If I live the life I'm given, I won't be scared to die

Let me just go on record as saying that if you have a chance to see The Avett Brothers in concert, you should go. Last night was hands down one of the most fun nights I've had in a really long time. I don't think it could have been any more perfect (with the obvious exception of having even more family/friends in attendance.) Little brother John and sister-in-law Dejah came up for the day. They hung out at Stubb's all afternoon so we could get a good spot. We got a spot maybe 5 rows back from the stage and proceeded to make friends with the people around us. (A lady named Grayson took this picture for us.)

I had never heard of the opening act - the David Mayfield Parade - but I'm so glad I know who they are now! Seriously one of the most entertaining acts I have ever seen! Not only do they rock, he is hilarious. I will definitely go see them if they come to Austin again. They played until 8:15pm and the Avett Brothers came out shortly after that.
I think that you would enjoy their show even if you'd never heard them before - they are just so good. All of their songs sound like a poem to me. They seem genuinely grateful to be performing and their live presence did not disappoint. In fact, they are incredible live. Their bass player, Bob Crawford, has a 2 year old with brain cancer, so I made her a poster:
Seth Avett saw it when they came out and nodded at me like, "I'll tell him." I had some lyrics from "Murder in the City" on the other side.... "always remember there is nothing worth sharing like the love that lets us share our name." (I have more pictures from the show on my camera but don't feel like uploading them right now, so all you get is what was taken with cell phones.)

They played every song I really wanted to hear except for "Die, Die, Die." It was nonstop and I just really can't think of enough adjectives to describe how good it was. Afterwards, we went around the corner to the tour bus so I could give them my poster. We waited for a little while but decided that if they didn't come out of the bus by 10:40pm, we were not sticking around. They didn't come out, so we went to a little Irish pub across the street.

Oddly enough, there was a country band playing in the Irish pub. They were from Australia. Everyone loves an Aussie accent, so I asked them if they would say my name. They did, so I carried their tip jar around the bar for them and guilted people into tipping them. "They came all the way from Australia! You can give them one dollar!" We were enjoying the band when all of a sudden my brother texted Dejah and I to let us know that Seth Avett had gotten off the bus and was visiting with the people waiting there. So we had some lady dressed as a zombie watch our drinks (not the best move in retrospect, but whatever) and ran across the street.

As we were running, I managed to fall. Hard. Not gracefully. I fell hard enough that my shoe broke. (to my defense, the pavement was really uneven!) Fortunately I didn't hurt myself, but there was no hope for my shoe. Here is a re-enactment photo:

We made it across the street, where I told anyone within earshot about breaking my shoe. And then it was our turn to talk to Seth! He looked so tired, but was incredibly nice. He graciously signed the pictures I brought with me and then posed for a picture with Dejah and I.


Sigh. The boy is straight up dreamy. And he was so nice that it makes him even dreamier.

Before we headed back to the pub, the cello player, Joe, came out. He signed my pictures and then was lucky enough to hold up my foot so that I could take a picture of my broken shoe:
You can tell from Dejah's face in the background that we were having so much fun. (I swear, sometimes I wonder about myself. Who asks a band member to hold up their foot? Besides me, I mean?)

We walked back to the pub. We were enjoying the Aussie band, who even performed a "Rachel Rap" in my honor. As they were rapping my song, John texted again that now Scott Avett was visiting with fans. So Dejah and I ran back over.

He was just as nice. He did the signing and the smiling that we asked of him and did not seem put out by it at all. They are a classy bunch. (Not sure that I'm the person who should make judgement calls about what is/isn't classy, seeing as how I have a SHOE around my wrist in this picture, but oh well.)

We finally left them alone and went to finish up our drinks and pay our tab. We left the pub, went to IHOP and then went to bed. (Thanks to John for driving!) I am just so thankful to have had such a magical, perfect evening. My ankle hurts a little bit, but that is a small price to pay! I'll leave you with my favorite lyric from the opening act: "If I could be anything I'd be hers." Here he is singing the song with Seth Avett: