There comes a band every so often that has been waiting to break out so long that the energy behind them is overpowering. The Avett Brothers, hailing from Concord, North Carolina are one of these rare artists in the music world. While constantly touring, this All-American band has been whipping out hard-rock banjo riffs and country love ballads that relate to the modern pace of life, meanwhile making anyone and everyone a fan of American roots music on first listen. With an already hearty volume of albums that are harder to put down than that last Harry Potter book you read, the Avetts have finally hit their home run.

    “I and Love and You” their newest gift to fans everywhere, has been getting a healthy boost from an unlikely friend, big-time Columbia producer Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, Run-DMC) The new album is a bit more refined from their old screaming banjo-picking days featuring more electric guitar and bass and unlike most string bands, drums. Songs like “Ten Thousand Words” have a great 60’s folk feel. Meanwhile, “Slight Figure Of Speech” sounds like a modern pop song mixed with early Beatles riffs. 

   But after seeing a sold-out Avett show at the Pageant in St. Louis, I for one think they should have gone easy on the refining. This band has musical talent rivaling Crosby, Stills, & Nash with the raw punk energy of the Sex Pistols. Flannel-clad fans overflowed the venue, toting signs with their favorite song’s name, hoping for it to be played, and shouting every word, known by heart, in unison with the Avetts. 

   This adoration has been shared by thousands of fans across the U.S. as they’ve toured. Scott and Seth, the brothers from Concord, have teamed up with bassist Bob Crawford, and cellist Joe Kwon in recent years for a full-bellied sound that rocks, rolls, and flows powerfully into open ears. But what may describe the Avetts best, and explain their intense following, was provided to me by none other than Seth Avett himself when I met him after their St. Louis show near their tour bus.

   “We’re tired man, we’ve been playing nonstop for a long time but it works out alright,” Avett said, “ It’s the fans, you all are the fuel that keeps us going.”