Avett Brothers played a sold-out show at Chastain Park Amphitheatre Fri., Sept. 10.
The North Carolinian natives wasted no time exhibiting their live prowess as they eased their way into a pensive rendition of “Salina,” before captivating the crowd with the jangly “Kick Drum Heart.”
- Perry Julien
Scott and Seth Avett’s penchant for live performance has never been in question. For the Avett Brothers, playing music in front of others has always come naturally—whether in front of a handful of onlookers or thousands of adoring fans. This past weekend presented the latter for the group as they returned to Atlanta for a sold out show at the Classic Chastain Park Amphitheater. This time around, however, it wasn’t about winning over news fans, but persuading Avett Brother purists to buy into their progression toward a more refined and layered sound.
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The North Carolinian natives wasted no time exhibiting their live prowess as they eased their way into a pensive rendition of “Salina,” before captivating the crowd with the jangly “Kick Drum Heart.” As shown with these first two songs, the Avett Brothers demonstrated their mastery of piecing together dynamic set lists. The nearly two-hour show ebbed and flowed from old song to new, from mellow to stomping.
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This sense of precisely controlled energy was most apparent when the band rollicked its way through the frenetic sing-speak of “Slight Figure of Speech,” before entirely slowing things down with only the two Avett Brothers on “When I Drink.” Their reputation for their energetic showmanship remained intact, but was now coupled with a bit of well-timed refinement that took their show to another level. It’s a subtle difference from where they were in past years, but one that only comes about after years on the road. Scott and Seth Avett have found a middle ground between their earlier and more recent works, blending the two eras together for the better.
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The night’s highlight came with their most popular song “I and Love and You”—not because it stands as the benchmark of their commercial success, but due to what the song represents for the band. For a track often noted as the departure of the band into a different direction, one that came at the risk of polarizing their loyal fan base; the song proved that the Avett Brothers made the right choice in progressing forward. As anyone at the Chastain show could attest, “I and Love and You” prevailed as a unifying call bringing together both old and new fans alike.