The Avett Brothers at The Garage

I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to The Avett Brothers last night.

They're a band I only discovered just before Christmas when I read about their new record, I And Love And You, being produced by Rick Rubin. So I got hold of the album on import (it's only just coming out in the UK), and I knew right away it was a keeper - the title track made it on to October's The Monthly. It's broadly Americana but done with a kind of rock aesthetic. And the fact the Brothers are very proficient with all their multi-talents just makes the whole affair even more interesting.

But I hadn't delved into their back catalogue and frankly last year I had a few too many nights when I went to shows of bands who I knew a bit of, but not much, and so didn't really 'get' the gig. But this was a freebie outing, round the corner from where I live and with a best mate, so there was no reason not to go. I'll say right now that that's the best decision I've made in a long time!


The three Avetts were joined onstage by a cellist (and not a bassoonist as I drunkly suggested he was) for the whole show, and while that guy stuck to his task in hand, the Avetts all played a range of instruments - drums, organ, guitar, harmonica, banjo and of course singing. So for quite a few tracks (the majority in fact), they didn't have a drummer behind the kit as they all stood front of stage playing. But there was never a sense that the sound was lacking for that - it was all incredibly uplifting, beguiling alt.country and the fact that I knew very few of their songs didn't make the slightest bit of difference, and it's very rare that you can say that at a gig I reckon.


I shed a tear, I held my clapping hands aloft and danced, yes, danced, the whole night. Brilliant.


I also bumped into two photographers that I used to work with a lot in my Polydor days, the lovely Steve Gillett and Angela Lubrano of Livepix. They very kindly sent some images my way and so that's one of theirs at the top of this post. Thanks guys!

All the other fuzzy photos are my own iPhone efforts, so don't blame anyone else for them. Right, I'd better go, I have to listen to the five Avett Brothers albums I bought this morning, but watch this space for a special Avett themed Lyrics post soon.