Dawes Honors Late Tour Manager With Jenny Lewis, Eric Krasno, Lucius & More In Ojai

Dawes presented a special memorial concert honoring the life and legacy of Gerry G, the band’s longtime tour manager and close companion, on Friday night at the Libbey Bowl in Ojai, California. The core members of Dawes were joined by an impressive array of special guests and musical friends for the tribute show, including Jenny Lewis, Eric Krasno, Lucius, The Milk Carton Kids' Kenneth Pattengale, Jonny Fritz and Hattie Webb.

Siblings and co-founders Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith are accompanied in the latest Dawes lineup by bassist Alan Hampton and keyboardist Frank LoCrasto. The quartet opened on Friday with a run of “Someone Else’s Café/Doomscroller Tries to Relax,” “Time Spent In Los Angeles” and “Front Row Seat” before the parade of collaborations began.

Jonny Fritz came out first and led Dawes through his song “I Love Leaving” and then volleyed verses with Taylor Goldsmith on “All Your Favorite Bands.” Singer Hattie Webb followed to sing her own “To The Bone” and to add harp to “Crack The Case.”

Kenneth Pattengale emerged next to team with Dawes on The Milk Carton Kids’ “Michigan.” Pattengale stuck around to sing backup on a version of “Going Down The Road Feeling Bad.” The take on the song often covered by the Grateful Dead also featured Eric Krasno shredding on guitar and harmony vocals from Erica Wolfe.

Lucius kept the show rolling by performing their own “Dusty Trails” along with Dawes and Hattie Webb on harp. Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig remained on stage for the Dawes classic “When My Time Comes” and a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” The latter also featured longtime former Dawes member Trevor Menear on guitar.

The stage was then reset for the arrival of Jenny Lewis. The singer-songwriter guided Dawes and Lucius through “Acid Tongue,” the title track to her 2008 solo album. Griffin Goldsmith came out from behind the drum kit to aid Taylor, Jess and Holly in backing Lewis vocally.

Next, Taylor and Griffin Goldsmith performed a “Roll Tide” duet ahead of their bandmates returning for guest-less versions of “Things Happen,” “Didn’t Fix Me” and “A Little Bit Of Everything.” The memorable tribute then came to a close with a joyous cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” featuring Dawes, Kenneth Pattengale, Lucius, Jenny Lewis and Trevor Menear.

Watch Dawes & Friends pay tribute to Gerry G in Ojai via footage captured by John Ziegwied-Front & Center Concert Videos: