How cool is it to ring in the new year with your family and 7,000 of your biggest fans? Pretty damn cool! This past Friday night, I got to be one of those 7,000 fans. The Avett Brother’s New Year’s Eve concert is a traditional show performed each year, near the band’s hometown in Asheville, NC. I’d read on the Avett Bros fan site how incredible this show was, so thought I would give it a go.
I reluctantly purchased these tickets back in early December, due to “GA” ticketing. I’m a concert veteran, so I know how General Admission works. And the older I get, the more excited I get about reserved seating. It’s cold…. I don’t want to stand in line for hours to get a good seat. However, after pacing back and forth from The Bier Garden to the gates of the civic center, from 3:30 until 5:30, I decided to get in line. Nothing had really developed as far as a “crowd” so I was good. Asheville is an AWESOME town. I highly suggest visiting if you haven’t. I was the first in line at the gate, and according to my new found friends behind me in line, this was good. After a three and a half hour wait in line, the doors opened! Yeah!!!! I secured my spot on the lower balcony, stage right, front row. AWESOME view. You’re out of the congestion, close to the bathrooms, and near a beer stand! PERFECT!
Since seeing The Avett Brothers at Bonnaroo in 2010, I’ve become a huge fan. The energy and atmosphere at an Avett show is something I’ve never experienced. It’s like hanging out with thousands of your best friends. No fighting, no rude words, just lots and lots of singing and dancing. The Avett Brothers have released, to date, 14 albums/EP’s. That’s a lot of songs to know how to sing. Amazingly enough, Avett fans know every word to every song. And we belt them out as loud as we can! One thing that I absolutely LOVE about an Avett show is there is NO predicting a set list. You never know what is going to be played, but you know it’s going to blow you away.
This show was no exception. They opened the evening by performing “Cupid”, a 1961 classic written and recorded by Sam Cooke. It was a perfect beginning. They performed it like they’d written it themselves, just for us. It was incredible! The set list continued with a GRAND mixture of old and new, including an old gospel song “Walk in Jerusalem” sang by Scott, Seth and their dad Jim. That was a very moving moment for me. Their dad was so sincere and proud as he put his arms around his sons and sang with them. It was a great way to end the show and start out a new year.
Happy New Year Music Lovers!!!!
Check out Seth Avett performing the old Tom T. Hall song, “Pamela Brown” right before the show started.
December 31, 2010- NYE Set List:
Cupid |
Colorshow |
Left On Laura, Left On Lisa |
Go To Sleep (with big sis Bonnie on the Keyboard) |
Swept Away (with big sis Bonnie helping on vocals |
Traveling Song (new version – “no pretty girl can ever slow me down”) |
New Song (with the line “if i live the life im given, i won’t be scared to die”) |
Please Pardon Yourself |
Will You Return |
Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise |
Ballad Of Love And Hate (acoustic with Seth Avett alone on stage) |
Distraction #74 |
Nothing Short of Thankful |
Kick Drum Heart |
*break before new year* |
Blue Ridge Mountain Blues |
Down With The Shine |
Pretty Girl from Cedar Lane |
Pretty Girl from Annapolis into “For Today” with Jessica Lea Mayfield…then back into PGAnnapolis. |
The Fall |
Wanted Man |
I and Love and You |
Encore: |
Walk In Jerusalem (With Father Jim Avett) |
Laundry Room |