Avett Brothers On Austin City Limits Tonight

At least if you get WSIU, channel 21 on Charter in the Metro East. Otherwise, you can see them next week on KETC. Here's the schedule, St. Louis-area fans:
WSIU Saturday, January 23 10 PM
KETC Sunday, January 31, 11 PM
The Heartless Bastards will also be playing.

And the setlist, recorded on November 16, 2009:
I And Love And You
January Wedding
Murder in the City
When I Drink
Slight Figure of Speech
Die Die Die
Talk on Indolence

The Heartless Bastards setlist, recorded June 3, 2009:
Hold Your Head High
Out at Sea
The Mountain
So Quiet
Sway

More info to find the PBS schedule in your area, click here.

Avett Brothers On Letterman: All Part Of The World Domination Plan

1. Write passionate songs
2. Tour relentlessly
3. Get noticed by Rick Rubin
4. Sign to his label
5. Tour the sheds with Dave Matthews Band
6. Have Rick Rubin produce new release
7. Release major label debut after independent releases build grassroots following
8. Appear on Letterman

Check, check, and triple check. Ah, boys, I'll tell them I knew you when. From Off Broadway, opening for BR5-49, to the Sheldon, to the Pageant and beyond.

New Avett Brothers Out Today

"I and Love and You"
I predict a big hit. On first listen the sound feels fuller without feeling like they have betrayed their true selves. I'm happy that Rick Rubin showed some sensitivity to their sound and didn't try to mess with it, rather augment their sound.

Go see them live. They don't hold anything back. The official version of this video has that old "embedding denied because the Record Company is a group of Greedy Pigs who don't understand how things work in the new age", so we'll see how long before this link disappears. Until that time, enjoy:

Avett Brothers: New Album Info & More

The Avett Brothers recently rolled through St Louis, and from all accounts it was a joy to see. Long-time readers know I am a big fan. Would have been there myself, but I had a scheduling conflict with the So Many Dynamos in-store at Vintage Vinyl. The new release is produced by Rick Rubin and will be here on September 29. Here is the finalized track listing:

1. I and Love and You
2. January Wedding
3. Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise
4. And it Spread
5. The Perfect Space
6. Ten Thousand Words
7. Kick Drum Heart
8. Laundry Room
9. Ill with Want
10. Tin Man
11. Slight Figure of Speech
12. It Goes On and On
13. Incomplete and Insecure

The Avetts have also released the artwork for the album, an oil painting by Scott Avett called Julianne In Vain., which I have added to this post for your eyes to take a gander at. Not exactly a light-hearted painting, but very cool that these guys can even paint. As if music wasn't enough!

And I'm very happy to direct you to NPR, where you can see the Avett Brothers perform three songs as part of the Tiny Desk Concert Series. One new one from the album, one so new that it hasn't been recorded yet, and one older song. It's good stuff, and even the guys in the office seem to feed off the band's energy and charisma. Here's the set list: "Laundry Room", "Down With the Shine", and "Bella Donna".

And download the new single here, while you still can.

SXSW Music: Wednesday Report

SXSW Old Skool Rules:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Don't worry about the other 6 bands that you want to see at this exact time. Enjoy the moment and where you are at.
3. If there is a place to sit, then sit.

Here are some quick mini-reviews of some of the bands seen on Wednesday night.
We started off the day with some Stubbs BBQ, and then ended up at the Radio Room, one of those clubs that spring up just for the fest, in the emptiness of some defunct club.
Heartless bastards are better than average, with a strong female singer, and tight band.
Lonely Dear tried to get the crowd chanting right out of the gate, and it didn't work. You have to win us over first, or you may end up looking the fool. Jaunty, did not likee.
Black Joe Lewis, who I had seen before, was even better than I remembered. Tight, fun musicians, all young, a three-piece horn section, some call and response. A soulful set enjoyed by all. They should open up for Sharon Jones, especially since she dances like Tina Turner and he bears a more than passing resemblance to Ike Turner. Just sayin'.
Justin Townes Earle was OK, in the vein of Hank Williams vocally, musically had a bit of a bluegrass bent.

Went to the Austin Music Hall to hear some music, caught some talking and performances, and missed an opportunity to talk to David Yow (Jesus Lizard) as he walked right by us. The old brain wasn't processing fast enough to realize I was missing out until after he was gone.

Warren Hood was at Antone's and his band had a bit of an old-time grand Ole Opry feel to them, very well done, and some nice musicianship.
Next on the bill was Redd Volkaert. Santa Claus + plumber + bulldog + shit-hot country blues licks= awesome.

Back to Stubbs, for the meat of the action. After getting in surprisingly quickly, we saw the Heartless Bastards agian. Still good, even more Rock with the big sound system, but I do think I've seen them enough for a while.
The Avett Brothers came out to an unforgiving mix and were, for this reason and others, alternately bad and awesome. It felt like they felt the need to rock out as much as possible to over-compensate for the large venue. They succeeded only when they let the melodies get quieter and heart-felt.
The Decemberists play what they want, nd have no need to over-compensate in any way. The new release, which they played in it's entirety, was even more prog rock, and bigger than anything they have done to date. All indications say it's a monster, and they were a joy to watch.

Tired beyond belief, it was good to leave them to be united with my sleep number bed. I tried 80, and slept like a rock.

No pictures, because some yayhoo brought his camera, but no way to connect it to his computer.

SXSW Spotlight: Chuck Mead

Chuck Mead is the founder of BR5-49. It seems that they are on hiatus and/or defunct, so he will be playing the festival as Chuck Mead and His Grassy Knoll Boys. I've seen BR5-49 a few times, and they always put on a fun show. The last time I saw them was at Antone's after Chris Scruggs had come in to replace Gary Bennett. We were right next to Chuck and his clear guitar style sounded very good indeed.

And to make this come full circle, the FIRST time I saw the Avett Brothers, who I will hopefully see on Wednesday night, was when they opened up for BR5-49 at Off Broadway here in St Louis.

Chuck's new release comes out on 5/12/09. Here's the first video single from it, "I Wish It Was Friday":



He'll be playing here for SXSW:
Thursday, March 19 3:00 p.m.
Jovita's (1617 S. 1st St)

Thursday, March 19 7:00 p.m.
Mother Egan's (715 W 6th St)

SXSW Spotlight: The Avett Brothers

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know that I am a big fan of this band. Ragged and raw at times, and other times so beautiful it gives me goosebumps. I am not sure how I feel about them opening up for the Dave Matthews band in the big sheds this summer, but at least they will be exposed to a bigger audience. They have also been invited by the boss himself to contribute a cover song to celebrate Springsteen's new album. It's part of a series called "Hangin' On E Street" and features performances by Pete Yorn, Ted Leo, and Against Me! to name a few. Kinda cool stuff. Here they are performing "Glory Days":



And where will the Avett Brothers be at SXSW? Well, I'm glad you asked:
Wednesday, March 18 11:00 p.m.
Stubb's (801 Red River St)
W/ The Decemberists

3/19/09 Austin, TX
Radio Room - Paste/Brooklyn Vegan SxSW Party
(508 E 6th St)

The Avett Brothers- Murder In The City

The Avett Brothers are bit of a conundrum for me. The first time I saw them open up for BR5-49 I could not tell if I loved them or hated them, these wild-eyed romantic hippies bashing and stomping, screaming their lungs out. And there also was some gorgeous harmonies, and lyrics that rang true, an unusual thing.

This song, from the Second Gleam EP, absolutely slays me. It should be a monster hit, one of those medical shows should have it roll over one of those emotional montages, and every man woman and child should own a copy. Look, it's got it all: Musing about growing up:

I wonder who my parents loved the most
I sure did get in lots of trouble
They seemed to let the other go (as the brothers share a smile)
A tear fell from my father's eyes
I wondered what my dad would say
He said I love you and I'm proud of you both
In so many different ways

Romance:

If I get murdered in the city
don't go revenging in my name
One person dead from such is plenty
No need to get locked away
When I leave your arms
The things I think of
No need to get over alarmed
I'm coming home

Acoustic guitars, piano, harmony, family:

Make sure my sister know I loved her
Make sure my mother knows the same
Always remember there was nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name

Not many songs are good enough, real enough, that I feel the emotions and am moved by them. Buy The Second Gleam on itunes, emusic, at your favorite music store, or at least buy this song. These boys deserve it.

For more, here they are from an earlier post from when Jeff and I saw them at the Sheldon. There was no mistaking my feelings for them at that show. It was a rare magical night, starting with this very song:

The Avett Brothers- Talk On Indolence

Reminder: the Avett Brothers are going to be in Carbondale Saturday night. If you ever wondered what Nirvana's energy would be like crossed with bluegrass and lots of foot stomping, well this is the show for you. Here they are, tearing it up:


Each time I see them, my love grows a little more. The show at the Sheldon earlier this year (Here's the opening number, as posted before) was as good as it gets. I even had goosebumps when they left the stage after the main set. People kept clapping in beat, singing. And then clapping and hooting and hollering. And then they started clapping in beat to the last song again. And singing. Even though minutes had passed since the band had left the stage. And everyone kept singing and clapping in unison, until the band came back out and reprised the song, in beat with us, with our backing vocals. Amazing.

The Avett Brothers- September 6, Carbondale, IL

More on the Avett Brothers later, but for now a quick note that they are scheduled to play in Carbondale, IL at the Copper Dragon Brewing Company on September 6. This is a band that is amazing live, and I am going to take the 1.5 hour drive to see them.

Here they are at the Sheldon on May 6 of this year, playing Murder In The City as their opening number:


QUICK EDIT: Is it just me, or does this video have a "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" feel to it?