‘This is for the other people’: Dawes hosts Eaton fire benefit with star lineup

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One year after the tragic Eaton fire, the Los Angeles band Dawes is hosting a benefit concert on Wednesday night to support those affected. The fire claimed 19 lives and destroyed over 9,000 homes and buildings in the San Gabriel Mountains foothills.

The fire also impacted the two brothers who have been in charge of Dawes for over fifteen years.

Last January, a fire tragically destroyed the Altadena home of drummer Griffin Goldsmith. His brother, singer-guitarist Taylor Goldsmith, also lost his recording studio and years of musical equipment in the same event. Their parents’ house in Altadena was also burned down.

Taylor, age 40, recently remembered a conversation with her therapist. Early in their sessions, the therapist jokingly pointed out that she was now seeing what her family was like in a truly challenging situation, referencing the difficult circumstances she was facing.

Kathy Griffin, 35, emphasized that Wednesday’s show at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium isn’t about her own struggles. Instead, it’s meant to support others who are facing even greater difficulties, and that’s what makes performing it so rewarding.

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The ‘A Concert for Altadena’ will raise money for the Altadena Builds Back Foundation and feature performances by Dawes, Stephen Stills, Lord Huron, Aloe Blacc, Rufus Wainwright, Lucius, Jenny Lewis, and Brandon Flowers of The Killers. Mandy Moore, singer and actor, will also perform, and John C. Reilly will host the event.

Country star Brad Paisley, who also lives part-time in Los Angeles, is also performing. He kicked off last year’s Grammy Awards with a lively performance of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” alongside Sheryl Crow, St. Vincent, Brittany Howard, and John Legend.

The brothers are aiming to collect at least $500,000 through the show. They planned the event with guitarist Eric Krasno, who will be performing, and Kevin Lyman, the founder of the Warped Tour. Lyman, who also lives in Altadena, unfortunately had smoke damage to his home in the fire.

Griffin explained that the recovery is just starting, and while the world continues to move forward, these issues won’t resolve on their own. He emphasized that progress requires active effort and attention.

Dawes started around 2009, with members who grew up in Malibu. They play a rock style that’s rooted in country music and reminiscent of artists like Jackson Browne, the Eagles, and Warren Zevon – think lots of strummed guitars and heartfelt songwriting.

Paisley described their music as sounding like a classic ‘old Hollywood’ vibe, explaining he connected with Taylor through a mutual friend, Moore.

I contacted Mandy after she and her husband got married and told her how much I admired her husband’s songwriting. She shared that with him, and then he got in touch with me, and we became friends.

In 2024, Paisley collaborated with Dawes, recording a live performance of their song “House Parties” at Taylor’s studio, which had a cozy, low-lit atmosphere. The song is from Dawes’ most recent album, “Oh Brother.”

“Couple of months later, the place was gone,” he said. “It’s hard to believe.”

When asked if the fire had affected him, Taylor explained he didn’t want it to change him, stating he didn’t want to give the event that much power over his life. He also said he didn’t want to be seen as a victim, and clarified that he wasn’t trying to sound boastful.

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When people seem surprised to see me doing well, they often want to offer comfort, like a hug. But my first reaction is to brush it off and say I’m okay. I’m not sure if that’s healthy, but I really don’t like it when people assume things are still difficult for me – I don’t want them to think that’s true.

Griffin acknowledged the fire and the damage it caused, saying it could become a significant part of the band’s story and their lives. However, he believes what truly matters is how they rebuild and support the community going forward.

Taylor recently toured a home being rebuilt in Altadena by Altadena Builds Back and Habitat for Humanity after it was destroyed by fire.

He was so impressed with their work that he immediately asked if he could volunteer. They’re building homes quickly – this will be their third or fourth one already.

Griffin commented that the success was remarkable, but the challenge was how to repeat it on a larger scale. He acknowledged that tackling such a big problem felt overwhelming, but suggested that concentrating on smaller, manageable steps could create a sense of progress and achievement.

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Among the many charities that formed after January’s fires, Altadena Girls quickly stood out and gained public support. While they now have a beautiful new center offering a safe space for girls, they’re still facing significant challenges, and donations have begun to slow down.

What do the brothers make of local officials’ handling of relief efforts?

Honestly, after seeing how things have played out, I can’t honestly say I’ve felt much support from the city, county, or state government. It’s disappointing, and while I try to stay optimistic, it’s hard to see where they’ve truly stepped up.

“The bureaucracy makes itself clear really quickly,” Taylor said.

Reflecting on the fire, Taylor acknowledged it’s easy to criticize the response, like questioning why there weren’t enough firefighters. However, as someone who isn’t a fire expert, he feels he shouldn’t be telling others what they should have done or who is to blame.

You know, after everything that happened, Griffin was saying it felt like even the politicians were at a loss. But everyone agreed – the firefighters were incredible. Seriously, nobody was pointing fingers at them. They were just doing their absolute best with what they had to work with, and you gotta respect that.

Taylor explained that when information is limited, people can either assume positive or negative intent. She prefers to believe people have good intentions, acknowledging that others might think she’s being too trusting – and they could be right. Ultimately, that’s the approach they’ve decided to take.

Paisley, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades fire, was deeply impressed by how the Goldsmiths coped with their loss, saying he’d never witnessed such resilience.

The country singer said that while he and his wife, actress Kimberly Williams-Paisley, sold their beloved home in 2013, he felt like that was the only real loss. He added, with feeling, that he was actually more upset about the situation than the buyers were.

Griffin and his wife, Kit Goldsmith, now live in Eagle Rock with their son, who is eleven months old. He was born a bit early, just two weeks after the devastating Eaton fire in Altadena.

He described the baby’s premature birth as shocking, saying he couldn’t believe it was actually happening. He believes the stress he and his partner were under likely caused the early delivery. However, once their son arrived, it gave them a renewed and positive outlook, making them realize what truly mattered most in life.

Do he and his family plan to return to Altadena?

We still own the land, but a lot needs to happen before we know what our plans for it will be, or what the future holds for us,” he explained.

Taylor, Moore, and their three children have returned home to Altadena after being away for nine months due to smoke damage. Taylor is now working on the plans and permits needed to rebuild his studio.

When asked about how the last year would influence his next album, the singer admitted he hadn’t thought that far ahead yet.

He explained that whenever he’s attempted to start writing a song by asking himself ‘What’s the song going to be about?’, it feels forced. He believes this is true at least for now, but he hopes he’ll be able to approach songwriting more naturally in the future.

He continued, explaining that the current atmosphere is definitely influencing their work. He noted that their previous album had a lightheartedness to it, with some songs intentionally playful. He chuckled, adding that he’s not feeling that same carefree spirit at the moment.

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2026-01-06 21:32