Avett Brothers: A review

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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“We came for salvation…”

That’s a line from the Avett Brothers signature show-ending sign-off, but it could have easily described the emotion of the one thousand fans or so who pressed together in the Orange Peel to see the Avetts. Fans seek salvation – an escape, a cleansing, a rousing call. Friday night, the Avetts delivered – if you take your salvation in the form of thrashing folk/Americana/blue grass.

It’s difficult to describe the music these guys create. Then you consider the force of nature that Scott and Seth Avett and Bob Crawford are on stage, and it makes it even harder. Friday night, it all came together in such a way that Seth noted, in humble understatement: “You know, this is gonna be one where we look back and say, ‘That was a good one.'” (For another review of the show, check out Edgy Mama’s blog.)

Just when you think the Avetts sound a little folky or sweet, they deliver a tune that’s essentially a power rock anthem, complete with fans shouting back lines. Then the Avetts will slow it down again, channeling Nirvana or Pearl Jam in quiet earnestness. Then its back to a Doc Watson tune, only its a Doc Watson tune on meth, hammered out in speed metal fashion (“Get my shotgun, get my blade…”). Then there’s a tune that would make the Violent Femmes proud (the Avetts are opening for the Femmes in an upcoming show, according to their calendar). They take you up and bring you back down. It’s an amazing ride.

The fans Friday knew every word to every song. Not surprising, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been to see a group that inspires such total devotion. The crowd stomped out and shouted their love, and the Avett Brothers clearly felt it, soaked it up and channeled it back into their music.

Seth punctuated tunes with his primal wails, screams even. Scottie bounced and twirled with his banjo, fell to the floor and hopped back up. Scott’s eyes occasionally rolled back in his head, the music possessing him. Bob pounded out a rock-solid foundation on his big bass fiddle.

These guys delivered a complete show. For pace, variety, virtuosity and plain old head bangin’ fun, the Avett Brothers delivered. We can’t say it enough – see them now.

At the end of the night, the Avetts brought their opening act, the everybodyfields, back onto the stage for a couple of covers. First was Pearl Jam’s “I’m Going Hungry,” (“Well I don’t mind stealing bread from the mouth of decadence…”), then came “All I Have to do is Dream,” by the Everly Brothers.”

Finally, the signature ending, “Salvation Song.”

A little taste:

“Now if I’m walkin’ through the rain
And I hear you call my name
I will break into a run without a pause
And if your love laughs at your dreams
Well it’s not as bad as it seems
Either way one of them has got to go
And if you take of my soul
You can still leave it whole
With the pieces of your own you leave behind

“We came for salvation
We came for family
We came for all that’s good that’s how we’ll walk away
We came to break the bad
We came to cheer the sad
We came to leave behind the world a better way”