RALEIGH -- Just in case you were wondering, there are some audiences that even the mighty Avett Brothers can't rouse into motion.
Just 12 days after a raucous new year's eve show that worked a packed Greensboro Coliseum into a delirious frenzy, the Concord-based Americana band was the featured musical act at Gov. McCrory's inaugural ball Friday. Appropriately dressed for the occasion in black suits, the Avetts took to the Raleigh Convention Center stage for a two-song mini-set shortly before McCrory gave his speech.
They played two numbers from their latest album, the Grammy-nominated "The Carpenter" -- "Live and Die," which is also the end-credits song to the new movie "This Is 40"; and "February Seven." That was one joyous uptempo song and a somber slow one. And it was quite nice, even if the setting and their short time onstage didn't lend itself to their usual ways of cutting loose.
As for the crowd response, it was good, even if the black-tie audience mostly kept to their seats. But as the Avetts waved goodbye and left, the crowd did reward them with a very polite standing ovation.
