In A Big Country

I was at Dawes’ first show of their first headlining tour. The Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, CA. I had one of the best times there. I had no ride back and happily walked from the outskirts of Santa Cruz to the downtown bus to get back to campus. I still listen to their album “North Hills” constantly, and on my drive down to LA it was the perfect tunes to accompany me right then. I am still blown away every time I hear that album, it just resonates in me like almost no other music really has before. I can say hands down it is my single favorite album. One of their songs is just absolutely spellbinding to me, “Peace in the Valley”, something is so wonderful in the lyrics, the minimalist approach to the music for a while and then how it explodes into such wonderful orchestrated chaos but has that amazing polish and structure. Still can’t decide on whether or not I like the studio version best, each time they perform it it seems like a genuine different flavor, as comes with improvisation. But something is so powerful about all ones I’ve heard. This song is the perfect centering tool for me.

Also its just kind of funny, “The Valley” of LA (which they write about so much) is probably where I’m going to end up after school, which is not a problem, just worrisome a bit to me. “If I don’t find peace in the valley / I’ve got no place else to look”

Also pretty damn cool, I ran into him on the street walking to the same Counting Crows show I was going to with my sister in LA this past week. He was with a date and I didn’t want to bug him and tell him all about how I loved his music. But Rosie talked to him and he seemed like such a lovely chill guy. That was the most starstruck I think I’ve ever felt.

I think these walls have a message or have changed
Which it is I can’t decide.
So I leave with the writer that remains
And let him tell me what his better days were like.

And I sit with the memory of kings
With only words to criticize
As if I finally found the antidote for pain
Without knowing what that’s really like.

And our actor ends his love song
And all these lovers sit and stare.
If I don’t find peace in the valley
It’s cause there wasn’t any there.

I will move somewhere the ocean’s never seen.
Somewhere weeds just make their place
Where my best friend’s exist only on screen
Where my love all fits and frays

But I want fire tumbling out into the night
I want you to know why you hold me close
Pull the quarter from my ear, or say you tried
I need magic or the holy ghost.

And as I drive on through these canyons
I’m still feeling like a crook
If I don’t find peace in the valley
I’ve got no place else to look.

(via fuckyeahdawes)