I know that it is not "blue-grass". I found out about them at merlefest, where I go to listen to all types of folk, blue-grass, and any combination thereof. They're a fun band that carries incredible amounts of energy. Did you know that they used to be a metal band? Hence the yelling, that's their thing. BTW, they have now played 3 times at Merlefest; 2005, 2006, 2008. I've also seen them at Cat's Cradle x2, Lincoln Theatre x2, Reynolds Coliseum, School Kids Records, and Wesleyan College.
@iceaxe56 Their Dad has over 70 acoustic guitars. He raised them on a farm and heavily educated his boys on country/folkblues singer-songwriters. Hard rock was a part of their teenage years as it is for many rural kids. It's honest and sincere that both elements are present in their band, not hokey. They are the two time AMERICANA MUSIC ASSOCIATION duo/group of the year. They are just as popular in the roots community as on college campuses.
Well, I have been listening to and watching the Avett Brothers almost nonstop for the past month. I went to see them this past weekend in Roanoke. Not only was the performance great, their connection with the audience was amazing. Oh yea...iceaxe56....I looked for you there. It was obvious from the start that you could not make it. Nobody looked miserable.
@iceaxe56 Never said they were bluegrass but they draw the attention of bluegrass fans due to being good original folk style singers and they're welcomed with open arms at those events. As for drawing wanna be hippies you couldn't be farther off the mark. Their crowds are some of the best people you'll ever (or in your case never) meet, from 6 to 60 years old these guys bring in good people.
What it is, is AWESOME, KICK ASS music!!! These guys are the most refreshingly original band out there right now. Bluegrass or not, they're closing out Merlefest this year, and I can't WAIT!!!!
You can tell this was waaaaayyyy too early in the morning... Seth has the baggy-I-just-woke-up-what-the-hell look.... And the interviewer dude is just way too... MORNING!
@iceaxe56 It isn't about the screaming, beards, or banjo. It's about the songs. They have put to record some stellar original songs. (If It's the Beaches, Please Pardon Yourself, Murder In the Ciry, Landry Room, to name a few). That is what has made them arguably the greatest grassroots success story of the past decade. Songwriters don't just disappear. All signs show them on their way up and with the substance and artistic approach to give them staying power.
@iceaxe56 Many rural kids tend to gravitate toward hard music in their teens, but some ultimately realize that the emotion and upfrontness they thought they were getting, is better achieved through more stripped down instrumentation that pushes the vocals and lyrics to the front. Punk and Folk share many things. Seth and Scott Avett are the heart of Nemo and the Avetts. There was even an in-between band name Nemo Downstairs. They didn't ditch one band for another they evolved musically.
I don't think this was a bad interview in that the TV show's audience was probably not made up of AB fans. Sure, the interviewer's tone is a bit hokey, but he asks about their style, how trad BG fans react to them, how Bob joined the brothers (and that he isn't a 'brother', and what project they are about to do, He did that all in about 2 minutes, All together, not to bad a job. And of course the Brothers pull off the song so nicely.....
Ha ha... it just occurred to me that this awkward set and interview is probably the influence behind their new video for "Slight Figure Of Speech". Check it out and tell me I'm wrong.
@iceaxe56 Everything they do, every aspect of their music is pulled from the various life/artistic influences. I am very familiar with the American roots tradition. From Doc to Mississippi John Hurt to blues aristists, folk, country, gospel. The Avett Brothers are a very organic, and a natural evolution of folk music (music made for and thrust into popularity by the people) without being hokey. OCMS has instrumental chops but very little else. They have nothing on The Johnson Mountain Boys.
How can such polite young men thrash on those poor insturments so hard? How can such thrashed on instruments make such purdy sounds? "I keep secret sfrom you, You keep secrets from me, 'cause you're so worried 'bout what I'm gonna think.. Well, I'm worried too."
@iceaxe56 They must be doing something right by writing great music that touches their fans and to play not only Merlfest, but also Delfest and the grand daddy of all the Telluride Bluegrass festival
@iceaxe56 The Avetts following was built on streets, churches, taverns, festivals, etc. OCMS is a doped up old timey band. The Avett Brothers mix singer-songwriter country of childhood and grunge intensity of teen years. The only thing the Avetts lyrics are empty of is drug references. OCMS has plenty of those. OCMS is fine when playing traditionals but their originals are flat flops more often than not. Just compare their cover packed debut album to the recent dud of originals Tennessee Pusher
i feel like this guy interviewing them is maybe friends with chief from where in the world is carmen san diego. or like this studio is in the old trios on highway 51 close to carolina place. like the hornets left years ago. find new colors.
@socalsugar yeah--i guess thats why they are called punkgrass-and as about as hokey as you can get--seems like they jumped on the ocms bandwagon but they are a poor comparison--they have their following now but it wont last--i still call it fratgrass because you can go to any college in the south and find these guy:,the band was started on a whim(they were a rock band and it has taken them this far-but to each his own
I can't help it. I have to respond to you iceaxe56. I know you are not a musician because you lack the one thing all musicians share.....respect. These guys are very talented and they will be around for as long as they want to be. You, are a music and social idiot. Look here Sparky.....great music evolves from other great music. It always has and it always will. I would like to say more but I have to go and enjoy myself with friends.......somethiing I bet you don't do often.
i wonder why musicians often being treated as freaks by hosts , i mean seriously they step away from the musicians guests and start asking questions that appears to be coming from a person who digs music while in fact all hosts knows only superficial facts about music. their implicit attitude toward the musician is .."oh what a crappy job your occupying your self with". most interviewers are naive
this isn't the real thing-- look around at their next concert see who attends--that should sum it up---for some reason i don't think they will be around as long as doc and ocmd--they did play merlefest once--
@0boardcertified0 yeah thats me--another ooohhh the avett bros.fan---they are to bluegrass what justin bieber is to rock--"die die die" you gotta be kidding me
@socalsugar There are bands just like this on college campuses--they just happen to hit it with a following-their band nemo wasn't working so they took the string band route--and thru in some screaming and it worked for them---they are starting to fade but let them milk it while it lasts
@socalsugar they will continue as long as they have a college following--but their lyrics are empty--no staying power--and as they say in their interviews they did switch music styles--you don't go from hard rock to folk music--they saw a market for this and jumped on it--old crow started this by playing on the streets of boone--these guys saw ocms and said hey we can do this and tried to copy
Bruce Lafone oh man you must be stupid hah have you ever picked up a musical instrument in your life? You are never 'out of tune' on purpose, if anything it's a alternative tuning but bands do make mistakes I don't think his tuning is perfect in this recording
I have picked up an instrument and yes it is on purpose. I love it when half assed dumb fucks like you think that you know better than a famous band! Get the fuck out of here man, you are NOBODY pretending to be somebody
The instruments are cleverly out of tune.In the 'last " 5 seconds they desperately try to show it was intended to be funny,because they aren't sure it was.Neither am I!
I see your modus operandi... You are probably a blue-grass purist. You think anything that isn't standard old time Appalachia mountain music isn't the real thing. Then you let everyone know how you feel, I don't know why you do, but you do...Good job. we got the point. you don't like it. btw...You should ask Doc Watson about the Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show. They have both opened up for him...go figure.
@socalsugar avett songs are about nothing--they make no sense-and the group was built out of a n c greensboro frat house--now i see they are opening up for a braves game--matter of time and they will be at six flags--there following is growing up and there sound is growing old
@shademonger13sorry to tell you thats not folk--go listen to doc watson--and then hear this crap--i don't know what genre it is --its just loud --and its not old--unlike ocms--they have a following not unlike jonas bros. --and hanson brothers--they try to be something they are not--thats the problem i have with them.
Possibly the worst interviewer ever. Killer music. I hope that guy is out of a job, or selling used cars, because that's about how sincere he was in that interview.
