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Schweiz (Deutsch)Mixed feelings about Buffalo
Mixed feelings about Buffalo
Posted: Friday, July 31, 2009 - 18:05
Buffalo was the third time I had seen the Avetts. I was sooo excited. However, after lasts nights experience, I'm not sure I will be attending anymore FREE shows. The Avetts, were naturally amazing and this was one of the best set lists I have seen. Unfortunetly, it was a little hard to enjoy the concert with all the drunken/high idiots running around the whole time. It was only too appropriate when the brothers played "When I Drink". The vibe was completely different at this show than those I had pay to go see. I met some new fans at the show whose first live experience it was and I hope they weren't turned off the these rude concert goers.
On a positive note, the concert itself was fantastic. The brothers played "St. Joseph's" and "Wanted Man" (Two songs I had been dying to hear). I waited with a faithful 11 others outside the tour bus in hopes of meeting the brothers. One of the crew members informed us that they were all very tired and going to be but they sent us four deli trays. So I got to eat some Avett pineapple and caught a glimpse of Joe in hi night atire haha.
Replies for this Board Topic
I feel ya about the crowd sucking, but don't tell me you'd skip an Avetts show in lieu of dealing with a few idiots. Besides, idiots are everywhere, ya can't hardly avoid 'em these days.
As they say in the islands...No rain, no rainbows.
Shame about that rain being beer spillage sometimes, though, ain't it?
i agree, it was an "interesting" crowd...i think joe said it best, when he tweeted that the crowd was "rabid". everyone around us was 18-21, drunk, and raucous...but for the most part having a fun, respectful time (until the end, when all decorum usually goes out the window). the craziness showed its face when a couple kids started crowdsurfing, and then, out of nowhere, tons of plastic balls (like the kind in those ball pits for kids) started being thrown around. first they were relegated to the crowd area, then people started throwing them toward the stage. one almost beaned bobby in the head, but he deftly avoided it. it coulda gone either way...fun/whimsical or downright obnoxious, but the boys seemed to be enjoying it, so i'll go with the former. scott even tried to catch one of the balls in coordination with the last words of a song, but *just* missed.
it was a good friend's first show tonight, and she loved every minute of it. the boys were clearly enjoying themselves, lots of big smiles and silliness. which song was it where almost all of them (was it just bob standing?) were sitting down and playing their instruments from the floor?
the setlist didn't hold any surprises, but the wonderful energy made it yet another amazing show.
and of course, it was so awesome to finally hang with taryn, andre, and mao!
someone was throwing their change they could have used in the laundry room. scott got hit in the face with a nickel. I got hit with a contact buzz. It was the most diverse crowd I have ever seen at a show period, let alone an avett show. But the setlist was a powerful one. You could tell they were trying to wrangle in new fans, which I have no doubt they accomplished. They were also trying to convey a message with When I Drink, which I dont think sunk in too deep because of the "wooos" and raised glasses at the mention of "drink."
Overall I think it was a good time.
Buffalo was a big deal for me personally, for one it is my back yard, my city. It's like 15 miles from my home. So having my favorite band come to my home... for free! is an incredible gift. So many kids that I knew came and by the end of the show, it felt like my school was behind me. Most of them were there for the party but they certainly did not leave, talking about the party. Countless people that I know came up to me to tell me that it was the best concert that they have ever seen in their life. and as far as the set list, It was full of gems, though heavy on emotionalism (obviously not a bad thing), they sang numbers like memphis, which completely blew me out of the water, when I drink, a very pretty rendition of bella donna. A couple of new songs like kick drum heart, which i have been dying to see, and laundry room.
They also played a new song called "The Perfect Space"
This was my 7th Avett show, and the band mesmerizes me each time, and I've been listening for years, but hearing this song for the first time had the stopping power followed by the chill that I felt when I saw them for the first time. It reminded me that nothing has compromised the character of these men because the lyrics were driven into me with intent.
They also played a new song called "The Perfect Space"
This was my 7th Avett show, and the band mesmerizes me each time, and I've been listening for years, but hearing this song for the first time had the stopping power followed by the chill that I felt when I saw them for the first time. It reminded me that nothing has compromised the character of these men because the lyrics were driven into me with intent.
Well said. I experienced the same feeling. All the hairs on the back of my head stood up and even my goosebumps had goosebumps.
It doesn't happen very much in life, that feeling...but it never gets old and it never stops being a-mazing. Happy for all of you that get this experience.
angischy, You are right. I would not skip an Avett show especially one that is only 2.5 hours away. I was still a little miffed when writing. It was a GREAT show.
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And I love this moment we're in, though we may not ever see this moment again...
marysstikal
I can't remember during which song they were sitting. I've been checking some of my videos and during St. Joseph's Scott sitts and at another point during the song Joe, Bob, and Seth huddled together.
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And I love this moment we're in, though we may not ever see this moment again...
I had a great time as well. I had first seen these guys play at The Great Blue Heron Music festival several years ago. I saw them again at the Grassroots Festival. I wasn't bothered too much by the crowd at the show. I had a good buzz and was feeling no pain. This was the show I was looking forward to the most out of all of the free shows downtown at the square. There is a great photo slide show over at http://www.bandsthatjam.com/wo6
I too was up at the show...and actually standing behind Asio71....looking back at the show parts of the crowd did interrupt a great performance by the brothers, but I have to kind of laugh at one moment when during That's How I Got To Memphis a small kid got launched out of nowhere over my shoulder and came crashing down on Asio71. At the time it definitely wasn't funny.....but looking back at the video footage from his camera he makes a quick recovery and sheds the kid off from himself to continue watching the show. That just goes to show the steadfastedness of Avett fans!
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"Do the best you can and that won't go unseen"
I sure read a lot of posts on this site from butt hurt fans who can't deal with rude, drunk, obnoxious etc. show goers. Ya pays yer money (or you don't in this case) & ya takes yer chance people. Live music is better, but that doesn't mean the atmosphere always is as good for you as your own living room or that the same rules apply as they do in your local library. Deal with it, grow a thicker skin etc. I've dealt with a lot worse at live shows than the scenes at the twenty plus TAB shows I have attended & I'm sure I will again, but that doesn't prevent me from having a good time. Going out in the world can be a dangerous thing
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"Rock & Roll means well, it just can't help telling young boys lies." Mike Cooley
i totally agree with olychild here.
yes, it sucks. you can split hairs all night about whether or not one show was better than the next. and the reasons why.
but what really matters is that you even experienced it in the first place. life is an opportunity. take advantage of every day, and dont let the little things bother you.