The Avett Brothers’ Revival to Red Rocks
July 14, 2022
Photos of The Avett Brothers by Billy Thieme
The Avett Brothers gifted a hugely packed Red Rocks Amphitheater with a giant dose of just the right kind of beautiful music last Sunday night – the third and final night of their annual residency at the world-famous venue (the band has been holding two- and three-night stints at Red Rocks since at least 2013 – almost always sold out). In a world that feels more and more anxious, and a little more hopeless from day to day – at least lately – a few hours of hope and love wrapped in beautiful music can bring us all up a little bit, and it can make all the difference in the world.
Last Sunday’s show was overfilled, but it felt as intimate as a backyard party, and as if everyone knew everyone. It’s that kind of party when the Avett Brothers come ’round, and their love for the venue is evident – even on the band’s homepage.
The Avett Brothers gifted a hugely packed Red Rocks Amphitheater Sunday night
From the time Scott and Seth Avett strolled onstage with the rest of the band – Bob Crawford (bass), Joe Kwon (cello), Mike Marsh (drums), big sister Bonnie Avett-Rini (keys), and Tania Elizabeth (fiddle), all with huge smiles – until the final, heartbreaking notes of “No Hard Feelings,” the world felt a little better than it had in a few weeks – maybe longer. Avett Brothers songs have that kind of affect.
They started with a rousing version of “Black Mountain Rag,” to start the influx of a light revival energy. With “Open Ended life” and “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise,” the group cemented the beauty of both place and heart for all of those present. From there on out, it became highlight after highlight, between brothers’ childhood stories, an electric drum solo, beautiful, dramatic violin and cello acrobatics and an almost unstoppable rise – it began to feel like a tent revival and a giant hootenanny all blended into one.
20 songs in, the band introduced their father Jim Avett to the stage…
And then, 20 songs in, the band introduced their father Jim Avett to the stage – a storyteller in his own right – who led the whole amphitheater into its full tent-revival flourish. Leading us all in a gospel singalong for a few songs – “Take My Hand Precious Lord” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” – Jim made the holiness fully real, with his deep voice and fedora, shorts, and sneakers. It seemed like there was no-one in the audience that wasn’t singing along with their hands in the air.
As the band came back for their encore – with Jim Avett in tow once again – singing a beautiful rendition of “Two Hands” and the naturally, deep beauty of “No Hard Feelings,” things just started to feel all right for a while – something we’ve needed for a little while.
- Black Mountain Rag
- Open-Ended Life
- Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
- Who Will I Hold
- At the Beach
- Left on Laura, Left on Lisa
- Gimmeakiss
- The Perfect Space
- In the Curve
- Murder in the City
- Live and Die
- Laundry Room
- I Killed Sally’s Lover
- All My Mistakes
- Roses and Sacrifice
- Slight Figure of Speech
- February Seven
- I and Love and You
- I Go to My Heart
- I Wish I Was
- Take My Hand Precious Lord (with Jim Avett)
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (with Jim Avett)
- Vanity
- Kick Drum Heart
- Ain’t No Man
Encore: - Two Hands (with Jim Avett)
- No Hard Feelings
