Avett Brothers wrap up year of touring with more touring

photo by Crackerfarm

Ah, December! Amidst all the frenzied holiday shopping, baking, inclement weathering, family get-togethering, gift wrapping (and/or rapping), cheesy sweater-wearing, egg nog-slurping, covert Snowed In-listening, A Christmas Story-binging and "Next year, we’re skipping Christmas!"-ing, somehow we always find time to reflect on the year that's about to meet its demise.

Around these parts, we like to make ~~people angry~~ lists. Lots and lots of lists.

In case a hunger for Paste lists still rages in your belly—personally, we’re full of all the chocolates PR companies keep sending us—here’s one more:

Top Five PasteMagazine.com News Items About New Avett Brothers Tour Dates

5. 10 Nov 2006: Avett Brothers Announce UK Tour Dates - Technically posted in 2006, but this still quality stuff! Plus it talks about things that were going to happen this year, so it totally counts. Note the expert use of "bandana’d." Nice form, anonymous intern!

4. 20 Jun 2007: Avett Brothers Receive Three AMA Nominations - Name dropping! Nashville! Patty Griffin! (Name dropping!) General pre-awards showcase revelry! So great, you might forget it doesn’t actually mention any tour dates whatsoever.

3. 05 Nov 2007: Avett Brothers Clean Up At AMA Awards, Continue Tour - Fulfils the promise of #4 in the way that only a follow-up news item could. The Avetts nab some trophies, Patty Griffin gets another mention, and Jeremy Goldmeier gets all nostalgic. Perfection.

2. 30 Mar 2007: Avett Brothers Tour Like Crazy, Release New LP - Points off for use of terms like "steady stream of shows" and "alternative folkster" (who wrote that thing? oh wait, I did), but just look at all those tour dates! There are so many! And that’s what this is all about, right? Tour dates. Lots and lots of tour dates.

1. 22 Aug 2007: Avett Brothers To Play 50 Shows Through December - Though nothing special at first glance—we get it, we get it, they like playing shows, Emotionalism sold really well, Rebecca Bowen likes giving bands silly nicknames, blah blah blah—this one stands out above the rest thanks to the author’s intrepid math skills. While Rebecca could have just told you about how the the Avett Brothers were "plotting a tour," or how they were "continuing to tour like crazy," or just how they were "playing, like, a LOT of shows, I dunno how many, I was a magazines major, lay off me!" she actually counted out exactly how many shows they would be playing. And it’s a big number. I mean, really big. I just tried it and got winded around 38. Phew.

So, props to Rebecca—but even bigger props to the A-Bros themselves! You made it through a year of grueling touring, late-show appearances, and general facial hair maintenance. We love you, and we’re jealous of all the folks who get to see you on one of your kajillion upcoming tour stops.

December
28 – Asheville, N.C. @ The Orange Peel
29 -- Asheville, N.C. @ The Orange Peel
31 – Charlotte, N.C. @ NC Blumenthal Performing Arts Center/Belk Theater

February
2 – Urbana, Ill. @ The Canopy Club

March
1 – Kent, Ohio @ Kent Stage
2 – Huntington, W.Va. @ V Club
6 – Tallahassee, Fla. @ The Beta Bar
7 – Gainesville Fla. @ The Venue
8 – Langerado, Fla. @ Langerado Music Festival
11 – Baton Rouge, La. @ Manship Theatre
15 – Columbia, S.C. @ St. Patricks Day in Five Points
19 – Clinton, S.C. @ Belk Auditorium
28 – Tuscon, Ariz. @ Rialto Theatre
29 – Solana Beach, Calif. @ Belly Up Tavern
30 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ El Rey Theater

April
3 – Santa Cruz, Calif. @ Rio Theatre
4 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Slim’s
5 – San Francisco, Calif. @ Slim’s
8 – Chico, Calif. @ Big Room at Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
10 – Portland, Ore. @ Crystal Ballroom
11 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neumos
12 – Seattle, Wash. @ Neumos
25 – Wilkesboro, N.C. @ Merlefest
26 – Oxford, Miss. @ Double Decker Festival