The Avett Brothers @ Granada Theater

It takes a whole lot for me to drive all the way up to Dallas just to catch live music (I can only think of one other time I've done it, actually, and that was for Radiohead), but when I found out that The Avett Brothers where coming through Texas, but skipping Houston altogether, I had to figure out my best plan to catch them. That was back in September, when The Avett's were originally supposed to play Granada Theater in Dallas' Arboretum, close to downtown. Unfortunately, some guy named David Letterman decided he wanted to expose them to a national audience on his television program, but the day he wanted them to guest was the same day as their show in Dallas. I received this news two days before I was about to see them at Outside Lands, so it didn't really disappoint me at all because it gave me a few months in between shows rather than just two weeks as originally planned. My friends, though, they were not too happy. Bacon, Mrs. Bacon, Hash Browns and a few others in our group were very displeased that it would be another four months before they'd have a chance to see them, but with the extended wait period, it made this show even a bit more special for all – anticipation was busting out of the Granada's seams in the moments leading up to their performance.

Read all about the show, and check out a ton of Hash Browns' incredible photos after the jump.

Words by Jim "Eggs" Bricker
Photos by Anna "Hash Browns" Vernon

I was originally supposed to drive to Dallas the day prior to the show to catch The Gourds and Brave Combo at the same venue, but instead decided to stick around Houston to check out an old favorite, New Monsoon. I finally got on the road to Dallas around 1 pm day of show, and made it to Hash Browns' about an hour-and-a-half before we departed for the Granada – just enough time to pregame. We descended upon the theater, got our tickets situated, then headed inside the unique venue for the first time that night – my first time ever. We still had quite a bit of time before the opener, Samantha Crain, was to hit the stage, so after claiming a spot up close in the already packed ballroom, we took shifts going to get drinks, food, merch, and everything else you leave your spot for during a show. Finally, the opener hit the stage, and entertained us with simple pop-folk tunes. Crain, from Dallas, was quite the personality on stage, at one point asking the crowd for a well whiskey from the bar, and then handed an obviously pocketed flask from some random hand towards the front row. As she sipped the unknown juice, she easily won everyone over with her music, which took a bit of the edge off of the incredibly eager crowd of Avett Brothers fanatics.

Samantha Crain & the Shivers

Finally, after four extra months of waiting, the moment had arrived. Scott and Seth Avett, bassist Bob Crawford and cellist Joe Kwon made their way on stage, and without much more than a simple hello, busted into "January Wedding" from their latest LP, I and Love and You. While my opinions of the tune weren't the greatest when listening to the album for the first time, it worked really well as an opener, and took on leagues more energy in the live format. Next was an unexpected live nugget in "Distraction #74" from their 2006 album, Four Thieves Gone: The Robbinsville Sessions and was quickly ushered into "And It Spread" from their latest, Mignonette's call and response speedgrass number "Nothing Short Of Thankful," and Emotionalism's "Shame," one of my favorites from that album, and a song that sticks out from the first time I caught them live a few years back.

The Avett Brothers

For the first time on an Avett Brothers album, the piano was more of a primary instrument, and it also became a pretty prominent fixture in their live repertoire. Instead of seeing Seth and Scott on guitar and banjo for a majority of the set like times past, both brothers switched it up between drums and keys as well. "Head Full Of Doubt / Road Full Of Promise" found Scott taking over the keys, and belting out one of the album's more lyrically meaningful tunes. "Slight Figure Of Speach" had somewhat of a surfer-punk feel to it, which is quite the departure of The Avett Brothers material, but is almost a step back to what they were doing with the band Nemo before Scott and Seth departed to do their own thing. While always a good song to hear live, "Denouncing November Blue" served as a good time to browse the extraordinary venue, but upon my return to the front, The Avett's definitely turned up the heat. My favorite from Mignonette, "At The Beach," welcomed me back and got me dancing, and "Living Of Love" found me to the point of belting out the lyrics, word for word, with my new friends and neighbors all around me.

Seth Avett

Scott Avett

Going into the show, there were certain new songs that I really wanted to hear that night, and towards the top of that list was "The Perfect Space." Starting off as a slow sing-a-long, the song quickly moved into a rocker with Scott Avett moving from keyboards to drums mid-song, all while maintaining the lyrics while running about the stage. Soon a one-two Emotionalism punch took over with "I Would Be Sad" and another tune that stood out from my first Avett's experience, "Salina." One of the much different tunes from IaLaY, "Kick Drum Heart," came next and found Scott back on drums, while Seth took over vocal and keyboard duties. I'm still not sure if I love this song, but it translates very well live, and did a good job at filling the crowd full of energy leading into the end of the show.

Bob Crawford

Joe Kwon

Bob Crawford and Joe Kwon took a step towards the side stage, which found the brothers center stage for an acoustic run-through of "When I Drink" from their first Gleam EP. I could've sworn they were about to go into "Murder In The City," but this was a nice treat, as I'd only ever heard the song live once. The closing trio of songs couldn't have been more well chosen – barn-burner "Colorshow," yet-to-be-released and freaking great "Glistening Shine," (which I first heard during their NPR Tiny Desk Concert), and the song that instantly sold me upon first listen of the new album, "Laundry Room." After a brief break The Avett's were back on stage running through another new unreleased song, "Late In Life," one I've been falling in love with over the past few months via viral video. A soft and sweet version of "Bella Donna" from The Gleam II led into their album opening first single from the latest album, "I and Love and You." Going into the show, this was the song I wanted to hear most, as it was one of the songs I wanted to hear at Outside Lands, but the only one they didn't play. It was an incredible version, and served as the perfect way to close out such a great show.

As Bacon noted, The Avett Brothers increased in popularity hugely in the short period of time between when this show was originally scheduled, and when it actually took place. The release of I and Love and You has propelled them into the national spotlight in just a few short months, and have made them the indie darlings that they are today. While I still prefer the classic bluegrass-tinged Avett Brothers of days past, this new direction has them sticking with their original sound while expanding it immensely to appeal to a much wider audience. A few of the songs on the new album are not their greatest pieces of work, but several of the songs are some of their best. "The Perfect Space," "Laundry Room," "Incomplete and Insecure," "I and Love and You" and "And It Spread" are some of my favorite songs of 2009, and if The Avett Brothers continue to release songs of these quality on a regular basis, they should sit steady towards the top of my list of favorite bands for some time to come.

Hopefully, next time we'll be seeing them at one of our local Houston venues so I don't have to make that long ass drive to D-Town. And please don't make your stop here opening for some band at the Pavilion, unless of course that band is good, then it's cool. But if that's the case, at least schedule an in-store performance at Cactus earlier in the day.

---