The Avett Brothers’ music is more than just music—it is poetry, and life, and emotion all in one. Their music is entertaining and fun, but it also invokes the deep feelings that come with life. This is not something that every artist is able to capture. But the Avett Brothers do, and they do it with beauty and grace.
Scott and Seth Avett, self-proclaimed hillbillies, grew up on
a farm in Concord, North Carolina. They were surrounded by music from an early
age and took lessons in piano, guitar, and banjo. With wholesome beginnings
playing at their high school talent show, the brothers aspired to be musicians
and knew if they were going to do it, they were going to do it together.
Although in their youth they were self-obsessed boys who
dreamed of being famous, their dreams eventually shifted, the focus now being
on sharing their songs with the world. An opening line from their song “Victory”
on their newest record “The Third Gleam” states,
“Accolades and happy days, they don’t ever last.”
The Brothers have found fame and popularity, but that is no
longer what they seek. Writing songs that are real and filled with emotion,
spending time with their families, and living life have become the priority of
these incredibly talented brothers.
In an interview with the brothers, Seth shares, “We don’t
want to be where all the action is… We just want to be where we’re from.” Rare
is it these days to find celebrities who seem to have no interest in being
famous. Home is where the Avett Brothers were born, and home is where they will
remain.
There are many different mechanisms that breed creativity, but the one that appears to be the most important for the Avett Brothers is the process of collecting. Seth and Scott write their songs on real life experiences, and raw emotions that they have felt. In their documentary based on their album “True Sadness” they share,
“we’ve been accused of being fatalist as a band, but we’ve seen enough tragedy in our lives, and we know that tragedy comes from out of nowhere.”
Their songs cover topics like...
Racism in America (We Americans)
Gun violence (Bang Bang)
Living in a world full of bad news (I Should’ve Spent the
Day with my Family)
...as well as love, life, death, and so much more. And they
accomplish this in a style that sounds like poetry. The Avett Brothers are not
something that you can listen to in the background—or at least I don’t
recommend that until you know their songs well. Their lyrics are so intricate
and have so much depth, you could analyze them for days. Each time you listen
to their songs another line will find a new meaning in your soul. When I can’t
seem to find the words to express what I’m feeling, I turn to the Avett Brothers, and
they seem to have a way of helping it all make sense. Their newest album is the
third in a series of smaller records entitled “The Gleam.” The Avetts explain
these albums as the in-between albums, that aren’t at all focused on entertainment,
but are stripped down and emotional.
Apart from their lyrics, which the Avett Brothers admit to writing before they play a single chord, their music is something special. They seem to embody rock, folk, country, bluegrass, gospel, and alternative styles of music all at the same time—it is truly unlike any other band you will ever listen to. This, again, highlights their creative process of collecting, as they borrow sounds from a multitude of genres. If you ever have the pleasure of seeing this band in person, you will be in awe of their impressive musicianship and energy while they dance and jump around, which will be immediately contrasted with a somber solo where only one brother remains centerstage.
I would strongly encourage this band to anyone. Of course, I
am incredibly biased as they are some of my favorite musicians, but their
creativity in bringing life into music is unique and special, and the most
authentic I have ever found. They have a way of taking life, in all its
ugliness, and making it beautiful.
Sources:
https://www.theavettbrothers.com/band
https://americansongwriter.com/the-third-gleam-the-avett-brothers-album-interview/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4dcxt6DUM0
https://americanahighways.org/2019/10/21/interview-full-in-all-the-way-scott-avett-talks-about-music-art-and-the-creative-process/
https://gardenandgun.com/feature/the-brothers-avett/
http://www.georgeamphitheatre.com/events/the-avett-brothers-the-head-and-the-heart-shovels-and-rope/#.X3FPDmhKg2w
https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/9/29/avett-brothers-boston-calling/
Maura,
ReplyDeleteI was initially attracted to your blog entry because I LOVE the Avett Brothers. I feel as though they are often under appreciated within the younger generation. I always knew they were massively talented, and was aware that they incorporated much emotion in their music; however, I did not know that these emotions came from direct experience. Furthermore, it is extremely creative of them to reverse the typical songwriting process. Their process initially starts as journaling, writing. The addition of instruments, vocals, and melody is truly a powerful skill.
I could listen to their song "I wish I was" on repeat until the day I die. This song is a perfect example of how the Avett Brothers encapsulate their emotions into their music. This also touches on the collaboration they have with the public. The Avett Brothers write about the emotions the individuals in their personal lives induce. Furthermore, their music clearly has a touching and inspiring effect on society. I greatly enjoyed reading your blog entry about the Avett Brothers, as it gave me greater insight to their creative songwriting process and the importance they place on the community.