Concentration: Scott Avett
The Avett Brothers have just completed a second pass through metro Detroit in the last six months and are drawing in new fans and keeping the old ones happy with their always-impressive live performances. The summer crowd was a mish-mash of diehards mixed with newbies whose interest was peaked by the 93.9 annual summer Riverfest promotion. Opening bands on the bill at the Fillmore Detroit were UK stars One Eskimo and singer-songwriter Justin Nozuka.
The headlining Avetts played songs from their 10+ albums and sessions with such intensity and vigor it was often hard to tell the newer songs from the older ones because their catalog is so deep. The show was a roller coaster ride with fast-tempo jams like “One Line Wonder” from 2004’s Mignonette up hill and the mellow “January Wedding” from I and Love and You on the downside. Everything in between was spot on as well and I often come away from their shows with some new favorite songs.
Commonly heard upon exit from fellow audience members were statements such as, “That’s the best concert I’ve been to all year!” I couldn’t agree more.
