Mid-way through their set on Wednesday paused to acknowledge their audience, “We want you to know that we understand the amazing quality of being welcome at a place two nights in a row,” Seth Avett said with his Carolina drawl.
The comment was meant to thank an audience that helped sell out two consecutive nights at the . The comment was also said with that characteristic Avett Brothers sincerity – a sincerity that makes you feel like they’re speaking to you, personally, as if they just stopped by your house for a piece of cherry pie and visited with you and Ma and Pa.
“We should just play tomorrow night, too!” Seth concluded.
The crowd exuberantly agreed … and rightfully so.
The Concord, North Carolina-based Avetts seemed to have found a home away from home in the “People’s Republic.” The Boulder show is one of the only stops on their current tour where the Avetts put down roots and stayed multiple nights.
Which makes sense.
Partly because the Avetts are every bit as eclectic as your “typical” Boulder crowd. They often draw comparisons to the Beatles in the same breath in which they’re associated with the Ramones. They’re bluegrass. They’re folk. They’re country-punk. Often times in the same song.
There’s also the hospitality factor. That is, certain Denver-based writers, who shall remain nameless, have written unabashed love letters about the Avetts. They’ve described in detail their exploits to follow the group across the country. Last fall, said writer and his band of Avett loyalists, followed the Avetts on a trip that took them from Telluride through Steamboat Springs, Boulder and Denver. Many glowing words were spoken about that trip. But the show that was the hands-down “best’ was at the Boulder Theater.
Itap like the Boulder Theater and the Avetts were meant for each other. Or maybe the Avetts just have that effect on all the places they visit.
Fast-forward to this week as the Avetts showed Boulder some Carolina love. Actually, it was more like the Avetts took Boulder out for a good time, stole its heart, broke it, did some soul searching, then came back filled with regret and found redemption. Twice.
Tuesday nightap show took place on a warm-ish early Spring evening. The Avetts came to the door plaid-clad and ready to hang out. Then, on a drizzly Wednesday they put on their best duds – Scott in cowboy-chic, Seth in a black three-piece, Bob in a bow tie – and took us out for a romantic dinner.
Onstage the group played before a backdrop of Scottap homespun album art – a matrix of black and red paisleys. The Avett Brothers played as Scott Avett on banjo/keyboards, Seth Avett on guitar/keyboard, Bob Crawford on stand-up bass, cellist Joe Kwon, and, to many Avett faithful’s surprise, a drummer, Jacob Edwards. (Scott and Seth usually provide their own percussion – Scott on kickdrum and Seth on high-hat.)
The Avetts moved skillfully from bluegrass foot stompers like “I Killed Sally’s Lover” to the cowboy-piano-centered “Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise.” Each set lasted roughly 90 minutes and took the crowd on a topsy turvey trip through the Appalachians. The trip was at its peaks awe-shucks enthusiastic (“January Wedding”) and in its valleys tear-jerking and sorrowful (“Murder in the City”). Very seldom did the two sets duplicate each other except for a few choice songs like “Salina,” “I and Love and You” and a few others. And rarely did the two sets mosey.
Though they’ve always been adept at live shows, the Avetts seemed noticeably more polished than they were less than a year ago. But not in a bad way. They can still be ragged and down-home when needed.
Seth seemed more comfortable at drawing out and meandering on lyrics, and Scott seemed, well … Scott is a badass. And Joe and Bob played their cello and bass in all the right ways – sometimes as if they were rock instruments, on their side, or held to the crowd and strangled in one hand. Other times they sweetly bowed/plucked their strings to compliment the song.
At the end of each night, the Avetts bid the crowd adieu in that way that said, “Thanks for letting us play for you.”
Check out the next page for an impromptu haiku contest surrounding an Avett Brothers ticket for sale on craigslist.
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Troy Markgraf is a Denver-based writer and a regular contributor to Reverb.
Brittany Moore is a Boulder-based photographer and a regular contributor to Reverb. Check out more of her work and her blog .
Joshua Elioseff is a Boulder-based freelance photographer and regular Reverb contributor. Check out his .
By Joe Murphy
Friend of Reverb/Denver Post Staffer
I had a ticket to Wednesday’s Avett Brothers show at the Boulder Theater. I couldn’t go, and so I went to craigslist to sell the ticket.
I didn’t want to sell it to the first person to email me … that’s boring. So I wrote this in the post: “If you want the ticket, send an email with a haiku about the Avett Brothers. Best haiku gets the ticket.”
Here are the haikus I got:
Hark! Honey on earssight, smell, touch, taste envious.
Avett Bros. good sound.
— Sean S.
Retarded are youIn the request that you have
For avett tickets
— Chris S.
Which begat:
Chris didn't mean itHe needs me to reconnect
Him to the beauty
— Kathleen M.
Avett Brothers sing,soulful music together,
dancing righteously.
— Max B.
Sold yesterdays tickets by accidentVery sad
Makes me cry like the Avett Brothers
when all the pretty girls in their songs dump them
— Kathleen V.
the avetts are herefor truth and love they shall sing
they are fucking rad!
— Taylor R.
joe magically makesa pretty girl from denver
so very happy
and
poor, starving, artistcan't afford pricey ticket
i'll buy you a drink...
and
ears full of musicticket with my name on it
joe's my new best friend
— Jackie
And the winner:
bearded brothers playby guitars grace, tasty lick
paint smile on my face
— Joshua W.
