The Avett Brothers @ the Charlottesville Pavilion 09.20.08

Posted by Shaun Harvey on September 22nd, 2008 15 Comments

The Avett Brothers [photos by Tom Daly]

Last year, just about this same time in September, hevenerlee and I held the inaugural Avett Brothers pre-game party at our little cabin in the woods.  This was held in preparation for the Avetts show at the Satellite Ballroom on September 21, 2007.  We fired up the grill, put the beer on ice, and gathered the troops together for a blowout.  We blew it out.

As Saturday’s Avett Brothers / Drive-By Truckers show at the Pavilion approached, the plans were finalized for a Pre-Game Round Two.  We made a big pot of gumbo, stocked the coolers once again, pitched a big tent in the front yard, and got down to the business at hand.  The Avett Brothers were returning to Charlottesville and we wanted to be ready.  We thought we were.  Then something crazy happened.  The Avett Brothers took the Pavilion stage.

[Avett Brothers photos by Tom Daly]

————

With the always boisterous Drive-By Truckers waiting in the wings the Avetts came out swinging.  Over the course of their hour and a half opening slot the energy from the stage and the audience just kept growing and growing.  The crowd began to swell by the time the band launched into their second song “Distraction #74″ from 2006’s Four Thieves Gone and you could see a few people looking around asking their neighbors in incredulous tones “Who are these guys?”.  Three songs later, as Scott Avett belted out “Bullet in my shoulder, blood runnin’ down my vest” to kick off “Wanted Man”, an old-timey song once recorded by Doc Watson that in the hands of the Avetts has been transformed into a CBGB’s barn dance, the sweat had began to flow and for all parties involved…it was on.

Scott and Seth Avett [photo by Tom Daly]

Following “Wanted Man”, the Avetts took a moment to catch their collective breath as they presented a beautiful version of the ballad “Living of Love” before launching into “Paranoia in Bflat Major” (which has grown in popularity following the band’s performance of the song on Late Night with Conan O’Brien last spring) with the guaranteed crowd-pleaser “Love Like the Movies”, from A Carolina Jubilee, fresh on its heels.

The Avett Brothers [photo by Tom Daly]

If the first half of the Avett’s set was intended to start the fire, then it was the second half of their nineteen song performance that served to fan the flames.  There was a smoldering version of “Talk on Indolence” which was followed by “Colorshow”, with its “setting the stage for things to come” command of “Be loud, let your color show”.  As if that wasn’t enough to get the fans into high gear, we were also treated with the full-on, stomp your ever-loving heart out number “I Killed Sally’s Lover”.  Those three songs alone should be more than ample proof that the words “banjo” and “punk” can indeed live harmoniously together in the same sentence.

Not to be forgotten amidst all the crash and bang of Saturday’s Pavilion performance is the fact that the Avett Brothers are currently touring behind their latest album The Second Gleam and that they’ve currently begun work on their first album for American Recordings under the guidance of producer Rick Rubin.  And while the Avetts definitely have an arsenal of songs which can leave you breathless from joyous head-banging, they can also just as easily take your breath away with their soaring harmonies and tender moments of brilliance as evident on “Tear Down the House” and “The Greatest Sum”, both of which appear on their latest record.  Also thrown into the mix were a couple of newer songs (”Tin Man” and “Kick Drum Heart”) which appear to be headed for inclusion on their forthcoming record and have been appearing in the band’s live shows for months now.  [Scott played drums on both, with Seth jumping on keyboards for “Kick Drum Heart”]

Seth Avett [photo by Tom Daly]

By now you’d think we’d be all but done with this Avett Brothers’ show.  Well there’s an old saying out there that’s been repeated many times by those much wiser than I and it goes something like this.  “Why don’t we save the best for last.”  The best for last is why we came, the best for last is why I’ve lost my voice, the best for last is why the Avett Brothers remain my favorite band to see live.

For the most part the Avett Brothers are an all-acoustic band.  For the most part.  There is one glaring exception.  Halfway through last year’s Emotionalism album there’s a song called “Pretty Girl from Chile”.  It starts off innocently enough with a banjo and a guitar gently strummed, but about halfway through things take a very noticeable turn.  The tempo shifts, it moves from ballad to beat, from beat to breaking point, and from breaking point to an onslaught of electric guitar and pounding drums.  This is how you end a show.  This is how you set the stage for the Drive-By Truckers.  This is how it all went down.

Scott Avett [photo by Tom Daly]

When “Pretty Girl from Chile” ended it was greeted with a roar that equaled the one coming from the stage just moments ago.  It continued as the band exited the stage.  It rose as the lights stayed down.  It peaked at some point beyond the top of the Pavilion’s canopy.  It was followed by one of the best version’s of “November Blue” I’ve ever heard.   It added new fans to the growing sea.  It proved why the Avett Brothers are on their way.  It was a double-bill you’ll remember.  It was a tough act to follow.  It has me looking forward to next year’s show.

Scott Avett [photo by Tom Daly]

[all photos by Tom Daly]

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15 Responses to “The Avett Brothers @ the Charlottesville Pavilion 09.20.08”

  1. 22 Sep 2008 at 3:13 pm1Shaun Harvey said:

    Thanks to Tom for the photos as always, thanks to the Pavilion for bringing the boys back to town, and thanks to Wahooptie for getting all of our party people to the show.

  2. 22 Sep 2008 at 4:31 pm2downhomegirl said:

    As two of the aforementioned party people, we can attest to all that Shaun has written here. This show was one of the highlights of our summer, and we were able to share it with some amazing people. Great music, great food, great booze, great folks. Tom, your pictures have captured the spirit of The Avett Brothers and their music beautifully. Shaun and Sissy, thank you as always for your warm hospitality. Only one question remains…same time, same place next year?

    ~A and M

  3. 22 Sep 2008 at 4:34 pm3Shaun Harvey said:

    Also, I’m sure some of you out there (Drive-By Trucker fans in particular) are wondering why a full spread on the Avetts and hardly any mention of the Truckers performance? A couple things at work here. One is that I was pulled in a number of different directions. A load of out-of-town friends came to visit (many of them who came to see the Avetts exclusively) and I was trying to say Hi to as many as possible. As a result, I didn’t get a chance to focus on the first half of the Truckers show. Secondly, the sum of the photos taken were from the Avetts performance and I wanted to get as many posted as possible. Tom has done great work for us all season long and I wanted his efforts to get their proper due. This was also the first of two shows I was seeing on Saturday. I managed to check out the Earl Knox show at Rapture later that night. (more on that tomorrow).

    For these reasons, I felt like I couldn’t give the Truckers their proper due without stretching the truth concerning my own involvement. And this is coming from a Truckers fan since first hearing Southern Rock Opera over five years ago and owning every album since. I just felt as if any opinion I had concerning the band’s performance would have been less than the band and their fans deserved. So if you’re a Truckers fan and would like to send in your take die-hard take on their Charlottesville performance, send in your thoughts to me [shaun@spicybear.com] and I will post them for all to see. That’s the truth from this side of the stage in every way.

  4. 22 Sep 2008 at 4:49 pm4Shaun Harvey said:

    @2 “same time, same place next year?”

    Let’s hope so.

  5. 23 Sep 2008 at 11:56 am5NewmaN said:

    I’m really sorry that I missed the Avetts. It sounds like something I’d really enjoy. I got home just in time to hear the dreadful truckers from my back porch. The best word I have for them is “overrated”. And that doesn’t quite say it all.

    I’ll definitely catch the Avetts next chance I get. Great review, by the way.

  6. 23 Sep 2008 at 12:11 pm6Shaun Harvey said:

    @5 Even the parts of the Truckers show I caught paled in comparison to what the Avetts achieved in their set prior. The Truckers never drew me and demanded that I watched while the Avetts had to seen and heard…there was no avoiding it.

    Saturday’s Avett show was #15. Floyd this year remains at the top, but this one deserves high praise. Not sure it’s beats out the last show the Avetts every played at the Purple Fiddle in Thomas, WV back on April Fool’s Day 2006 or the Marlinton show I hosted at the Pocahontas Opera House the Friday before they played FloydFest that same year (where Bob broke the neck off his bass by playing it so hard), but it’s up there for sure.

    They’ll be back but I’ll don’t think you’ll see them take the stage first again.

  7. 23 Sep 2008 at 2:18 pm7mc said:

    but I’ll don’t think you’ll see them take the stage first again.

    excellent! that way I can stroll in late as is my habit and not miss a thing. unlike saturday. :(

  8. 23 Sep 2008 at 2:48 pm8squidtank said:

    I saw both of them Shaun and the Truckers were great. I was never a huge Avett Brothers fan and I’m not sure I am a convert but I’ll be damned if they didn’t have some great lyrics. I liked the slower songs more than the foot stomping honkytonk ones. The one about leaving home and your troubles following you? Good stuff. It’s unfortunate that I didn’t care for their fanbase (drunk fratboys).

    Probably not the only recording online but a good one! God bless internet archive. I have been listening to the hell out of this, particularly 18 wheels and Goode’s Field Road… Both of which had Patterson Hood’s amazing stage storytelling.

    http://www.archive.org/details/dbt2008-09-20

  9. 23 Sep 2008 at 3:14 pm9Pinkie said:

    @8: I’d rather see All of 15.

  10. 23 Sep 2008 at 3:38 pm10Shaun Harvey said:

    @8 Weight of Lies I believe is the name of the song you’re referring to from the Avetts. It’s good to hear that the Truckers were on the money. I just had to take my reviewer hat off for awhile. I caught pretty much the last third of the show, from the tail end of “Dead Drunk and Naked” on.

    Archive link is sweet!

  11. 23 Sep 2008 at 3:55 pm11megajon said:

    This show was the first time I finally got to see the Avetts (after four times as a slacker trying). I must say They threw down and it was well received by all! I was very impressed! The pre-party thrown by hevnerlee and shaun was great as was the afterparty that developed. I just can’t believe it took me so long to make it to an Avett Bros show they are fantastic! Can’t wait to do it again.

  12. 23 Sep 2008 at 8:53 pm12squidtank said:

    @9 Go to Tokyo Rose in 2003. Or find the time machine. But like it’s always broke cause like some smart guy made it a long time ago.

  13. 24 Sep 2008 at 8:46 pm13Len said:

    Great review. My wife and I attended the show and had a blast. We got our first taste of the Avetts live in Dewey Beach Delaware and havent looked back. We’re trying to figure out how to quit our jobs and become groupies! What a great venue the Pavillion was and I couldnt agree more, next time they come through Charlottesville they will be the headliner. We are looking forward to the shows in Greensboro and Greenville in a month or so. Take it from someone that has seen them as the only bank on the bill - think that 19 song set was something? Go see them when theyre the only band stepping on stage - youre in for a long night.

  14. 24 Sep 2008 at 10:29 pm14Shaun Harvey said:

    agreed Len. when the avetts are the only band on the bill it is indeed a wonderful thing. it’s a sweatin’, stompin’ thing of beauty and the night is never long enough in my opinion. thanks for stopping by.

  15. 25 Sep 2008 at 10:35 pm15tito said:

    http://bt.etree.org/details.php?id=518772

    as predicted, here is one more source. i think i’ve seen 4 so far, awesome show.

    loved that cooley just rolled with ‘it in the middle of zipcity.

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