The O-town Scene

Wet & Wildly Entertaining AVETT BROTHERS, Brandi Carlile rock through the rain Brewery Ommegang closed out its summer concert series with a bang. Fireworks illuminated the path as about 2,000 drenched concert-goers filed back to their tents and vehicles following a memorable night of folk-infused rock. The steady rain did little to dampen the spirits of the audience, as the Avett Brothers put together a high-energy set list spanning their discography. You could not ask for a better venue for the night's proceedings, with Ommegang serving their fine Belgian brews and Andre's authentic BBQ adding to the down- home vibe. Fans of the Avett Nicole Atkins opened the night with a short but sweet set of reverb- soaked Americana in the vein of early Neko Case. Atkins dedicated a cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" to Kurt Cobain before closing with a torchy number of her own. Brandi Carlile took the stage shortly after, opening with a set of rollicking cover songs, including Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues." Carlile's heartfelt originals went from mandolin- and fiddle-flecked bluegrass, to more straightforward rock, and back again. As a whole, the mood set by the two opening acts was perfect for the upbeat folk rock that followed. This being my fifth Avett Brothers show, I was not quite sure what to expect. The last two times I saw them, most recently in Ithaca, the band stuck to their mellower, more somber songs. For fans of their more recent albums, such as "I and Love and You," that would be a welcome set. For those of us that enjoy the punk rock influences found in their older material, such as "Four Thieves Gone," that can come as a bit of a disappointment. It is safe to 16 O-Town Scene Sept. 29, 2011 Brothers, whatever their stripe, would not have been disappointed with the show Tuesday night. say that fans of the Avett Brothers, whatever their stripe, would not have been disappointed with the show Tuesday night. Opening the set the way they opened 2007's "Emotionalism, with the one-two punch of "Die, Die, Die" and "Shame," the band set the tone for the remainder of the eve- ning. There was a perfect mix of the rambunctious and the introspective. As the rains finally abated, the Avett Brothers approached their set with an incredible amount of en- ergy. Scott and Seth Avett attacked the banjo and guitar, while touring cellist Joe Kwon played with his trademark tranquil look, and the addition of a drummer helped keep the tempo up. The majority of the songs came from their last three studio albums, with two or three new songs added to the set to provide an idea of what is to come. The new material had the more accessible pop sensibilities of "I and Love and You," and they fit effortlessly into the mix. The band closed the set out with frenetic renditions of "Kick Drum Heart" and "Colorshow," before concluding with the piano-laden "I and Love and You." They did not vacate the stage for long, as a strong encore followed shortly after. Returning with an up-tempo rendition of "When I Drink," the Avett Brothers finished the night on a high note with a raucous performance of one of their live staples: "Talk on Indolence." Mud splashed as the entire crowd jumped up and down to the beat, singing along to final repetition of "because I had to." It was a cathartic close to a rain-soaked night. — Dunstan McNutt

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