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Schweiz (Deutsch)Avetts not quite the same
Avetts not quite the same
Posted: Monday, August 3, 2009 - 16:07
Now, let me preface this by saying please don't jump all over me for my opinion.
I've been seeing these guys since the very beginning and I'm not sure any band has blown my mind like these guys have. I've been obsessed for a long time.
BUT, they are starting to get a little bit gimmicky and lovey dovey. I still really enjoy them and I would never skip a near by show, I'm just worried that they are going to continue down the commercial route.
I realize that as a band gets bigger, they go more commercial but I really don't want to see this happen to the Avetts.
I was just at the show in Buffalo on Thursday, and my buddies and I all agreed, that while still great, these shows are starting to change a lot. Maybe it's the Rick Rubin influence or something.
Anyway, I just feel a lot different about the band after seeing the last few shows. Seems to be extra dramatic on stage and kind of pandering to the crowd a little too much.
I'm sure there are some here that will agree to some extent, but feel free to blast away on me. I wish I didn't feel this way because I was so crazy about this band a couple of years ago.
Replies for this Board Topic
Trolly McTrollsalot, is that you?
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Will you forget when we have paid our debts,
who did we borrow from, who did borrow from?
I understand what you are saying. It is kind of like they do not even really GET into their live shows anymore.
And his friend (alterego?), Baiter McTrollerson.
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Will you forget when we have paid our debts,
who did we borrow from, who did borrow from?
Do you think mangine77 and jonnymohegan smoke pot?
"It is kind of like they do not even really GET into their live shows anymore.."
i can't possibly imagine someone actually believing they are not into their shows.... thats the one thing they are unbelievably into... i mean they are entertainers, its what they do - and they do an amazing job at it...
i don't really see your point, but respect it
I don't agree with you in the fact that they have changed... i do believe their music is "changing," however, i don't see it as change but rather evolving.... i think this band is the same as they always have been ( well except for the addition of joe Kwon)....
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Well Locust, Mount Pleasant, Concord.... LETS GOOO!
I don't see why these posters should be teased for expressing a very legitimate concern that many fans share (regardless of whether or not they actually express that concern).
Also, as much as I love the Avetts, I could also understand how they might be less into some shows as they are others, I mean these guys have been touring/will tour almost nonstop for the better part of the year. As much as they try to put on a heartfelt and exciting performance at EVERY show, it must be getting sort of tiring.
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"We love meandering.... ...without being boring (yes we do.)"
Does anyone else have any replies that actually talk about what I'm trying to say? I'm not hating on the band, I still like them. I'm just saying it's a lot different than it was a couple of years ago.
Thanks tuttled.
Heids and masuther, why would you bother responding just to slam on someone?? I was just posting how I feel about the band and wondering if anyone felt the same way.
thats it...they are evolving and growing, as people and a band. isnt that what we should ALL aspire to? how sad to stay the same forever. it does kinda make ME sad, because they cant stay 'my' avetts forever, but i want them to be as successful as they want to be and that means letting them go a little.
...but i still love them
and I still get tears in my eyes at the start of each show.
I didn't slam on anyone. I'm just noticing that there are lots of trolls on the board lately. If you aren't one, then I'm the a**hole, not you. The cool thing is, only you know the answer for sure. Aren't you awesome?
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Will you forget when we have paid our debts,
who did we borrow from, who did borrow from?
mangine77,
I understand what you are saying, there have been other discussions on this subject and there are others that share your concern. I have been seeing the bros. since '06 and yes, there is undeniably a change happening with their songs and live performances. I am enjoying the evolution that is taking place...It seems that as they change and grow as people, their music follows suit. Isn't that the definition of staying honest and true?
btw, thank you for bringing this up in such a civilized and polite manner!
I just saw them in Richmond recently and can say they got into the show as much as ever and the crowd was great.I think they've just matured and refined their style a little.That should be a good thing. They seem tighter than ever live and as always they vary their setlist a lot. That's more than you can say for a lot of bands.
I can't offer any insight on the change as I'm pretty new to the band, but I'm still high from last night's show. I certainly didn't feel like they were pandering to the audience; they were genuine on stage and in person. They were pouring their hearts and souls out on that stage. I am so grateful for the opportunity to participate in that.
Is it different from two, three years ago? I can't imagine that it wouldn't be. They're playing to larger crowds, they have a ton of practice on their instruments under their belts, they're older and in a different place in their lives; so many factors that get expressed in the shows. And thank goodness. If they stayed the same, they would become caricatures of themselves, boring and bored.
I wish I felt your pain, I wish I could've seen them in the tiny clubs, heels pounding on the wooden stages. My luck to be born in the northeast. But they blew me away on my first show and every show since. I love the work ethic, the genuineness, the humility with the awareness of their talent, the energy. More than words can say.
I wouldn't dream of hating on you for your views. I only wish I'd seen them back in the day, in a hole-in-the-wall where I could've talked to them afterward. However, I only began following them after I read a newspaper article and Pandora'd them. I've seen them six times, seven this coming weekend, and the two shows in Myrtle Beach had me and my daughter in tears, they were so great. If it gets any better just shoot me.
I think they're maturing and getting deeper, recording-wise and perhaps performance-wise. Maybe that's the difference.
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Erin by the side of the road, New London, North Carolina
"Do you think mangine77 and jonnymohegan smoke pot?"
Maybe I'm high because your response makes no sense to me.
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This is our decision to live fast and die young, We've got the vision. Now let's have some fun!-MGMT
I believe theremay be a couple of things that could make you feel the way you are.
One- The Avetts could have just been off on the shows you have seen them. The last 2 shows in SD have been that way for me. The last show was great in my opinion but it definately had a mellower feel then shows in the past. I thought this could have been due to the show the night before in LA as well as the Avetts feeling the vibe of the audience that night.The time before Seth seemed to have an issue with his throat.
I have seen the Avetts outside of SD and both times they just killed it.
Two- This is one you could only answer yourself. Is it possible that the Avetts have not changed and maybe you are looking at the Avetts a little bit differently now that they are becoming more mainstream?
I am not trying to change your mind or state that your wrong in how you feel. Just my 2 cents.
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Do the best you can and that wont go unseen
Drew52Deal said "i can't possibly imagine someone actually believing they are not into their shows.... thats the one thing they are unbelievably into... i mean they are entertainers, its what they do - and they do an amazing job at it...
i don't really see your point, but respect it
I don't agree with you in the fact that they have changed... i do believe their music is "changing," however, i don't see it as change but rather evolving.... i think this band is the same as they always have been ( well except for the addition of joe Kwon)...."
I agree 100% with him. The first time I saw TAB was in 05 at Rock the Block in WS and every single show Ive seen after was just as amazing with the same level of energy.
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Changing the plans that I’ve been setting on
I’m scared by the way that my life is getting gone
This is the best point I have seen anybody make on any of these posts in a long time:
"This is one you could only answer yourself. Is it possible that the Avetts have not changed and maybe you are looking at the Avetts a little bit differently now that they are becoming more mainstream?"
HeyKYleMCCarthy must be a psychologist.
I feel that some people think is it "uncool" for the Avetts to become cool to the everyday crowd. People feel that just because the Avetts become popular and "mainstream" that they somehow become uncool. I am sure they would much rather lose that small percentage of people that say "when I listened to the Avetts back when, they were cool, and now they are mainstream and suck;" as compared to the thousands of new fans that are on the horizon.
As for the not being as intense comments. They might not yell quite as much, but listen to the Newport show from this past weekend, and listen to one of the 2006 live shows that are podcasts, and you will not find any drop off in intensity.
I have seen more than one band at the get go before they made records or hit it (really) big and there is something special about having a band all to yourself. When the songs blow you away, but people don't arrive with preconceived ideas about what song and verse they should cheer the loudest. I have also seen a few bands well into their careers that blew me away and yet I'm sure that if you caught them in a bar you would have dismissed what I saw as pandering. Another factor here is most bands don't inspire people to attend multiple concerts outside of their own city and I think that dynamic can be an unexpected complication to a band to deal with if it does blow up. I don't doubt they are a great live band, but I would argue that ultimately most music is experienced in the recorded form (whether studio or live) and their fame and critical standing will ultimately be determined by how good the songs are.
Right you are, 1969. It really is all about the songs. I don't care how energetic the shows are, if substance is not there, then it when it just becomes hype. In their case, the live shows match in intensity, the great quality of the written songs.
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What's wrong with lovey dovey?
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At the end of the set, the old man who was going to be behind the wheel for the long haul home said, "Boys, that gave me God bumps."
Here's the deal, I attended Buffalo, and it was a great show, heavy on emotionalism and more new stuff. That show was a part of a free concert series that starts in the beginning of summer and ended with them. People tend to like free things. So a lot of people come to these kind of things for the party. I spoke with Travis in merchandising in Syracuse and he told me "Buffalo was kind of sketchy", the crowd was wild and varied incredibly, so there were fans that were die hards, and lovers of the party, and both. I believe that Avett wanted to have a great show and wanted to come out flying (and did their best to), but couldn't help but feel the odd vibes. They may have seemed a touch over affectionate to a semi-deserving crowd but I know I have said things that did not come naturally and wondered why later. They're just human. I walked away feeling good, but somewhat weary, maybe because I was high, which I knew was a bad idea, but my cousin is a smooth talker, and I crumbled. I felt um somewhat skeptical but still satisfied? Maybe I feared, what you have concluded, but I assure you I was proved wrong. Period.
Syracuse was brilliant, the crowd didn't cease, nor did Avett. It was the best thing, maybe that I've ever seen. Maybe.
my conclusion: With bigger crowds, there are more people, with more people are more opinions, and I imagine it can be hard to convince thousands of new people with unforgiving opinions who may or may not be giving their full attention. Maybe they were a bit nervous, after all it was the first time in Buffalo since 07', maybe nerves played a role in being conservative/lovey-dovey/typical.
They haven't lost a thing, give them love (has to be genuine), they'll give it back.
I definately agree the Avetts play to the feeling of the crowd.
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Do the best you can and that wont go unseen
I find your lack of faith... disturbing. (see what i did there? cause there was a thread about wookies earlier....
)
I'm just always amused at the idea that anyone thinks they have a sharper moral artistic compass about Avett Brothers' music than the band themselves. Like, really? Even after listening to the music and knowing the history of this band, some people actually believe they're "going commercial" before they'd believe the band's desired artistic vision just happens to start picking up "mainstream" (whatever the hell that means,) success?
If they don't speak to anyone as much as they did, I'm sad for it. But it's legit. And the post title is correct, not quite the same. Change or die, as they say.
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I’m walking with you,
I’m walking with you,
I might miss the meaning, but I’m catching the truth
it might be true that they are changing "but if it compromise's truth then (they) will go home". i'm not worried...i haven't even heard the final product yet so i can't judge. yes...at first i didn't like the new rendition of laundry room but i've grown to love it. we all need to make adjustments but these are not drastic. The lyrics and raw emotion are still there. we can't hear them make go to sleep over and over again. It seems like they are changing in a good way. (cough unlike kings of leon cough) and we know there are still MORE amazing songs to come after this record like the ones that didn't make the cut and DOWN WITH THE SHINE! i just saw them for my fourth time and i would have to agree that they weren't going AS crazy as all the other times but the music and especially the vocals were absolutely perfect!
I'm glad I'm not quite the same as I was two years ago. Why should it be any different for The Avett Brothers?
I can understand how you may feel let down if the direction in which they've grown is not one you're interested in going however. I've been there with other bands.
I've also grown tired/bored/annoyed of artists who revisit their old material and just can't hold my interest. I'll always have the music that grew on me, but the new stuff just doesn't do it for me.
What can ya say? It happens. But don't give up on them yet, ok?
And do realize that the crowd and venue does determine the type of show you get. Festivals and free shows will never yield the same type of audience (or show) as one that's played to the type of folks who make up their core fanbase.
"Things change and get strange with the movement of time...it's happening right now to you."
I believe they have the same energy and passion. It's the evolution of music, all bands do it. For some it works and some it doesn't ( it's working for TAB). I am just grateful that even with the growth in fan base and size of venues the boy's still make me feel like they are here for the love of it. They don't get up there play a standard set and walk off, they feed off the crowd and give that energy right back.
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Fire laser pants at will!
yeah there is no doubt its been passion the whole time and now as well. I only see a show or two a year since the beginning and I always feel and can see they put there all into it.
I can't imagine for a minute that a band that sang their hearts out and destroyed their equipment when they were playing for 15 people in a little Dayton bar are now holding back when given the opportunity to play for thousands.
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"Technology to wipe out truth is now available, not everyone can afford it but it's available." B. Dylan
Rejoice always, Mark
I agree with Bob. If anything they are giving more now because of how much more diverse the crowds have become.
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Fire laser pants at will!
Well, I definitely have to disagree with the post about TAB not getting into their shows.
I took a friend to see them who didn't even know any songs, she's now a die hard fan because of how into it the boys got and how enthusiastic everyone in the venue was.
And will also say that as many bands put out more albums their sound evolves along the way. Not badly, it just means they have a wider span of people they can appeal to, and thus a larger fan base.
I got two thoughts on this.....
I wanna have friends that I can trust that love me for the man I've become not the man that I was
And.....
Things change and get strange with the movement of time
it's happening right now to you.
They answer all posts of this nature with the songs. I was not fortunate enough to have been there prior to 08, but I can say that in the 7 shows I have been to this year I honestly did not see a flat performance from these guys and after the show they were out there meeting and signing and taking pictures for an hour or two almost every night.
Nice Bob, I wish I'd seen that! Well put and timely Dean.
Mangine77, the world is as you see it. And I think this notion of change for the worse is a self-fulling prophecy.
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There was a dream, and one day I could see it, like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it.
I don't think a single thing about the Avett Brothers has changed. The proper word is evolved. They have grown throughout the years, and will continue to do so as any band does. But that underlying thread of heart-on-your-sleeve honesty is still present in every song they write. They are not pandering to any specific demographic. Maybe you're in a rut with their music in general.
I know people that dismiss everything after Four Thieves Gone and others that don't like anything pre-Emotionalism, it's all to your own specific taste. But I know that this band will always be "that" band for me, and I've been showing them to everyone who will listen for 5 minutes for the very reason of helping them blow up.
I'm doubtful that they can ever reach too broad an audience the way mainstream radio is nowadays, but I think they could have a huge underground following like Ween or the Flaming Lips where they still sell out huge venues all over the country.
Hey blasto if the mainstream will buy 8million Jonas Brothers albums anything is possible.
I think a lot comes down to promotion.
good posts guys!
I'd like to chime in too and say that when we saw them in Rochester in June, Scott had a cold or something that left him with a very scratchy voice, he could hardly sing, yet he still came out, and gave his all, 100%. The guys played more Seth songs than normal, and you could see the frustration in Scott's eyes, yet they still killed...In Rochester, a town they could have easily laid back in and gotten away with it.
I don't think these guys know how to lay back. Full speed ahead, always!
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These discussions remind me of what happened with Green Day about the time they broke out. They had this ULTRA loyal following of punk rockers that felt betrayed when Green Day made it huge but only by releasing some more "main stream" stuff. How many of us have hoped upon hope that others would discover the Avetts and fall in love with their tunes just as we have? I have told everyone I know about these guys.
Just remember that if they keep doing the same thing over and over, you will eventually tire of them, and they will tire of doing it. They NEED to change, adapt, and evolve to keep the energy and creative juices going. I don't know how much I like the studio version of "Laundry Door" but that is probably because I burned one of the YouTube versions to a disk months ago. The new sound will lose some fans, and gain others.
This happened to me with Pearl Jam. I love Eddie Vedders vocals and pick up any cover he does, but I am not that "in" to their more recent albums. I keep Ten, Vs., and some others in the rotation at all times and will dust off some of the newer stuff now and again, but I don't order new albums through pre-sales or campout for tickets. But I am not mad or upset with them. I have no right to be. The music that they made that inspired me will always hold a special place in my heart, just as the Avetts will.
I remember at the video shoot two weeks ago in between takes of I&L&U, Scott intentionally brought up this very subject of the band hitting the mainstream and their maturation as a band. He said that it is the fans(not producers, $$, etc) that keep this band on track. Its the fans who they care most about. Its the fans that they play their hearts out for every single show, whether in Eugene, OR or Tampa, FL. Scott essentially said that theyre combating the commercial nature of their rise into fortune by staying true to themselves through us, the fans. And, as a token of appreciation for our dedication + support, they rock out every single show with max effort. Check out the chorus of salvation song to help refresh why theyre here as a band.
It is in his contract to say that.
Really, Johnny? Can you give us anymore details into what the contract says? I'm glad you're such a fan that you'll cynically talk about their sincerity in relations to their contract. I bet when the band and Dolph were breaking themselves trying to make enough money to keep the label and band going that they were only thinking of the terms of the contract when they were thanking the handful of fans who came out to support them. f*** off, troll.
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We are the true believers.
Heh.
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Will you forget when we have paid our debts,
who did we borrow from, who did borrow from?
I think as long as they are personally happy with their music, that is really all that matters.
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Dawn
copela, thanks for sharing that story- it is evident every time you see a live show that they truly put their all into it! Its nice to hear what they believe and what keeps them moving forward!
I am anxiously awaiting their concert in KC coming very fast. I have also talked many into coming to see them for the first time. I hope I am not disappointed, as I have never seen them on a bad night, not even when the last time I saw them at the same venue they are returning to this August was cut short by some sort of emergency or scheduling glitch or something. They came out prior to an opening act and played a much shorter set, but did not disappoint in the least!
I did read a feature article in Paste about their growth and evolution, but I can imagine them not having the same energy they always deliver!
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Thylus
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"Always remember, there is nothing worth sharing
Like the love that let us share our name."
don't feed the troll
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Please talk slowly I don't hear good any more.
And the dam begins to break. . .
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Go Vols!
Just to clarify a point from earlier : The Avett Brothers never had any contract with Ramseur Records other than a handshake (which I believe is still a binding form of legal agreement, just a different one and one that involves a lot more honesty and trust), and while I would think they did have to sign one for Columbia, I'd imagine the motivation behind it is no different. I've trusted this band's intentions from day one as a fan, and that's not something I can say for any other band I've ever been a fan of. I do not see any reason why their level of integrity would waiver when signing to a major label. They did it for the right reasons, and will continue to prosper for that.
I am very happy with the way things are going thus far. Yes, I agree that they may be changing/evolving a little, but that is what artists do....that is what makes them talented. My most recent show was NYC and I didnt feel a difference compared to other shows I have seen in the past two years. Their energy level and passion on stage has not skipped a beat (pun) in my opinion. I think the NYC shows were the best Avett shows I hae ever seen..But like you said, it is your opinion, and we have to respect it, but I couldnt expect a band to have the same stuff ALL the time..that can get boring...I have never been into a band more than the Avetts, and I wouldnt want to lose the feeling of excitement I get when I find out that they are coming out with something new, or a show is coming to town. If they always sounded the same, I dont think I would have that excitement b/c it would be predictable. Now, having said that, I do have my opinions on a few tracks on the new album that im disappointed with, but I have noticed that I have been disappointed in a few songs in the past, and they grew on me, and are now favorites of mine.. So we'll see what happens...Im freakin pumped for the Charlotte show this weekend though...
You might tire of them like Green Day or Pearl Jam but that is a more personal thing then anything else.
Its funny though how you say the Avetts are not the same yet say they need to change.
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Do the best you can and that wont go unseen
Blasto, for the record.....a handshake between a small band from Concord, NC and a MAJOR record label, is not binding in any way. You must not have a job
"You must not have a job" - Otravioli
That's not cool, and frankly I don't know how you could surmise as much with such little info. Blasto, just let that stupid remark go.
Otravioli, if you want us to consider anything you have to say then you need to demonstrate better analytical skills, at least, and maybe not turn a discussion into a flame war. No only do you invalidate anything you've offered with such comments, but you really aren't good at picking a fight. Blasto has been an avid fan and community contributor much longer than you.
You'll find no quarter here, sir.
The band has changed. They are different.
We used to go see them for the energy, now we come for the beauty.
Discuss it with respect because we all come here for something.
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http://www.tablive.net
Well it was a joke...