Avett Brothers @ Lincoln Theatre

Avett Brothers
Langhorne Slim
The Lincoln Theatre
Thursday, August 4th, 2005

After seeing the Avett Brothers again at the Lincoln last week, I think I understand a little better why I didn't get them as much the first time I saw them. I wasn't very impressed with them at Merlefest 2004 and only figured them out at Merlefest 2005. Here's my theory...

These guys are obviously crazy-talented in both songwriting and in intense live performances. However, I think that they often let themselves get a little loose in the music department to feed the energy that drives their amazing live shows. Getting that loose in the musicality though can give a new listener a sense that they aren't able to play well. Which I now know is just out and out false. They can, and they often play hard. I think this is the mistake I made at Merlefest 2004.

At Merlefest 2005 I'm guessing they had fine-tuned their set to appeal to more of an Americana crowd. They were upbeat and energetic as always, but they'd refined that edge a bit to be a much tighter band. They'd offset all their screaming and off-key punk singing with true and beautiful harmony vocals. I'm guessing they made it a point to go back and forth between those styles. I also think they might have tailored their set list, pulling out some of their older, tried-and-true songs. The show I saw the week after Merlefest was of that same set list, and man were the Avetts tight that week!

This past week though, they were their old selves! They were fast and loose, all over the place. They were busting strings on every other song, breaking vocal chords, and in general pumping their crowd into a beer-fueled, Thursday night punk frenzy. It was great!

However, I think if I'd seen that show first... well, I would've thought they were interesting for sure, but I don't think I would've dug them as much as I do now. Knowing how the songs go, knowing how they're embellishing on the songs with their high intensity, and being able to mesh that together in my head completely expanded my view of this band. I really truly enjoyed myself!

So be warned, my Cowboy Angel friends, the Avetts are a helluva band, but if you're a vocal/music purist, these boys aren't aiming to please. If you like a high energy, blazing pulse acoustic punk show punctuated with slow, heartbreakingly melodic ballads, then by all means the Avetts are your band.

And off the record.. the ballots aren't in yet... but as far as I'm concerned -- the Avett Brothers are Band of the Year for 2005. I really, really doubt that anyone else could come in this late in the year to displace them. They just out and out rock.

Looking for something to buy? I highly recommend you start with their live album, Live, Vol. 2. I also have Carolina Jubilee, Mignonette, and at the show I picked up what I think is an available-only-at-shows recording of theirs from 2002, Live At the Double Door Inn. This earlier effort is a bit rough, but full of that energy I love so much. I'd recommend you pick it up at a show if you're a dedicated fan, but concentrate on their studio albums first if you're a more casual fan.