The Avett Brothers took to the stage at the Santa Barbara Bowl for their season opener, bringing their unique blend of indie folk rock, punk bluegrass, and Americana to a packed crowd. As a writer, certain song lyrics can be stuck in my head for days – and The Avett Brothers’ set at Friday’s show was no exception. Scott Avett’s lyrics from the 2009 song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” continued to resonate with me long after the night was over. The lines “There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light / In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right / And it comes in black and white / And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it” are especially relevant in today’s world. The band’s music has evolved significantly since I first saw them at the same venue over a decade ago. Despite their commercial success, they’ve managed to maintain their down-to-earth, sincere, and grateful attitude, which is still palpable in their beautiful harmonies and impressive musicianship. Scott Avett, one of the two brother bandmates, spoke to the crowd about the band’s experience in California. “California has been so good to us,” he said. “The years are starting to add up, and at a certain point, it stops being a surprise and starts being a gift.” This sentiment was reflected in the band’s diverse setlist, which drew from their extensive discography. The Avett Brothers’ music is often described as indie folk rock, but their playlist is anything but narrow. The setlist on Friday featured a mix of jittery punk bluegrass, Americana, roots rock, acoustic ballads with stunning harmonies, and even some honky tonk and ragtime influences. The band’s eclectic sound is a testament to their musical versatility and dedication to their craft. The band’s lineup has remained relatively consistent over the years, with brothers Scott and Seth Avett switching off on lead vocals and harmonizing beautifully with longtime band members Bob Crawford (stand-up bass) and Joe Kwon (cello, saw, piano, kazoo), as well as some additional touring musicians and singers. Here’s a breakdown of the setlist:
Track | Song | Album |
---|---|---|
1 | “Swept Away” | Mignonette (2004) |
2 | “No Hard Feelings” | |
3 | “Forever Now” | The Avett Brothers (2024) |
4 | “Distraction #74” | Second Guessing (2006) |
5 | “Go to Sleep” | The Second Guessing (2007) |
6 | “A Father’s First Spring” | True Sadness (2016) |
7 | “Ain’t No Man” | Live (2018) |
8 | “I Wish I Was” | The Second Guessing (2006) |
9 | “Black Mountain Rag” | The Second Guessing (2006) |
10 | “The Traveling Song” | Mignonette (2004) |
11 | “Victims of Life” | Mignonette (2004) |
The band’s setlist was a masterclass in musical diversity, with songs that hit me in different ways. However, the lyrics from “Murder in the City” stood out to me, particularly the lines “I wonder which brother is better / Which one our parents love the most.” The song’s reflection on family was a poignant reminder of the importance of connection and love. The show opened with a performance by West Virginia singer-songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin, who delivered a set of crowd-pleasing country folk tunes. The Avett Brothers’ music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was no exception. As the night drew to a close, the band’s sincerity, gratitude, and dedication to their craft shone through in their music, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd. As the brothers took their final bows, the crowd erupted in applause, eager to experience more of their music. The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. They truly are a gift to their fans. And a reminder that, no matter what, our lives are worth sharing.
“California has been so good to us,” Scott Avett said, reflecting on the band’s experience in the state. Despite the band’s growth in commercial success, they’ve managed to maintain their down-to-earth, sincere, and grateful attitude, which is still palpable in their beautiful harmonies and impressive musicianship. The Avett Brothers’ music is a true reflection of their values and personality, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The Avett Brothers’ unique sound is a result of their musical versatility and dedication to their craft. The band’s eclectic setlist showcased their ability to blend different styles and genres, creating a truly unique and captivating sound. The band’s sincerity, gratitude, and dedication to their craft shone through in their music, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd. As the night drew to a close, the crowd erupted in applause, eager to experience more of their music. The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a masterclass in musical diversity, with songs that hit me in different ways. However, the lyrics from “Murder in the City” stood out to me, particularly the lines “I wonder which brother is better / Which one our parents love the most.” The song’s reflection on family was a poignant reminder of the importance of connection and love.
The show opened with a performance by West Virginia singer-songwriter Charles Wesley Godwin, who delivered a set of crowd-pleasing country folk tunes. The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time.
The Avett Brothers’ music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The Avett Brothers’ music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time.
The Avett Brothers’ unique sound is a result of their musical versatility and dedication to their craft. The band’s performance was a testament to their ability to create music that resonates with audiences.
The Avett Brothers’ music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was no exception. However, the lyrics from “Murder in the City” stood out to me, particularly the lines “I wonder which brother is better / Which one our parents love the most.” The song’s reflection on family was a poignant reminder of the importance of connection and love.
The Avett Brothers’ performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The band’s music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance was a lasting impression on the crowd.
The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The Avett Brothers’ performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that resonates with audiences. The band’s unique sound is a result of their musical versatility and dedication to their craft. The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time.
The Avett Brothers’ set at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that transcends genres and time. The band’s sincerity, gratitude, and dedication to their craft shone through in their music, leaving a lasting impression on the crowd.
As the night drew to a close, the crowd erupted in applause, eager to experience more of their music. The band’s performance was a testament to their ability to create music that transcends genres and time.
The Avett Brothers’ performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that resonates with audiences. The band’s performance was a testament to their ability to create music that transcends genres and time.
The Avett Brothers’ performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was a testament to their enduring legacy and their ability to create music that resonates with audiences. The band’s music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance was a lasting impression on the crowd. The Avett Brothers’ unique sound is a result of their musical versatility and dedication to their craft.
The Avett Brothers’ music has a way of resonating with audiences, and their performance at the Santa Barbara Bowl was no exception.