The Avett Brothers Come to Richmond

MaKayla Grapperhaus, staff writer

Saturday night, March 11, the Avett Brothers, performed at Richmond’s theater, The National. This was the folk-rock-bluegrass band’s second night in town, as their tour included dates for both March 10 and March 11. This gave fans the chance to see the show on either Friday or Saturday. Talking with fans, many shared they had come out to both performances: proving that the Avett Brothers put on a show that keeps their fans coming back for more.

Diehard fans, dressed in the iconic red flannels, lined the sidewalk hours before the show. Many were part of The Avett Guild which allows fans to enter the venue a full 15 minutes before everyone else. Another option for early access is to dine at the Vagabond. By spending at least $15 on a meal and keeping the receipt in hand, staff will escort Vagabond customers to the concert venue through the downstairs of the restaurant which connects directly to The National. The Early-in deal gives fans entry 15 minutes before the public. For early access, it is a great deal and it definitely beats waiting out in the cold for an hour.

Entering the venue, it was clear that people were excited to be at this concert. Whether it was their first night seeing the Avett Brothers in Richmond or their second, fans were eager for the show to start. The Avett Brothers came onto the stage at 8:30 p.m.

The band opened the show with an upbeat instrumental song, ending with all band members playing a kazoo; this was a moment that really got fans excited. The Avett Brothers continued to work the crowd with many high-energy tunes.

However, a few songs took on a softer vibe. Halfway through the show, Scott and Seth Avett took to the stage without the rest of the band, showing off their raw folk-bluegrass roots. The two brothers from North Carolina showcased their singer-songwriter talents in these more intimate moments, sharing songs from their most recent album, True Sadness. When they were again joined by the rest of the band, the vibe quickly became lighthearted and fun.

Although the two Avett brothers first founded the group, their band now consists of drummer Mike Marsh, pianist Paul Defiglia, cellist Joe Kwon and violinist Tania Elizabeth. The whole band is extremely talented, however, the cellist and violinist bring something uniquely refreshing to the songs, as these are both instruments that are not as commonly featured in today’s more modern music.

As the night came to an end, a cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” was performed by the band. This song beautifully showcased the string instruments played by Kwon and Elizabeth. This was just one of the few songs that the band covered throughout the night. They also did covers of “The Prettiest Thing,” by David Childers & The Modern Don Juans and “I Shall Be Released” by Bob Dylan and Pink Floyd’s “Time.”

With a set list of 29 songs that lasted for two hours, the Avett Brothers did not disappoint when it came to the encore. Covering “Time,” by Pink Floyd, the Avett Brothers were joined by guest Herbie Abernathy from the band Valient Thorr.