"If its the Beaches" The Avett Brothers

There are few bands that I love more than the Avett Brothers.  I was first introduced to the Avett Brothers a few years ago from my friend Jake Nelko and my sister at right around the same time. At this point the Avett Brothers were not the Columbia signed, Rick Rubin produced band that has CD's sold at Starbucks and a big radio single.  They were seemingly small town boys playing free shows at the Pittsburgh Arts Festival and were making good impressions in local folk and indie circles across the country.  Unlike some people, I'm not mad at the Avett Brothers for making it big.  I don't resent that they signed with Columbia or allowed Rick Rubin to help guide their recordings,  I'm just glad that I am able to say I liked them before those days.

I remember the first time I saw the Avett Brothers play at the Carnegie Library and Music Hall in Munhall.  We were near the front, and it was the most energized concert and excited crowd I have ever seen.  Between songs there was a buzz in the audience about what would come out next, and for every song the applause started all over again.  After the show I waited outside with my brother, Jake Nelko, and some of Jake's friends.  Everyone waiting outside was pretty laid back.  People were just kind of chilling in their little circles talking about the show.  Then the Avett Brothers came off the tour bus and started making their way around to the different circles.  I was amazed at the way it all went down.  People were just cool and waited patiently for the Avett Brothers to come to their circle.  They weren't rushed by mobs of fans, they weren't being hassled by loads of girls, and they weren't waiting for the fans to come to them.  The Brothers just made their rounds, hanging out, graciously signing autographs, throwing frisbees with their fans, and stopping for a picture with my brother and I (as you can see below).

I have seen the Avett Brothers a few times since they've become a big name, and their demeanor hasn't changed.  I ran into them again at Newport Folk Festival, and they were so nice and appreciative to the fans around them.  Basically they're sweet guys.  They play good honest music, and they really seem to love and appreciate their fans.  I love seeing a band like this grow in popularity.  They aren't pretentious, they aren't dark, and they don't have to add a ton of effects or choreographed dancing to make their performance entertaining.

 When Jake and I are talking before an Avett Brothers concert we always talk about the different songs that we want to hear from their extensive catalog, and "If its the Beaches" always topped my list.  This is an uncharacteristically mellow song by the Avett Brothers, but it is definitely one of my favorites.  The song has a wonderful string section and builds into a really powerful song about loving a girl well, and doing whatever it takes to let her know she is loved.  Its a good solid song.  This isn't one of the more popular songs for the brothers to play in concert (probably because its mellow and their live shows are a foot stompin' party), but the last time I saw the Avett Brothers in Pittsburgh they played it.  Whenever the intro to the song started, Jake and I just looked at each other and our little group started going nuts.  I sang that song with everything I had in me that night, and when Scott Avett forgot the words (a rare mistake in all the awesome sets I've seen from them) I sang even harder.  I like to think that when he says he heard someone singing in the audience he was talking about me.

So I love the Avett Brothers, I love this song, and they are playing a show in Pittsburgh on May 27th that you should all come see.

this is the video from the Pittsburgh show where Scott forgot the words. Like I said this is a subdued video, I would go to youtube and check out some of the other videos as well. To fans of the Avett Brothers, I would love to hear your favorite song.