Seeing the Avett Brothers around here right now feels like what it must have been like to see Bruce Springsteen on the Jersey Shore in the early '70s, pre-breakthrough. Which is actually more of a comment on the audience than the band. Saturday night, the Avetts rode the momentum from lots of cool recent developments into Cary's Koka Booth Amphitheatre, drawing a sold-out-to-the-gills crowd that was primed to explode.
That's just what happened at the moment the band came onstage -- a massive roar that sounded like multiples more people than the 7,000 in attendance. It was one of the most electric scenes I've witnessed all year.
Alas, the first few songs were kind of adventures-in-tuning trainwrecky, with some puzzling gear malfunctions. But by the third song, a rocked-up "Die Die Die," the band hit its stride and everything (including the audience sing-alongs that are a part of every Avetts show) picked right up. Between the perfect weather and the delirious crowd and a band seizing its moment, it really felt like the planets lining up.
Comments
Ancient art of "Tu-ning"
Thu, 07/31/2008 - 08:12 — Anonymous (not verified)I'm late to the party on this post, but you've discovered my secret theory on the Avett's....the faulty tuning is on purpose. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the band, but it's their way of being punk, by purposefully being out of tune.
Now in the early days it was a result of banging on their instruments so hard that it was almost impossible to keep them in tune. But as their popularity grew and they honed their sound, I believe it became (to them) an integral part of their sound. Even on their albums there are songs where they are ever so slightly out of tune.
What sealed the deal for me was Merlefest this year. During their epic set, Scott's banjo went WAY out. He stopped and turned aside to tune, didn't cut the sound and you could still hear him in the mix. Just as the string was perfectly in tune, he KEPT GOING just a hair, spun back around and resumed playing. Love it or hate it, it's the slight dissonance that makes them the Avett Brothers.
They're a great band, but
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 14:31 — Anonymous (not verified)They're a great band, but the crowd in Cary was on the verge of beingn Dave Matthews-esque. The crowd contained a disconcerting amount of groping frat boys, embarassing acid dancers, and passed out drunks. The merchandise tent was absurdly large, and full of the symbols of their emerging mainstream identity. They are becoming a brand and a way for people to commercially socially identify themselves. I hope this trend does not contiune.
Have you been listeing for long?
Mon, 07/28/2008 - 07:11 — KaplanInCLT (not verified)I agree on all counts but I'd say that is par for the course. Emerging from a small bar and college scene, on college and public radio, amongst the college touring and festival circuits, both the "drunk frat-boy" and the "spun-yuns" have been a standard of their shows for years just as much as the tattoed metal heads, the black-garbed emo kids, the cool yuppies, and even the heavy concentration fans over 60. This is nothing new. Merchandise and Band Identity are both standards as well, even back in the days of $8 albums ("a dollar a song"), cds, t-shirts, and stickers were a part of their trade. They've done a great job honing their craft and worked very hard for everything they've recieved in turn. For those that bought a shirt, I'll say what's up to you when I see you wearing it, and probablly strike up a conversation about the band or life in general. My hat goes off to all that enjoyed it.
Cheers,
~KaplanInCLT
Whattareyagonnado?
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 16:42 — dmenconi (author)Well, I'm sorry they're no longer your little secret -- but all things must pass. Besides which, if they weren't exploding in popularity, the die-hards would be complaining about the tastelessness of the masses. Seems to me they've done just about everything right so far, in terms of building an audience/career, which I would expect to continue. The fact that so many people dig what they're doing is very positive, I think.
Cool ya got to see The
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 10:25 — allison (not verified)Cool ya got to see The Avetts, I have heard their LIVE shows are explosive. Hope to witness one onefineday.
Surely the most fun I've had
Sun, 07/27/2008 - 09:42 — Anonymous (not verified)Surely the most fun I've had at a show in a long time. It does appear the Avett Bros long overdue breakthrough into fame and riches is coming any day now.