Avett Brothers @ Preservation Pub

The Avett Brothers
The Preservation Pub (Knoxville, TN)
Thursday, June 23rd 2005

Here's a concert review submitted by my own brother, Anthony R. Karnowski, sci-fi/fantasy novelist extraordinaire:

"Here we are in 2005, and our banjo player is held back by electricity." – Seth Avett, June 23, 2005.

The Avett Brothers' performance at the Preservation Pub in Knoxville, TN last night was indeed fraught with technical difficulties. However, they can hardly be blamed. Back when the Pub was called the Mercury Theatre, punk and heavy metal bands galore played there, and all of them sounded like shit. There's just something about playing in a room shaped like a shoebox that really gives soundmen a hard time. It took three songs before the sound was solidified, and it still never really sounded good.

In fact, the sound was so atrocious—and it was so miserably hot—that I would have considered the show a flop if it hadn't been for the energy put off by the band. I have rarely—if ever—seen a group put so much of themselves into their performances. When I saw them at Merlefest they were by far the most entertaining stage show, but I wondered if they could pull the same thing off in a smaller, less populated space. I was not disappointed. By the end of the first set (the last song they played before their first break was "Me and God"), the crowd was singing along with such gusto it was sometimes difficult to hear the Avetts. Luckily, though, the room is so tiny you are actually standing about five feet from the performers. If it hadn't been for this the sound would have ruined the whole night.

Unfortunately, we had to leave in the middle of the second set just after a roof-shaking rendition of "Love Like the Movies." Overall, I was totally blown away by their performance. Not only did they put on a show as energetic as the ones I witnessed at Merlefest, they were able to fight through the sound and technical difficulties and still put on a killer show.

Having listened to several of their albums, I find their live shows much MUCH more inspiring. While the albums are great (and I find I like them better now that I've seen them in such a close setting), their live shows—pardon my language—fucking rock.

Go to their website now and find out when they'll be in town so you can go. Or at least go pick up Live Vol. 2.

Thanks for the review, Tony! I'm sorry to hear they were having sound troubles but glad to hear it was a good show nonetheless. It warms the heart to hear there was a good showing for them on a Thursday night in Knoxville, just a little farther afield than their home region in North Carolina.

And I'd trust Tony's evaluation of the sound if I were you -- he's played on that stage quite a few times himself.