Brotherly Love

North Cackalackey's own Avett Brothers recently swung by New York's Webster Hall. What's amazing to us is these road warriors only have a handful of concerts left in the year, yet already have DOZENS more already scheduled for the 2008. And the band's commitment to touring really makes an impression.

The auditorium was filled (nearly) to the brim with an awful lot of Southern imports. For many, it seemed, it might be the only show they've been to this year... those who attend a lot of shows, you know exactly what we're talking about. Before the brothers Avett (Scott and Seth) and bassist Bob Crawford could even open their mouths, there were seasoned yelps and girlish screams, many requesting songs. The roots group obliged with what they already knew were crowd favorites, including one of ours ("Distraction #74").

For a set that didn't include much in the way of drums (aside from a mighty solo kick drum that was housed in front of Scott as he played banjo), this group is awfully loud. They've got moves -- Seth has a killer bell kick and comes damn near tipping himself over in times of musical interludes. And, good Lord, do they know how to dress.

What we could do without, however, is the continual "aw shucks" parody of a caricature of the backwoods porch-stomp band. "We're gonna go back home and tell all our country kin what polite folk New Yorkers are blah blah blah..." Yeah, because you've already played our fine state one hundred kajillion times.

Opener Will Hoge is a star -- at least for the roots rock, Black Crowes-loving set. That being said, the guy over-sings nearly every note that flies out of his mouth. A big, soulful holler is welcome, but in moderation. His quiet numbers were constantly interrupted by superfluous scales and growls and his big, loud rockers were made to last about 3 minutes too long due to the addition of all "ooh" and "ahh" verses.