| 3 December |
Decide What to Be, and Go Be It. |
Austin City Limits Festival 10/02/2009
The best show I saw at the 2009 Austin City Limits Festival, was an early Friday afternoon show by the Avett Brothers, a band from North Carolina that has been building quite a buzz for the past few years. They were also the very first band we saw of the festival. Now, it’s almost anti-climactic when at ACL fest to see the best band right out of the gate, as this is a festival with 130 bands and included the likes of Pearl Jam, Ben Harper, The Dave Mathews Band and countless other talents. I would compare the experience to marrying the first girl/guy you kissed or buying the first house listing you see. However, their infectious boot stomping and sing alongs brought many a smile under the hot Austin sun and it even inspired two people who were with me to buy their new album before the festival had even concluded. Trying to classify their music is a formulation of bluegrass, punk, pop, country, all tossed in a dirty canvas bag with a big ol’ flask of honky-tonk. Their music most recently caught the attention of producer-extraordinaire, Rick Rubin who signed on for their latest release, I and Love and You, (which is probably in the top three albums for me of 2009).
The song included below is the third track off the new album and has been on constant repeat for me for the past month. I can’t classify exactly why I like it except for good musicianship, infectious melody, beautiful harmonies, and honest lyrics that are filled with hope. Enjoy.
From September 8 to October 8 2009, in conglomeration with the upcoming release of the album, I and Love and You, the Avett Brothers released 13 short videos describing their music and fans. The videos show clips from past concerts, fan interviews and talks from the Avetts themselves. Click here to see the release for Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise.
Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of Promise - The Avett Brothers
Head Full Of Doubt/Road Full Of PromiseThere’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
And it comes in black and it comes in white
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
When nothing is owed or deserved or expected
And your life doesn’t change by the man that’s elected
If you’re loved by someone, you’ll never reject it
Decide what to be, and go be it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon you that’s flooded in light
And in the fine print they tell you what’s wrong and what’s right
And it flies by day and it flies by night
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There was a dream and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
In the fine print they tell me what’s wrong and what’s right
There’s a darkness upon me that’s flooded in light
And I’m frightened by those that don’t see it