The Avett Brothers
Interview with Bob Crawford
Words: Ashley Marie Sansotta
Photos: Jana Miller

Appearing:
March 6, 2008
The Beta Bar, Tallahassee

March 7, 2008
The Venue, Gainesville

March 8, 2008
Langerado Music Festival, Big Cypress Indian Reservation

The Avett Brothers bring a lot to the table.  Their feel-good lyrics and foot-stompin’ songs will make anybody move to the dance floor.  And with exploding stage presence, superb finger-pickin’ entertaining, and genuine demeanor, what’s not to love?  After the success the Brothers had with the release of their last album, Emotionalism, it makes me wonder: what is it that draws indie music lovers – just like you and me – to the music of the Avett Brothers?  I talked to the stand-up bassist of this three-piece nontraditional bluegrass band, Bob Crawford, about their success, their tour, and festival life.

REAX:  After such extensive touring, what is it like to be stationary?  What are you doing with the short time off?
Bob Crawford:  Oh wow, at this point, it doesn’t feel like we’ll ever get going again.  We’ve been off for an uncharacteristically long time.  It’s a very strange feeling.  Sometimes it feels very nice and it creates this illusion of home and family.  And it’s not like we’re working other jobs.  So, some days I find myself questioning my purpose in the world.  I feel like a homeless guy with a home.  But, then I find myself playing the piano every day, and working on my trumpet, and recording things, and learning things, and reading books.  And I can spend time with the wife and the dog.  It goes back and forth between feeling despondent and hopeless to feeling relaxed and invigorated.

REAX:  You guys took a completely different approach in recording “Four Thieves Gone” compared to “Emotionalism.”  Why the change?
BC:  With maturity and growing in the process – growing as musicians and growing as writers – it was kind of like a natural step.  When we did Four Thieves Gone, we wanted a very live feel – very spontaneous.  And we did that.  I mean, you know the story: we rented this cabin, bought all of the equipment, we had friends come over.  And a lot of the songs came from that house.  They were born there and they were recorded there.  And that was that process.  So, we did that - and then it was time to do something different.  That’s what the next process was about recording Emotionalism.  And when it begins next time – whenever it may begin – that’s what that will be.  Hopefully, we will always be learning...and that’s what it’s all about.

REAX:  I love your new video “Paranoia in B Flat Major” – just because it’s totally how I visualize what life is like in your shoes.  Is this the case?
BC:  I think they did a great job with it, didn’t they?  Our photographers, Mike and Lindsey (the husband and wife team from Crackerfarm), took ninety percent of the pictures and did the filming.  The moment I first saw it, I thought, yes, it is...it’s very accurate.  And for me – to live it and see it – I just think it’s such a great interpretation of life within The Avett Brothers.  Absolutely.

REAX:  There is a lot of buzz about this year’s Langerado Festival.  What do you like about playing at festivals versus the intimate show setting?
BC:  If you do what we do, a couple nights you’ll get a theater (if you’re lucky), or it can be a rock and roll club.  It’s all emotionally exhilarating and fulfilling.  We play the dirty;  we play the clean.  And at a festival, they tend to treat the bands really well.  The food’s good,  the atmosphere is great,  there’s other people we know from other bands.  It’s like a rock and roll vacation.

REAX:  How did the  “Pretty Girl” series of songs come about?
BC:  Well, it came about at a time when we were all into Jimmie Rodgers and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott a whole lot.  Jimmie Rodgers, in particular, had the “Blue Yodel” series.  There were several different “Blue Yodels,” no. 1, no. 2, no. 3, no. 4, etc... The “Pretty Girl” series is similar to that.  You meet a lot of different people – and women are attractive in many different ways and for many different reasons.  Every one has their own energy to them.  It’s a way to create a theme of maybe someone real, or someone inspired by real things.  But, you can’t put every girl’s name in a song.

REAX:  Of course, my personal favorite is “Pretty Girl From Cedar Lane.”  (The song is about a pretty girl from Cedar Lane named Ashley.)
BC:  Uh-oh!  It could be about you, Ashley! (laughs)

REAX:  My favorite thing about the diversity of your audience is seeing the people under the age of thirty appreciating the harmonicas, the banjos, and your harmonies.  Why do you think you have been able to acquire fans of indie music so effortlessly?
BC:  I ask that question a lot, actually.  I ask that very same question that you just asked me.  There has to be genuineness.  I mean, the words are great and music is catchy, sure.  But I think that there is something more going on.  I think it’s more of an energy thing than a spoken thing.  There’s something that we do - just by default of being us - and it’s something very natural and very organic.  And I think that people can really identify with that.  I think that’s maybe what it is.

REAX:  It’s so refreshing how Scott and Seth (being that they are brothers) are able to work so closely together.  How do you view this dynamic?
BC:  I grew up around a lot of brothers, and I’ve never known brothers that are so good to each other.  They’ve told me in the past that their father always told them when they were young, “You’re going to meet a lot of people in this world that aren’t always going to be very friendly to you, but you guys have each other.  And don’t ever forget that.  You’re brothers, and no one can take that away form you.”  They were raised really well, and they come from an amazing family.  They’re a real special combination.  I don’t know what it is.  But, I’ll tell ya, it’s a real special thing.

theavettbrothers.com