Avetts on the rise

  • BY DEVIN GRANT
    Special to The Post and Courier
  • Posted: Monday, February 13, 2012 12:01 a.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, March 23, 2012 9:50 p.m.
  • Text size: A A A
Joe Kwon (from left), Bob Crawford, Scott Avett and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers perform Sunday at the North Charleston Coliseum.
DEVIN GRANT/Joe Kwon (from left), Bob Crawford, Scott Avett and Seth Avett of The Avett Brothers perform Sunday at the North Charleston Coliseum.

The North Carolina-based Americana band The Avett Brothers definitely showed that it was moving up in the world as it entertained a crowd of more than 5,000 at the North Charleston Coliseum Sunday night.

Less than two years ago, the band had played next door at the Performing Arts Center to a sellout crowd, and it wasn't that long ago that its local following fit comfortably inside the Music Farm downtown.

Sunday night The Avett Brothers demonstrated why it continues to draw new fans constantly, as the group burned through a satisfying set of originals and covers that lasted about two hours.

There was no opening band, and just after 8 p.m., The Avetts, led by brothers Scott and Seth, took to the stage, opening with "And It Spread," a track from its most recent studio album, "I And Love And You."

Prior to starting the song, the band seemed to be experiencing some equipment issues, but after getting started, the musicians rarely slowed down, running through an impressive list of songs from the band's career so far. Crowd favorites included "Shame" and "January Wedding." Many in the crowd could be heard singing just about every word of most of the songs in the set.

Midway through the show, Seth Avett announced that the band was taking a short break. At first it seemed as if there might be more technical issues, but Seth and Scott Avett quickly stepped to the front of the stage to perform as an acoustic duo. As they hovered around a single microphone, the brothers first played a cover of the spiritual "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," then one of their own songs, "St Joseph's," which earned them an eruption of applause from their fans.

As the rest of the band, which included cello player Joe Kwon, bassist Bob Crawford, and drummer Jacob Edwards, returned to the stage, The Avett Brothers kicked into a second set of music with songs that included "I Killed Sally's Lover," "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise," and "Down with the Glistening Shine." A cover of Merle Haggard's "I Won't Give Up My Train" was an unexpectedly pleasant surprise. "Murder in the City" and "Pretty Girl From Annapolis" were beautifully performed.

For their encore, the band began with one of its biggest radio hits to date, "I and Love and You," which found the band threatening to be drowned out by the audience singing along with every word.

The Avetts then closed with another obvious crowd favorite, "Kick Drum Heart."