The Avett Brothers at the House of Blues

The Avett Brothers are family. The two leads, Seth and Scott, are real brothers, and bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon are extended family. And the crowd at their shows? Yes, we're family as well. Before they even played a note on Sunday at the House of Blues, the band sincerely thanked the ecstatic audience for showing up, saying "We never thought Boston would feel so much like home." It was a snowy (Oct. 18??!) and cold night, probably not like their home in North Carolina.
And then they ripped it up, played their hearts out and jumping up and down for those crazy relatives who just can't get enough of them. They fuze their country-rock tunes with an indie-rock energy. The Avetts' stellar new album, "I and Love and You," has brought in some new fans -- me included. I didn't know exactly what to expect from them live, though watching clips of their performances on YouTube, I had a good idea what was coming. The new album has some seemingly low-key tunes, including the show opener "January Wedding," but those worried that the new material would slow the boys down were mistaken. By the second tune, "Salvation Song," they were full-on.
Scott and Seth take turns on vocals, even seamlessly on verses of individual songs. They also shared drumming duties, giving up their guitars or banjos between tunes to whack on the kit. Crawford moved between electric and stand-up bass and Kwon added some expressive strings even in pogoing, high-energy songs you wouldn't expect it to work. Another tip-of-the-hat to the House of Blues for near-perfect sound. This is my fifth show there, and the sound has always been great.
While I don't know a lot of the older Avett material, I know they did cover a good cross-section of their past ("Will You Return" from "Emotionalism" and "Pretty Girl From Matthews" from "Country Was") and present ("Laundry Room" and "Tin Man" from "I and Love and You"). The setlist is below, courtesy of the Avetts message board.
After a solid hour and a half of frenetic fun, the boys came back on stage and twice thanked the crowd for coming out. Then finished up with a great pairing of new and old with "And It Spread" and "If It's the Beaches." We thanked the Avetts and went back out into the cold.

the setlist:
January Wedding
Salvation Song
Head Full of Doubt Road Full of Promise
Talk on Indolence
Tin Man
Tear Down the House
Pretty Girl from Matthews
Slight Figure of Speech
Living of Love
Paranoia
Incomplete and Insecure
Gimme a Kiss
I Would Be Sad
It Goes On and On
Laundry Room
Wanted Man
Left On Laura, Left on Lisa
Perfect Space

And It Spread
If It's the Beaches

A video from the show is below: I didn't shoot it because the HOB police came over and specifically told me not to shoot video. I did take pics.
Click HERE for the pics

The Avetts... and Dragonforce!

I can't wait for the arrival of the Avett Brothers this weekend (House of Blues, Sunday). Their new album, "I and Love and You," is definitely one of the best of the year. Almost every song is great. More to come on them after the show.
I'm still loving my trip to Worcester last weekend to see Dragonforce with my son Adam and his friend. For those unfamiliar with the band, their name pretty much gives away what kind of music they play. While I can't say I'm a fan, I certainly enjoyed the show -- something I never would have seen if it weren't for Adam's interest. The band is sort of goth, speed-metal -- fantasy lyrics (not that you could make them out in concert), two guitars, a keyboardist who also wailed on the keytar!, bassist and singer. The light show was great, dry ice, posing, fans blowing back the bands hair... it was AWESOME!
Anyway, I will write more about my experience in my next issue. Yes, something to look forward to.
Below is a clip someone else took from the show. That's my pic at the top of the keyboard players from Dragonforce and Sonata Arctica in a keytar duel. Told you it was fun.