There are pairings in life that simply belong together: ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and the Cleveland Browns and soul-crushing disappointment.
Then there are pairings that leave you wondering who lost a bet.
On paper, the combination of The Avett Brothers and Mike Patton—the wildly unpredictable frontman of experimental rock outfit Faith No More as well as Mr. Bungle —looks less like a musical collaboration and more like the answer to a trivia question nobody asked. One act built its reputation on heartfelt folk-rock storytelling and emotional sincerity; the other made a career out of gleefully shattering genre conventions and making listeners uncomfortable in the best possible ways.
And yet, on Friday night at Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica, AVTT/PTTN proved that sometimes the strangest combinations produce the most fascinating results.
Starring Patton and brothers Scott and Seth Avett, the fronting trio was backed by Avett Brothers bandmates, including official members Bob Crawford on bass and Joe Kwon on cello, and Avett Sister (Bonnie Avett-Rini) and longtime touring fiddle master, Tania Elizabeth, among others.
The only thing more improbable than this collaboration was the Jacobs Pavilion stage surviving under the sheer weight of the talent assembled upon it.
Speaking with CleveRock the day prior to the show, Scott Avett noted that he is “triggered” by people calling this group a “side project,” or even the word “project,” because, “It sounds so brief and half-hearted or half-baked.” He later went on to say, “I do believe there’s a future with this group. Hopefully those things will continue beyond 2026.”
One by one, the musicians from the “non-project” strolled onto the fog-engulfed stage while a recording of Patton’s “Family Trees” blared on the sound system; immediately met with a roaring approval from the diverse audience that saw a variety of Avett Brothers tour merch mixed with attendees sporting Faith No More tees.
AVTT/PTTN wasted no time, opening with two of the nine tracks from their collaborative self-titled album, “Disappearing” and “The Ox Driver’s Song.”
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After Seth welcomed fans, the first Avett Brothers song of the night, “Ain’t No Man,” offered an early glimpse of how Patton would fit into the Avett universe. Patton, stationed behind a laptop and an assortment of other sound-making toys, joined the chorus of voices onstage, even taking the lead on the song’s memorable refrain: “She is so pretty / He is so fine.” Crawford (who recently penned a biography titled America’s Founding Son John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick – CHECK IT OUT!) anchored the songs with buoyant, deeply-rhythmic bass that offered fans a beat to clap along to.
The first of only two instances in which back-to-back AB songs appeared on the setlist, next up was “No Hard Feelings,” a beautifully poignant meditation on mortality and the fleeting nature of life. Patton took a backseat to the melodic harmonies of Scott and Seth, allowing the song’s emotional weight to take center stage. For longtime Avett fans, it doesn’t get much better than hearing this one performed live.
After a pair of back-to-back Avett Brothers songs, the balance of power shifted to Patton, with the Mr. Bungle son, “Merry Go Bye Bye.” Suddenly, the fans in Faith No More shirts were standing and cheering while some Avett devotees took a well-timed breather in their seats.
Two lesser-known Avett tunes (“Geraldine” and “May It Last”) sandwiched AVTT/PTTN original “Eternal Love,” immediately followed by the first of only two Faith No More tracks in the set, “Digging the Grave,” from 1995’s ‘King for a Day… Fool for a Lifetime,’ which reenergized the Patton faithful.
Just when it seemed the set couldn’t get any more unpredictable, Roger Miller’s 1965 country staple “King of the Road” emerged from left field. The audience’s initial confusion was soon replaced by delighted laughter, and by the song’s conclusion, many—including this reviewer—were singing along.
Scott and Seth danced throughout the night (utilizing the stage in its entirety), the entire ensemble was in top-notch form, and Kwon swung his cello around like a ragdoll. (Hey, Joe! That endpin allows you to rest that heavy instrument on the stage!)
Whoops! I lied earlier. I noted that “it doesn’t get much better” than listening to “No Hard Feelings.” Incorrect. Alone onstage, armed with only an acoustic guitar, Scott performed AB staple “Murder in the City.” The closing lyrics: “Always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name” was printed on the program at my wedding. Oh, and my wife’s; can’t forget her. It was a joint event – and a pairing almost as unlikely as AVTT/PTTN – and similarly, somehow, it works!
The show continued with songs from every angle possible. A song from Seth’s solo album (“It’s Natural”), another Faith No More classic (“Ashes to Ashes”) and, naturally (LOL), a Commodores cover led up to two of my favorite AB tunes, “Satan Pulls the Strings” and “Laundry Room.”
By this point, nobody was surprised by the cover of Dean Martin’s “My Rifle, My Pony, and Me,” which gave way to set-closer, AVTT/PTTN original, “Received.”
This show isn’t for everyone. I get it. As someone fortunate to earn a paycheck by attending concerts – and 17 prior Avett Brothers ticket stubs (albeit many of them digital), this show was unique – a refreshing change in place – something different. For AB fans seeing Scott and Seth for the first time, there was some valid disappointment. Even after a 20 song set filled from start to finish with tunes I cherish, I still leave with a long list of omissions on the setlist that I was longing to hear. That’s the beauty of my love affair for the Avett Brothers. Tonight, I had to add another dozen (or more) songs to the list that I was hoping to hear. I understand the frustration of the uninitiated who didn’t read up on the format of tonight’s show.
The four-song encore brought one more humorous “HUH?” moment to the audience when “Frog Went A-Courtin’” was performed by Scott, Seth, Patton, and Kwon, all who remained seated throughout. BUT, there was a twist! Kwon took over lead vocals and sang them in…wait for it …Korean!
Scott shared a story about taking Patton to a church barbecue prior to this tour in our interview. “On paper, people think that would sound like an awkward place for Mike Patton to be, and it just isn’t,” Scott noted. “It’s actually a perfect place for Mike. He fits in and he’s so caring.”
Perhaps that is where Patton learned the classic church hymn, “It Is Well With My Soul.” Accompanied by Seth on piano, everyone on the stage, Patton included, held sheet music in their hands and sang the hymn in unison. An unexpected ending to a night filled with unexpected moments. Absolute perfection.
Will this group (NOT ‘project’) continue beyond this tour? Who knows! Avett Brothers already have some dates lined up sans-Patton, and in recent days, heavy rumors of a long-awaited Faith No More reunion have circulated on the internet. (I have it on solid authority that this is, in fact, in the works!) Many collaborative groups have high hopes of continuing a partnership, but plans fail to materialize due to other obligations.
If this is the only AVTT/PTTN show that ever comes through Cleveland, I’m fortunate to have been there to witness it.
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