The Avett Brothers

Friday, October 21; Off Broadway (3509 Lemp Avenue)

Oct 19, 2005 at 4:00 am
As a general rule, young, male rockers who dabble in acoustic instruments and bluegrass harmonies wind up on one of two paths: They either give it up and revert back to their indie rock origins, or they become more proficient and polished in old-time styles. After four years, the Avett Brothers (siblings Seth and Scott and doghouse bassist Bob Crawford) are just playing faster, louder and campier, as if convinced Johnny Ramone invented the banjo and Dock Boggs was the original punk. By now their pummeling hillbilly stunts should have burned themselves out, but their songs and sound -- earnest and romantic, even when shattering like sugar glass -- have generated their own joyfully noisy momentum, with no slowdown in sight.

Show starts at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12; call 314-773-3363 for more information.