The Avett Brothers

What a wonderful way to start the month... with a show performed by one of my favorite bands ever, The Avett Brothers. So here's a short story- I bought my ticket MONTHS ago before pre-sale because I knew I was going to go no matter what. Me, thinking that my friends would have also gotten the tickets ended up not getting them. Bummed. I was really looking forward to going with them again for the third time... we can't have everything! Well, fast forward to this week and I'm searching around the internet for a few spare tickets. ( Maybe if I buy both, then I can sell it to someone and they can come with me! ) that was my thought process. Not very smart, but it ended up working out because Kyle called me up and asked if there were any tickets left. There actually wasn't supposed to be, but my friend who initially was going to take the spare, couldn't go anymore... and he got to take her place! Although I had to sacrifice the ticket I already bought months ago, it was still worth it because I got two for the price of one. I should never buy tickets unless I'm certain they will sell out... I got these for way below the value.

ANYWAY

The show... incredible, amazing, unreal, magical, etc. Really though. Before I go on at how amazing their set was... I just want to mention how TERRIBLE their first opening band was... uhm... I think the name was "Grace Potter and the Nocturnals". Sooo, whoever said it was okay to wear a sequined mini skirt up to your crotch while jumping up and down and rolling on the ground with your legs spread out like you were about to give birth on a stage, they need to be locked up. There are no exaggerations with this either. It happened. Unbelievable. It was so gross. I don't think I've ever used the word "gross" to describe a performance before but the leading "lady" definitely went there. I was embarrassed for her and I'm sure the rest of the audience was cringing at the sight of it all. PS-You're asking for it if you start your second song with "hey L.A. are you guys feeling dirty tonight? It's Friday night, so here's a dirty one for you..." Get hit by something with 4 wheels please. Thanks.

Aside from that terrible cry out for attention, Brandi Carlille was a nice surprise, and ended her set with something a lot more toned down than what I just described. She closed her set with one of my all time favorite songs by Youth Group: Forever Young. So great. I haven't heard this song in SO long and to hear her sing it quite beautifully made the first hour fade away (thankfully).

And of course... last but certainly not least- Scott, Seth, Bob, Joe and new drummer guy... stole the show. I wouldn't expect anything less. I heard almost all of my favorite songs and they hardly played any of their new songs. Not that I don't like them, but their old stuff is what I hold pretty dear. It was definitely incredible to have the chance to see them for the third time in 3 years. Woo!

The only thing that would have made it a million times better if there weren't any seats. Really. The atmosphere completely changes, and the excitement that the audience usually has is completely confined. At one point in the night I found myself looking around to all of the excited jittery folks in the audience in front of me and behind me... So into the music, and trying to enjoy it as much as they could with the little space that they had! It was sad, because I was apart of that. It looked like everyone standing up in front of their seats were doing this funny little jiggle-wiggle number that would only be appropriate for the space provided. If it was an open floor like the shows they've previously played... it would have been EPIC. EPIC EPIC EPIC. Assigned seating really just tears down our spirits and makes us show-goers feel like we're trapped! Gahh! The performance was as great as ever... it's the stupid large venues and their stupid large rules that makes it impossible to fully appreciate and enjoy. =[ sad.

Despite the stupid seats and the stupid first band, all in all, it was a wonderful night =]




[Good thing there was a jumbo tron screen, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to see any of their beautiful faces =]