The Avett Brothers
I’m a sucker for a good musical scream. So when I heard some honest yelling in the sound clips on the Avett Brothers website, I knew I’d found something. The Avetts, banjo/guitar-playing brothers Scott and Seth and upright bassist Bob Crawford, are an aggressive folk trio. Like a lot of these bands, they openly discuss their punk rock roots. But in their case, the influence is clear in their songs and their rough-edged energetic delivery. Live, Scott and Seth play stomp cymbal (hihat) and stomp kick drum. It sounds like a nice gimmick, but it’s a natural extension of their foot-stomping performance style.
The trio was a huge hit at last spring’s Merlefest, and their CDs are all reportedly excellent. I can personally attest that Mignonette has been in heavy rotation in the car stereo for 2 weeks now. The songs of love, family, and the road have a youthful grit and strong sense of melody. And some irrestistible screams. Highly recommended.