Avett Brothers Mania and Ticket Winner

It was only six years ago that I was watching The Avett Brothers, sans Bob Crawford, playing outside of a small wine bar, aptly called The Wine Bar, in Charlotte North Carolina. A tip jar was at their feet and the gleam was in their eyes. There were about 25 people there, most of which were college students simply wanting a beer, clueless to the future of these soon-to-be music idols. Tomorrow this same band, with Bob Crawford, will play for a crowd of over 7,000, their largest so far. The 60s had the Beatles, NC has Avett-mania and its in full effect.

Last night a friend and I were discussing the show this weekend and Grayson Currin’s latest article in the Independent (The Avett Brothers ascend: The Concord trio rose from obscurity to balance on the brink of fame). The two of us started chatting about “back in the days” when we used to see the Avetts here and see them there, before the fame hit. I’m sure this is a regular conversation for many Avett fans, attempting to one-up the other person. I saw them “at this place, in this year” or I have seen the band this number of times. Currin, first saw them in 2004, recently toured with the band.  He mentioned to me today that “The Brothers’ success, and their probable rise to even higher levels, is an important reminder that the right things still happen to the right people…” Just another reason why the history comparison conversation will continue with many Avett fans for a long time, they are the right people and this is the right time for their fame.

My friend and I were both there from what seems like the beginning and don’t have a reason to one-up each other. It’s more about the experience or as Currin calls it “come-as-you-are experience, very open and very inclusive”. I often say to myself “It’s the music stupid” when I think about the fame aspect. I also regularly ask my Avett companion, “When is the day we stop going to see them? Will there be one??”. His response says it all “Probably not, but I’m alright with that.” With a band like The Avett Brothers, being “alright with that” is alright with me as well. No matter how big they get, their fan base will only expand.

I compared them once to The Beatles and I’ll do it again. There’s a big difference between hype and pure talent. Inspiration is key in this situations. Masses flock towards passion. Masses flock towards talent. From The Beatles to Barack Obama, passion and talent has brought these masses to their performances. Currin mentions that The Avetts were out to capture the crowd, one fan at a time. This is a strategy that Obama has also employed with one vote at a time. As The Avett Brothers continue building a passionate base one venue and fan at a time, there’s nothing stopping absolute fame and 55,000 screaming fans at Shea Stadium.

As the Second Gleam climbed into the top 10 of both albums and rock albums downloaded this week on iTunes, the brink of fame is surely close and Rick Rubin can only help things. First they’ll have to have to conquer Koka Booth. There are less than 800 tickets left for this show and it is with this that New Raleigh is pleased to announce that the winner of our first ticket giveaway - Bronce McClain.  Bronce has lived in Raleigh since 2001 and has been a fan of the Avett Brothers for 3 years now. This will be Bronce’s 4th show and to quote him their “stage presence is second to none”. We hope Bronce and everyone else enjoys the show. Give us your show feedbacks, favorite song, video links, set list or anything else you wish to share after the event.

Avett Brothers Slideshow and Mixtape via The Independent

 

Read More

Music , Other posts by Jedidiah.