By Jacob Pellegrino
The Avett Brothers are a group that I have enjoyed listening to for the past couple of years, since my mother saw them at Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival and told me to check them out when I was in high school. They have a folk/Americana styling that melds with rock sensibilities to create a unique sound that can be equal parts raucous and tender. I’d recommend them to anyone who likes artists such as The Band, The Lumineers, and Fleet Foxes.
The concert began with opener Shovels & Rope, a folk duo that brought a vibrant energy to the start of the show. Shovels & Rope is composed of husband and wife Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, whose chemistry enlivened the act and brought a nice energy to the crowd. Their short set was a fitting complement to The Avett Brothers that helped to create a good mood throughout the venue.
I’m from Dallas, TX and I always like comparing venues for shows in Houston to the ones I know for stops in Dallas. White Oak is an open air venue that has a standing lawn that gets close to the stage, the perfect environment for hearing folk music. However, in Dallas their show was in a larger, auditorium-style venue. The venue choice was helped further by an earlier start time than many concerts I’ve attended recently, so that the first half of The Avett Brothers’ set was backed by the setting sun. White Oak’s outdoor atmosphere was the perfect choice for The Avett Brothers’ music and made the concert all the more enjoyable.
The band consisted of guitar, banjo, piano, cello, and violin at varying times, with some instrument switches and a section with the brothers switching off to perform with smaller sections of the band. Together the range of instruments created a tapestry of sound that engulfed the audience in the music. I love the texture that all of the instruments added to the performance. However, it was also really nice to hear the band pared down to almost solo sets with each brother to showcase their vocal and musical ranges. Throughout the performance, cellist Joe Kwon was a joy to see as he held the cello out for the audience and contributed agreat deal of texture to the songs.
As with their studio recordings, the push and pull between the brothers’ vocals provides a further dynamic feeling to the performance. Seth’s louder and more rock-influenced vocals and Scott’s quieter, nuanced vocals filled the venue and kept the audience engaged throughout the show. Touring member Tania Elizabeth, who also plays violin during shows, joined to sing some of the songs throughout the night and her clear voice was a great addition to the show.
The setlist consisted of originals from a range of their albums along with a selection of covers, my favorites being Jim Croce’s “Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)” and Bob Dylan and The Band’s “I Shall Be Released.” The Avett Brothers did a great job with the covers they chose, both in performing them and in the initial choice of songs.
The Avett Brothers gave a breathtaking performance that only increased how much I enjoy their music! They are currently in the midst of a US tour.
