ACL Live Shot: Avett Brothers

Photo by Jana Birchum

Right out of the gate, the Avett Brothers quelled any fears that, despite two consecutive albums of previously unheard of introspection, they've gone soft. This was accomplished emphatically by opening their AMD set with "Talk on Indolence," a fire-breathing Dylanesque ramble delivered in a machine-gunned, folk-punk style. Mostly they mixed old favorites and new tunes from The Carpenter in just the right amounts to keep people engaged. "In with the young and out with the old" the North Carolina crew crooned on "Down With the Shine," a manifesto for new acoustic bands to make a big noise. There were quiet moments among the rabble-rousing, like the syrupy "January Wedding" and lustful "Laundry Room." Radio hit "Head Full of Doubt/ Road Full of Promise" packed less punch than before, coming across as a skeptical Ben Folds song. Still, with all their influences on parade (bassist Bob Crawford sporting a Carter Family T-shirt was a nice touch), the Avetts managed to whip themselves and the audience into a rock star frenzy.