Driven Far Off

As I write this, I’m trying to be objective, but it’s hard. Because let’s face it, The Avett Brothers are easily one of my favorite bands. The sold out House of Blues show included an impressive 90 minute set and after it finished, I still wanted more.

The opening act, the Low Anthem, might have been good. But the crowd, however, was louder than their music. Which is unfortunate because the brief moments I could hear — sounded pretty good.

The Avetts’ opened with “Salina”, a song from 2007’s, Emotionalism, Singing, “Cleveland, I ain’t never felt nothing so strong. Been believing the words to my songs. Ohio I’m leaving, Ohio I’m go.” What better way to get the Cleveland crowd jazzed?

Right from the start the crowd was animated, loud, and moving in all sorts of directions. The song selections ranged from brand new, “Slight Figure of Speech”, old, “Shame”, to older ,”Traveling Song”. With the old songs, the avid fans stood out as they  sang along with their Avett pride plastered on their faces.

The Avetts’ music is throughly dynamic. It’s a bit bluegrass, a bit old school country, with a hint of modern day pop elements. Their new record I and Love and You incorporates more instruments into the mix, creating a grown-up rock sound. But the true beauty of the Avetts’ lies within their song writing. These boys write songs like they’ll never write another again, as if their lives depended upon it. And maybe they do.

I’m almost preaching here, I realize, but here’s the truth “” whether you’re like me, a loyal fan, who is destined to love everything these boys create, or whether you’re just into excellent songwriting with a dash of technical brilliance, or if you’re looking for a lively stage show, or that rare human experience “” the kind that can only happen when squeezed together in a sweaty venue, the Avett Brothers authenticity in all of these regards is undeniable.

The Avetts’ are no amateurs. This is simply what they were made to do and it’s true “” there is no harmony like brotherly harmony. The Avett Brothers will be making music until the day they die die die.