Somehow, the Jacobs Pavilion stage didn’t collapse at Friday night’s Avett Brothers concert. Shockingly, the platform was strong enough to hold the weight of such immense talent. Two brothers from Concord, North Carolina, Scott & Seth Avett, were joined by an ensemble that put on one of the best shows of the season.
After casually strolling to the stage, the brothers huddled around a shared microphone for a vocal prelude that led into “Never Apart” from their 2024 self-titled release. Brotherly love and incredible harmonies rang out along the banks of the Cuyahoga River as the audience listened quietly and respectfully.
The “quietly and respectfully” aspect became raucous appreciation for the follow-up tune, “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise,” as Scott sang from behind a piano: “When nothing is owed, deserved, or expected / Your life doesn’t change by someone that’s elected.” (Indeed, Scott!)
The Avett Brothers quickly sold out the 5,000-seat pavilion months in advance, with resale tickets priced as high as several hundred dollars. The guys have succeeded big-time with their unique twist on Americana tunes without much FM radio play and no chart-topping hit. Their relentless touring, word of mouth from their loyal fan base, and top-notch talent have led them to achieve this level of success.
This writer first stumbled upon the Avetts on a muddy mountainside in Floyd, Virginia, in 2005. They played to a small crowd at Floyd Fest, a performance I had honestly filed deep in my memory bank but excitedly recalled when I became a fan for life in 2010 when I got my ears on ‘Live, Volume 3.’
Tonight’s show included music dating back to 2003’s ‘A Carolina Jubilee’ (“The Traveling Song”) through the gents’ 2024 release.
The fun-filled atmosphere continued throughout the evening! “Distraction #74” had the brothers, alongside bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon, alternating one or two words at a time as they whisked through the song’s end.
VIEW CLEVEROCK’S PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW!
One of many barn-stomping/hoedown vibes popped up with a cover of Doc Watson’s “Black Mountain Rag.” The Cleveland crowd couldn’t help but clap, stomp, and holler as Scott & Seth traversed from one side of the stage to the other.
This gig was heavy on the new album (seven songs total), with back-to-back tunes “Love of a Girl” and “2020 Regret” coming early in the set. Kudos to the fans for embracing the new songs. The music slightly differs from the classic Avett sound on earlier albums such as ‘Mignonette’ (2004) and 2009’s ‘I and Love and You.’ As a concert reviewer for nearly 20 years, something is to be said for familiarity. An old song is like an old friend; tried and true. But the adage “make new friends, but keep the old” is also true. Love for new songs and older tunes are not mutually exclusive.
READ CLEVEROCK’S 2022 INTERVIEW WITH SETH AVETT
It was a special treat when everyone except Scott exited the stage as he performed “Murder in the City” solo. The closing lyric, “Always remember there is nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name,” was printed on this reviewer’s wedding program. When Seth returned to the stage, he stepped up the mic and told the crowd that it is a “blessing” to hear his brother perform that song night in and night out. Scott replied by saying a heartfelt thank you from the “angel on his shoulder” before he quipped that the devil on his shoulder said, “It is definitely a blessing for you.” Laughs followed as the brothers continued to joke with each other.
Longtime fiddler Tania Elizabeth had her moment to shine with a delightful solo. Kwon had fun with his cello, frequently dangling it over the fans in the front row.
The undeniable highlight of the show came mid-set with back-to-back-to-back fan favorites. The poetic lyrics of “Laundry Room” (“Tonight I’ll burn the lyrics / ‘Cause every chorus was your name”) concluded with an epic stomp and stammer outro, followed by the clapping that bled over into the upbeat “Talk on Indolence” contrasted beautifully with the intimate “I and Love and You.” (Although the audience was off-key and out of rhythm on this one. It may have been better for the crowd to sit this one out!)
Scott and Seth probably could not escape the Rock and Roll capital without performing “Salina,” where they sing lyrics that get local fans amped up: “Cleveland, I ain’t never felt nothing so strong / Been believin’ the words to my songs, Ohio.” The cheers began before the stanza and grew louder immediately after.
The set closer, “Ain’t No Man,” from 2016’s True Sadness, left the appreciative audience begging for more. A four-song encore began with Scott, Seth, and Crawford huddling up to perform a cover of Toby Keith’s (RIP) “As Good as I Once Was.” The supporting cast returned for one of this writer’s favorite tunes, “Swept Away (Sentimental Version)” (played at this reviewer’s wedding reception). One more upbeat sing-along/dance-along, “The Traveling Song,” yielded to the lyrical masterpiece “No Hard Feelings” to conclude the show.
Swept Away, a theater production based on the music of the Avett Brothers, will begin its run in New York City after critically acclaimed stints in California and Washington, D.C. Performances start on October 29. If the incredible music on display at this show is any indicator, this is not to be missed. {INFO AND TIX}
Opening act Sammy Rae & The Friends put on a kickass set to get things started. These gigs with Avett Brothers are the most prominent stages Sammy & Friends have played to date, and they indeed were up to the task!
The sold-out crowd trickled through the gates during the set. It’s a shame so many fans missed out on the early half of a great performance, but the empty seats didn’t stop Sammy from putting on a passionate show.
The six “friends” included two saxophone players, a guitarist, a bass player, an ivory tickler, and a drummer. (This reviewer probably doesn’t have six close friends, let alone two who can rock a saxophone!)
Sammy’s voice is hard to pinpoint. It’s a far cry from country twang, but Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles is hinted at. (If nothing else, the similarity lies in the powerful pipes!)
Set highlights included “We Made It” ( during which Sammy had the crowd shouting “It’s all good!” after each line) and a cover of Tears for Fears’ classic “Everybody Wants to Rule the World.”
Sammy announced that a new LP is on the way that will include “something for everyone” and feature “13 songs from 13 different genres.” Tonight’s performance hints that the record will be a must-listen.
Of wardrobe note, one of the sax players pulled off a badass tie-dye shirt. In contrast, the keyboard player (perhaps unintentionally) was decked out in a brown and orange outfit, parallel to the Cleveland Browns’ uniforms.
A keytar appeared for the set-closer, leaving newly acquired fans putting memos in their phones to pre-save the new record on Spotify once it is available.
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