The Avett Brothers wsg Trainhoppers -- May 26th!

[mkelley]

I think the Coliseum is ALWAYS gonna book Alan Jackson's Christmas Revue wsg Reba Mcentire, Piere's is ALWAYS gonna book the new band "featuring former members of Creed", Three Rivers Fest is ALWAYS gonna book Herman's Hermits and Night Ranger, and on and on.

If shows like this one have a fair amount of success, perhaps next summer they'll have even more success (and bigger names) and so on -- I'm hoping for Wilco in '09.

[Lee Miles]

Good to see this sort of thing go down. It will be a good thing for our scene for certain...

[Oliver's Army]

A few disjointed thoughts

I think a medium sized concert hall would be great use to 'revitalizing' downtown. A 3000 seat hall built for sound and comfort. Have vendors built into the place.

So why can't we get the bands Like Wilco?

Could this city sell 500 tickets to a show like this? 750...1000...1500?

We have demographics of a college town, yet we lack a 'real' campus.

The Embassy has always been reluctant to book rock acts, and to be honest...as beautiful as the Embassy Theatre is, it is physically uncomfortable to sit in those restored seats.

Clubs rule out family and under 21 crowds.

We all know that there are artists and shows that drive right past the Fort on their way to Chicago, Indy, Cleveland... Detroit. Why cant this city become more attractive the the booking agents?

The city could easily build retail and food around a music venue to attract after event traffic and non-event business.

Other than competeing with the Grand Wayne for the conference dollar, the building could easily double with films, guest speakers,... freaking balloon animal twisting mimes... if there was a crowd for it.

Discuss.

[jewlee138]

I can discuss this with you guys all I want, but it would make more sense if I wasn't the only person under the age of 30 involved in some of the meetings that actually make these desicions reality.....

A place like what you descibe has been brought up & isn't too far from reality. An acquaintance bought that building down by the Dash-In & will use it as a art/concert/meeting facility, similar to what you mention, but I'm not sure on the capacity...probably nowhere near 3,000, but it's a start.

Anyone can bring Wilco if they get the $$ backing. Downtown revitalization is a hot topic. If you can prove people will come downtown for Wilco, it can happen. For ex. sponsors (that I can't name yet) are talking about (or have already)dropped $12,000 & $15,000 to make events, like these Friday nights, happen all summer.

I'm all about action & take offense when people say it can't happen in Fort Wayne....in fact, those kind of comments are what drives me. It seems like everyone wants the same thing, relatively -

Cool sh*t in Fort Wayne, preferably downtown

We just need to communicate & organize to make it happen.

It really is that simple.

Okay, I'm done with my ranting



Julie

[adam atherton]

i saw Dave Matthews Band, Big Head Todd and The Monsters, and a LOT more at the embassy- this was pre-makeover.

this was also when most of the people here were still in diapers.

we went to a comedy show there a few weeks ago....and even my old fat ass could sit in that seat for 4 hours without problems...


the only issue is, will patrons respect and take care of the place?

[mkelley]

We may need to split this thread into two paths -- one for general concern & ambition for cool downtown concerts, and one for the Avett Bros.

For those of you still following the Avetts thread, I put some MP3s up on yousendit.com -- I'm not too sure how this works, so grab 'em now and spread the word!

http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2821 ... R3SRBPG6I9

[doubleshot]

Indeed. Let's not lose sight of the fact that there is a little slice of music salvation coming to town.

Not to mention the Trainhoppers will be sharing the bill and getting themselves some good exposure with an up and coming roots-oriented band.

If you check out the Avetts message board at CMT.com you will see that they already have many fans and are looked at as "the next big thing" in alt. country music. They will be big soon and by "big" I mean that they will be sharing the bill with other alt. country icons like DBT's, Wilco, and Ryan Adams.

[jewlee138]

I logged into myspace last night & there was a friend request waiting from the Avett Bros.

Super cool.

Needless to say, I added 'em.

[Massage...Bored]

Matt Kelley!!!! I found the Avett Brothers Mix CD you made for Dangle here at the store and it is so totally kick ass. I'll be listening to it all day.

[songbirdfortwayne]

Love The Avett Bros, Love the Trainhoppers, and love the idea of getting some new revitalization going downtown & making this scene happen!!!! We've got a good core of people, and even some of us over 40'ers want to see some kick-ass music happening . . . . let's all keep the momentum going, and most of all COME OUT AND SUPPORT, DRAG PEOPLE WITH YOU!!!!

[doubleshot]

The Avetts are still coming and are gonna kick our arses.

[doubleshot]

This is a stump, not a bump.

Get out for this people. The Avetts and the Hoppers. This has to be the best showcase of roots-oriented American music this town has seen for a long time. Maybe ever?

[jewlee138]

Avett Brothers: Raucous Boys from North Carolina
By Sean Smith
Fort Wayne Reader

2006-05-22

Few bands have taken the credo ‘less is more’ to heart moreso than the Avett Brothers. Consisting of Scott and Seth Avett, on banjo and guitar respectively, and Bob Crawford, on upright bass, the Avett Brothers create songs more rockin and foot stompin than bands twice their numbers.

It was in Greenville, North Carolina that the Avetts were formed in name and sound in 2000. However, the Avetts as we know and love them now didn’t come into fruition until 2002. It was during the recording of their first album, ‘Country Was’, that Crawford joined the Brothers. Since then they have released a handful of other records, including ‘Mignonette’ (2004) and ‘Four Thieves Gone: The Robinsville Sessions’ (2006).

Explaining what type of music the Avetts play is a little exhausting, kind of like their ‘full-on, leave-it-all-on-the-stage’ live show. When bassist Crawford wants to avoid an hour long discussion of the intricacies of their music and style, he will describe their sound as ‘bluegrass Nirvana.’ It’s true that bluegrass is an element in their music, but it’s just that: an element. There are so many other influences at play. For proof of that just consider Crawford’s current shuffle of music. There’s Gnarls Barkley, The Raconteurs, Joe Jackson, and lots of jazz.

The thing that he admires most about Jack White, of the White Stripes and Raconteurs, is that White is not out to reinvent the wheel. He is simply playing rock n roll. Some people always need to look for something ‘super meaningful’ in music, but in White’s music is just rock n roll.

The Avetts have been accused of reinventing the bluegrass wheel and have taken some heat and a fair earful of complaints from purists, but there are some places that will always greet them with open arms. Places like Merlefest. Merlefest has had the pleasure of hosting the Avetts (and hundreds of other Americana bands) for three years in a row now.

“It’s special. Playing (there recently) was excellent. It’s the best festival around, it’s a family event, and it’s almost like a home festival. It was enough to bring me to Carolina from New Jersey,” says Crawford.

It’s also part of the reason the Avetts are creating the kind of music they are. When Seth was thirteen he was able to hang out with Doc Watson for a day while attending Merlefest. It was an event that caused Seth to re-evaluate his approach and appreciation of music.

Yet another festival that the Brothers will be playing is Bonnaroo. They couldn’t be happier to be a part of the ever changing music extravaganza.

“That’s a prestigious festival,” notes Crawford, “It’s gonna be great to be able to play to that many people and we are playing right after Radiohead.”

How many up and coming bands can claim that Radiohead opened for them? Not too shabby.

Something else that wasn’t too shabby would be their recent co-headlining tour with BR549. Crawford was the only one aware of their music before the tour got under way and was looking forward to sharing the bill with them. However, the Avetts had only been opening shows ‘for what seemed like forever’ and were not sure how things would work out on a co-headlining show. Their anxiety was short lived as they soon found out that the fellas in BR549 could not be any better. They were truly great people and proved that by going out of their way to try and get doctors for Seth, Scott, and Bob when the three of them all came down with the flu during the tour.

The Avetts are kicking off the Wayne Calhoun Troubadour Series on May 26th at 7 pm on the corner of Wayne and Calhoun. When asked if they had ever been to Ft. Wayne before, Crawford answers, “Never, never, never.”

Can you think of any reason why you should miss one of the most exciting live acts to come along in quite along while, not to mention a group that consistently writes wonderful songs with melodies for days and smart and story filled lyrics?

Think again.

The Avett Brothers
Friday, May 26th, 7 pm
Corner of Wayne and Calhoun
$5
ALL AGES EVENT

[GxWxLx]

awesome!!!! i'm gonna need a copy of this issue

[doubleshot]

Nice.

One week.

They will rock.

Rock on.

"What more is a rainbow than colors out of reach?"