I'm a fan (and you should be too) because...though I always remember music being a part of my life, one of my earliest memories is of tears for fears singing the song "Shout", there is a clear division between music before and after the avett brothers. I was introduced to them by someone whose opinion rarely steers me wrong and found myself immediately changed because of it. It was many moons ago when I was lucky enough to attend my very first avett show. They played in my hometown of high point at a furniture store. It was an outdoor gig that I actually got extra credit for in a class I was in at the time studying N.C. history. It was sweltering that day and I had a big cold beer in my hand. Myself and a small handful of others, most of whom seemed to be there only by chance were literally steps away from the band. I don't even think there was a make shift stage. I noticed a few people off to the side who weren't looking curiously my way as I belted out the songs along with seth and scott. I migrated their way. One of the three, an older, handsome, and honest looking man looked at me between songs near the end of the set and smiled as he said something to the effect of, "I guess you're a fan of these boys?" I nodded and began dancing and singing again. A few minutes later he continued, "I taught them everything they know. Those are my boys." His smile was one of the greatest I've ever seen. The word pride doesn't do it justice. I experienced my first avett show in the front row(if you can even call it that) with their biggest fan, jim avett. It was one of the best days of my life so far.