A Bummer?

I'm dissapointed to hear that the Barrymore Avetts show was a bummer. The Barrymore is home to my favorite Panic two night run, Fall 98 I think. But I thought I would defend the album and the band a little bit, though I didn't think Alycia was attacking them or anything.

First I will say a little about me. I don't go to nearly as many shows as I used to. It takes alot for me to get out these days and I very rarely fall in love with a band by seeing them live. If my first exposure to a band is live then I do feel like I can be drawn to their sound, their groove, and their general dynamic, but until I hear them on record, hear the lyrics and whatnot, I can't truely decide what I think about them. This wasn't always the case, but these days I find myself rocking out in my own living room often and alone. It's great, you should try it.

On to the Avetts: I heard the Mignotte album first. The more I listened the more I dug it. Emotionalism was good but just not the same to me. Then I got Country Was and enjoyed that one as well. I heard the newest record a couple of times in the days leading up to me seeing them live. I say this only to point out that I was a fan of the band from the records before seeing them live. My live experience was great. I was with a bunch of people I knew and everyone around me was into the band and having a good time. I think we all know how the people you're around can affect a show. I was drinking a bit and I don't know song titles, so I can only tell you that I remember knowing some of the songs played, most I didn't. But I was engrossed in the feel and emotion of the music being performed and thus had a good time.

I don't know if the I Love You album is anymore produced than Minonette or Emotionalism. But I love some of the sounds on this album. The cello is great, it adds so much. Their almost playing rustic orchesteral americana rock music or something and the cello brings it. I also love the piano on this record. I love how you can hear the piano strings reverbeating and every note or chord is allowed to be heard. It reminds me of the piano on Johnny Cash's American IV album. Both are produced by Rick Rubin so that may have something to do with it. The melodies are infectious and most songs are strangly dancable. Musically I think it's a very good record, but artistically is where this record is significant and profound.

The Avetts were working toward their mission with an album called Emotionalism but with I and Love and You the reached it. How many records do you know that have longwinded mission statements in the liner notes? I like to think I a bit of a progressive male and I would bet most of the men reading this feel the same way about themselves but talking about love is still taboo in many situations for men. Boys have been writing songs about loving girls forever, but the Avetts write songs about loving the emotion of love. When they sing "I want to have friends who will be there for me and who'll love the man I've become not just the man I was" they are talking about loving other men. And they're also talking about progressing as a man. They are a couple of guys playing significantly emotional music for hipster guys in bars and clubs and the guys are eating up the ballads. Culturally it's important and interesting.

And the record sounds really good when I turn up the volume in my living room. If we're ever in the same living room again, Alycia, we'll crank it up and dance.