Amazing show! Had a blast with my 11 year old daughter and a dear friend of the age 70 who enjoyed the show as much a we did. This was her first ever Avett experience, (my older friend )who as we left the concert exclaimed," Why in the world have I never heard about them boys before?" Missed Bob's presence, and will continue to keep his daughter and family in my thoughts and prayers daily. So glad we didn't have a stinky guy with his penis out or I would've been a one woman posse after his ass. I mean come on, that is just crazy!I did have a few choice words for a few drunkards a couple of rows up who would not shut up with their smart comments like screaming during I and Love and You that about putting up your three fingers. I did she Jim in a special seating area closer to the end of the standing area near the sound people. And one drunk old dude who couldn't find his seat because he was standing talking on his cell phone stopped to show me his cell phone pic of Him and his friends with Jim who they said they saw walking near the restrooms when they were going to buy beer. This was my third show and it just keeps getting better each time I see them. I hope to possibly be able to see them in a smaller arena though in the very near future.Happy New Year You all everybody!

@ChocolateMilkMaid: For what it's worth, there was a fella at the Merrillville, IN appearance who was yelling,"I love you Seth!" as well. He either hits a lot of TAB shows or Seth has his share of smitten male admirers. As for Jim Avett, I seem to recall reading elsewhere that he was indeed in attendance, but maybe someone else can confirm that for me.

Hope to make a NYE show sometime!

Mr. and Mrs. Avett were there. they were sitting in the raised platform area at the sound board. I always wonder how it must feel for them to not only watch the show but to watch thousands of people responding to their children.

This was an amazing show. from the moment the curtain (usually it is the backdrop) fell and they were already in position and playing kickdrum I knew it was going to be high energy! Laundry Room is always my favorite and this one was one of the best. It felt like the building was shaking especially the last few minutes when they just blast it. Scott and Seth were both on fire. Joe too. I love that they use Jacob and the drums now on LR. The only sad part of the night was missing Bob. He and his family are in my thoughts and prayers. Paul did a great job and I'm so thankful he can help them keep things going while Bob is out. November Blue and Just a Closer Walk were the standout slow ones for me. Both gave me chills and tears. what a way to bring in the new year!

I had reservations about attending this concert because of the large venue and, due to my fear of being vomited on, the night it was being held. Oddly enough, those are the same reasons I decided to attend: the venue was only two hours away from home and I couldn't think of a better way of ringing in 2012 than with my favorite band. I ended up pretty close to the stage in section 103. On my way to my seat, I ran into Jim Avett and, although I tend to go oddly mute and shy around people I admire and respect, I seized the opportunity and introduced myself, shook his hand, and told him what his boys mean to me. He was very warm and kind to me - what an unexpected bonus! Enjoyed Danielle Howle and the Fireworks very much although I couldn't really make out a lot of the words in the songs, hopefully due to the acoustics in the place and not an inner ear problem. I was sitting two seats away from the parents of the bass player; they literally were beaming with pride. The Avett Brothers followed soon thereafter and did not disappoint. They played an unbelievable arrangement of songs that seemed never ending. They started with amazing high energy and ended the night the same way . . . don't know how they do it but I am glad they do! They sounded great to me, as far as I could tell, but then again, I did have a row of rather enthusiastic and inebriated young men standing right behind me whose main mission, I believe, was to out sing or drown out the boys. I mean, they were SCREAMING the lyrics and not necessarily the correct ones. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I was not in front of stinky-penis-exposed man . . . . what was up (or not) with that? Anyway, I loved the new arrangements of old songs and loved that I heard songs I have never heard live before. They just get better and better! I was unusually happy to hear the band play songs that the men behind me had never heard before because that really was the only opportunity I got to hear Scott and Seth's beautiful voices, which was one of the reasons I went. Love when they throw in a gospel tune or two, and Bonnie looked beautiful and their harmony was outstanding . . . I have two sisters and we can't sing together worth a lick . . . what are the chances of having three excessively talented children? I love to watch Joe Kwon; his joy radiates from him and is a pleasure to watch, and of course, Bob's presence was sorely missed. I stayed at the Hyatt Place about 3 miles from the venue. The desk clerk told me that 85% of the hotel was filled with Avett fans and I met lots of friendly, nice folk there, both before the concert and at the breakfast the next day which makes me proud to be a part of the Avett Nation. As a side note, when I was checking out around 11:00, I am 99.99% sure Jacob Edwards was standing in front of me but he seemed in a hurry and I couldn't imagine their drummer had actually stayed at the Hyatt Place which made me doubt myself, so I didn't say anything which of course I regret now but please refer to the aforementioned "going oddly mute and shy" reference as an explanation. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the venue, met some nice people, the Avett Brothers were outstanding, as usual, and as a plus, I did not get vomited on which I am going to take as a sign that 2012 holds good things for all of us! Happy New Year everybody!