The always-energetic Avett Brothers brought their national tour to Grand Rapids, unfurling a 28-song, career-spanning affair for a non-capacity but enthusiastic audience. (Review, photo gallery, set list)
“November Blue”: The Avett Brothers brought their tour to Grand Rapids on Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERY, SET LIST
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For a few hours Saturday night, Grand Rapids concertgoers took a break from the nation’s election hangover for a down-to-earth, borderline spiritual show.
The Avett Brothers and their folk-rock, bluegrass-styled vibe dropped by Van Andel Arena Saturday night to entertain a somewhat moderate-sized crowd. What the crowd lacked in numbers, it made up with high-energy and fervor.
A 28-Song Set: The Avett Brothers on stage Saturday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“We feel so loved here in Grand Rapids. Thank you for being here in such good cheer for us. We appreciate it very much and hope we can return the favor,” said singer Scott Avett.
With no opening band, the Avett Brothers soaked up all of the crowd’s energy to power through a 28-song set list that lasted nearly 2-1/2 hours.
The seven-piece ensemble roused the crowd with tracks like “Ain’t No Man,” a stomp-and-clap anthem, “Satan Pulls the Strings,” which got the crowd to its feet, and the surprisingly upbeat “True Sadness,” all from the band’s latest project and ninth studio album, “True Sadness.”
Toward the middle of the set, the brothers dedicated a moment for a beautiful and haunting cover of the iconic “Hallelujah” in honor of the late Leonard Cohen. The crowd was mesmerized in what stood out as perhaps the most emotional part of the evening.
The brothers’ outstanding live vocals, banjo fervor and their rich, string-heavy instrumentation prompted the crowd to demand an encore after they finished “Morning Song,” to which the band gladly agreed.
Four songs later, the night ended with the touching “I and Love and You” — an appropriate finish for the band’s devoted, loving fans.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Avett Brothers at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Anthony Norkus
Courtesy of setlist.fm
1. The D Bag Rag
2. Talk on Indolence
3. Down With the Shine
4. Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
5. November Blue
6. Paranoia in B-Flat Major
7. February Seven
8. Salina
9. True Sadness
10. Living of Love
11. Divorce Separation Blues
12. Cigarettes and Whiskey
13. Fisher Road to Hollywood
14. Shame
15. Pretty Girl From Chile
16. Hallelujah
17. Ain’t No Man
18. The Prettiest Thing
19. Live and Die
20. Laundry Room
21. Old Joe Clark
22. Skin and Bones
23. Satan Pulls the Strings
24. Morning Song
Encore:
25. Murder in the City
26. Kick Drum Heart
27. Geraldine
28. I and Love and You
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
