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Live review: The Avett Brothers at “Austin City Limits” taping
Yes, I am late to the party, yet again. Although I have heard The Avett Brothers 2009 release “I and Love and You” a few times, amazingly I’m not very well versed in the North Carolina trio (and sometimes quartet). Amazing in the sense that they seem like a band perfectly suited for my taste - lyrically rich with mostly acoustic instrumentation and a rootsy vibe.
Though the band has made stops in our town as both a supporting act and buzzed-about festival attendee (SXSW & ACL), I had yet to see what is regarded as one of the most energetic live acts on the road. I remedied that with a visit to the KLRU studios to see the band tape a performance for “Austin City Limits” on Monday night.
After seeing varied and disparate acts in recent years, it felt rather authentic to see a countryish act take the “ACL” stage for the final show of the 35th season, which will air on Jan. 23, 2010. Dressed in jeans, boots and bandanas (whether in pocket or on head), the guys seemed to represent well the ethos of the legendary TV show.
The first thing I was struck by was the power of Scott Avett’s voice. For such a slight man, he packs a booming two-by-four wallop of a voice. His voice is enhanced by his brother Seth’s more tender sound, and the duo have created a harmony that bespeaks the years they’ve spent living and singing together.
As the band launched into “Laundry Room,” from “I and Love and You,” it was obvious that their reputation for energetic and excitable shows is well earned. The entire quarter — Scott, brother Seth Avett, bassist Bob Crawford (looking more than a little like Salvatore from “Mad Men”) and cellist Joe Kwan - bounced up and down in their boots and went after their respective instruments with fury. Throughout the show I wondered if the stage would give way under the boots that acted as an extra instrument all night.
While the band of brothers and would-be brothers pogo’d around the stage, the vibe from the crowd did not exactly match the guys’ vigor. In the case of “Go to Sleep” and several other songs, it seemed the fellas were hoping to inspire a little bit of audience participation that never quite happened.
A few audience members did get in on the act in all of the wrong ways, shouting out song requests, imploring Scott to introduce the band and making efforts to engage the North Carolinians in more stage banter. To that last point, Seth acknowledged that the band still had not refined the banter part of their act, which Scott followed by saying they had also not refined other parts of their act.
He was kidding, of course. But the guys did seem to be a bit nervous. Understandable for the two brothers who say they grew up adoring the show that they praised endlessly Monday night.
All of which is not to say the nerves got the best of the brothers and their other string men. Rotating between instruments and belting out introspective and poetic lyrics as they played (and a couple of time, replayed) 17 songs spanning six of their albums over the last six years, the brothers brought a fierce energy to the stage that, along with their step-back-from-the-mic wails and yawps, gave a nod to their history as a rock band. There might be tighter bands (and I still think the brothers could benefit from a more fully fleshed out band, giving them a more textured sound) that have passed through the hallowed studio, but few have matched the earnestness, energy and humility of the Avett Brothers.
The Avett Brothers
Setlist for “Austin City Limits” taping
1. “Laundry Room”
2. “Go to Sleep”
3. “And it Spread”
4. “Salina”
5. “I and Love and You”
6. “Paranoia in B Flat Major”
7. “January Wedding”
8. “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise”
9. “Murder in the City”
10. “Die Die Die”
11. “Salvation Song”
12. “When I Drink”
13. “Slight Figure of Speech”
14. “Please Pardon Yourself”
15. “The Perfect Space”
16. “Colorshow”
E: “Talk on Indolence”
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment Categories: Music
Comments
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By Doug
November 18, 2009 10:02 AM | Link to this
Do I hear 25 Points (Members get this)… All I can say is “And It Spread”
Love ya guys!
By Hillary Pierce
November 18, 2009 12:07 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the kind words Matthew! There were a handfull of us from North Carolina at the taping and we’re so proud to see the boys make it to Austin City Limits. I wish the crowd had reciprocated their energy —we tried down front.
By Vanessa
November 18, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this
I was toward the back of the standing crowd & was disappointed by the crowd as well. I had high hopes for a really energetic group just like every other Avett show I’ve been to but everyone seemed to be bored to tears, which is so ridiculous considering the fact that I think the Avetts are the best band I’ve seen live. They themselves didn’t disappoint. I think they gave it their all & killed it, even the songs they had to re-do. We drove nearly 7 hours with a 10 month old baby & it was well worth it. I’ll be glad to see them again in Dallas then Oklahoma with a crowd that appreciates them.
By Eric
November 18, 2009 5:41 PM | Link to this
They only gave a handful of tickets away to normal fans for this show, which meant the rest of the tickets went to people in the “industry”, which is why the crowd was too cool to dance or get into the music. ACL should always keep a certain number of tickets available to real music fans that will really enjoy being there. It’s in ACL’s interest to do this, cause the real fans bring energy to the atmosphere which makes for a good taping.
By Angela
November 18, 2009 10:37 PM | Link to this
Sadly, i wanted nothing more to jump to my feet during the show but could sense it wouldn’t have gone over well to those behind me. What. a. show!