'How Far We've Come' showcased drummer Griffin Goldsmith's vocals. Between songs, fans yelled out, inquiring as to when Dawes' new album was going to be released. "We're finished recording," Goldsmith said with a smile, "So we're thinking sometime in May." The crowd cheered excitedly and continued to hang on every note as the rest of Dawes' set wound down, leaving fans to wait for more from the California quartet.