Raw emotion and smart song-writing are part of the magnetic appeal drawing fans to the Avett Brothers, the North Carolina folk-country group playing Comcast Arena Everett tonight.
Banjo and guitar playing siblings Scott and Seth Avett, along with stand-up bassist Bob Crawford started about a decade ago focusing on writing songs for song’s sake.
“We’ve been doing what we like to do and what’s natural,” Scott Avett said in an interview earlier this week.
Although many in the music industry are turning to synthesized and electronic sounds, the Avetts returned to pure acoustics, playing a style often called “punkgrass.”
“Just like going back to the farm seems natural today, so does acoustic music,” Scott Avett said.
The two brothers began singing on street corners, where there was no place to hide from their audience.
“It forced us to write songs that were very raw,” he said.
That emotional purity is part of the band’s appeal.
Fueled by the success of their 2009 album, “I and Love and You,” the band is touring extensively, producing new material for an upcoming release.
Scott Avett said the Pacific Northwest has been good to the band, and audience size swells each time they swing through.
Tonight’s concert will be a blend of old and new songs.
“We’re just so happy to come back,” Scott Avett said. “I can’t thank (Everett audiences) enough. They’ve been truly warm to us. I can’t wait to bring the show to them.”
The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:30 tonight at Comcast Arena Everett, 2000 Hewitt Ave., Everett.
General admission tickets are $42 and can be purchased at www.comcastarenaeverett.com, 866-332-8499 or at the box office.
On Monday night, another powerful act stops by Comcast.
Sugarland, the Grammy-winning country duo, brings its “The Incredible Machine Tour” to its only stop in the Pacific Northwest.
Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush front the group with beautiful singing and top-notch musicianship.
They are one of the hottest country groups on the road today.
Catch their act at 7:30 p.m. Monday at Comcast Arena Everett.
Tickets range from $30 to $82 and and can be purchased at www.comcastarenaeverett.com, 866-332-8499 or at the box office.
I have to admit that my favorite Katy Perry moment is when she sang “Hot N Cold” with Elmo on Sesame Street.
The pop star and unconventional fashion plate is at KeyArena at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in what promises to be a night of dance and thundering music.
Perry, star of stage, TV and the tabloids, makes a splash wherever she goes.
Tickets cost $29.50 to $45 and can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Folk rockers the Indigo Girls play two nights at Zoo Tunes at the Woodland Park Zoo.
The shows, Wednesday and Thursday, start at 6 p.m.
Tickets are $26 and can be purchased at zoo.org/zootunes.
A string of great acts are stopping in at Chateau Ste. Michelle during the next week.
The action starts Saturday with The Steve Miller Band, the ’60s group that produced classic hits including, “Abracadabra,” “Livin’ in the USA,” “Keep on Rock ‘N Me” and “Fly Like an Eagle.”
Miller, 67, has put out two albums in the past few years. The songs are fine, but for my money, I hope he plays plenty of his oldies.
Next up is INXS, the Australian rockers who brought us a “New Sensation.”
Original frontman Michael Hutchence died in 1997. In 2005, the band auditioned for a new lead singer on a TV reality show, with J.D. Fortune winning the job.
Although Fortune has been out and in, he’s back and the band should be rockin’.
Finally, legendary and gorgeous Canadian Sarah McLachlan returns to the winery for two nights.
Her 1993 breakthrough album, “Fumbling Towards Ecstasy,” remains one of the best and most-played records of all times.
Since then she’s won Grammys and continued to record and produce her famous “Lillith Fair” concerts.
Her 2010 album, “Laws of Illusion,” was well received.
All winery concerts are scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
The Steve Miller Band is scheduled for July 16, INXS for July 17 and Sarah McLachlan for July 19 and 20.
Tickets range from $45 to $89. Buy tickets at the winery or at www.ticketmaster.com or 800-745-3000.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3447; jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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