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features Amplified! The Avett Brothers

Background

Brothers Scott (vocals/banjo) and Seth (guitar/vocals) Avett have been playing music together all their life. Growing up in Greenville, NC, the two got their start while playing in various heavy metal and punk bands. In between gigs, the pair would often join their friends in country and bluegrass jam sessions. It was through these late night gatherings that their distinctive bluegrass style was born. The brothers began writing their own compositions and eventually released a 6-song EP in 2000. Two years later, the Avetts bolstered their lineup by adding upright bass player and vocalist Bob Crawford. Today the group can be found playing to sold-out venues across the United States, while their albums continually receive high praise from critics. The Avett Brothers’ upcoming album, Emotionalism, will be released May 15 on Ramseur Records.

The Sound

With bare-bones arrangements and stripped down production, the Avett Brothers are what The Strokes might sound like if they traded in their electric guitars for banjos and an upright bass. Songs such as “Will You Return?” and “Die Die Die” are punctuated by Scott and Seth Avett’s unforgettable harmonies and honest lyrics. With their roots firmly planted in country and bluegrass music, the Avett Brothers create a sound all their own by seamlessly weaving together a variety of genres, including grunge, rock, blues, jazz, and even calypso.