An Evening with the Avett's

Apologies that I didn’t update last night but I was busy being happy. Brandon (a.k.a. the best husband ever) got us in to The Avett Brothers CD release party. The Avett Brothers are my very favorite band and happen to be from Concord, North Carolina. To celebrate the release of their live album (that was recorded at a show in Charlotte that we attended a year ago) they played a small show at Manifest Disc and stayed after to do a signing. There were only 400 wristbands available and somehow Brandon found out about the event the day they started distributing wristbands and booked it over to Manifest to get them for us.

The doors opened at 7:15 p.m. We arrived around 6 p.m. to line up. We weren’t the only ones hoping for a spot close to the stage!

As we waited I talked Brandon’s ear off about race day for the Marine Corps Marathon and my plan of attack for transportation, timing, the expo, etc. I also reminisced about my love for the Avett’s.

I first discovered them in 2006 when I was buying Brandon’s Christmas gift in an outdoors store in Birmingham. They were playing a really cool bluegrass-esque CD and I asked the sales guy who it was. He told me it was The Avett Brothers. I wanted to buy it for Brandon because it sounded like something he’d like. We went away that weekend to the North Carolina mountains and ended up getting engaged! I bought The Avett Brothers CD while we were in the mountains and listened to it the whole weekend in the car and the whole car ride home. My love for the Avett’s started then and has only grown stronger and stronger over the years. 😉

Soon enough it was time to go in. We got a spot pretty close to the stage. This was by far the smallest Avett’s show that we’d ever been to.

The show was surreal. I couldn’t believe that we were seeing them in such a small setting (and that we’d be able to meet them after the show!) and they were so humble and happy to be there. You could totally tell that they were loving being home and playing for their longtime, hometown fans. They were only supposed to play a 30 minute set but ended up playing for an hour.

They played a great mix of old and new. Although I love their new album, I am so partial to their older, punkier, true to their roots stuff and we definitely got that feeling from the show last night. Nothing calculated, just pure and joyous Avett’s!

Dear Scott, Seth, Bob and Joe,

Your music makes me happy. I love you.

– Jen

After the set we waited another hour and a half for a signing, handshake and picture. They were so nice about the signing and said that they would stay until every person made it through the line. When we finally made our way to the table they were still so kind and friendly. They were taking their time talking to everyone and taking pictures.

Of course I blubbered to Joe Kwon (far left) that I followed him on Twitter, read his blog and that I was a food blogger too. I’m pretty sure I made no sense.

It was an awesome night! We got home around 11 p.m. and I stuffed my face with leftover green curry and then hit the bed hard. I swear, I am still in recovery from Sunday’s long run.

I had intentions to get up and blog this morning but I reset my alarm and finally rolled out of bed at 7:30. It was 45 degrees here last night so warm oatmeal was calling my name. I had a big bowl of banana pumpkin oatmeal for breakfast.

I went to lunch with co-workers at Cantina 1511.

I ordered a chopped salad since I ate about a thousand chips with salsa. Can we take a moment to reflect on why they gave me so much dressing??? I used half of one of these. I am thankful I asked for it on the side. Who knows how much of this would have made it onto my salad had I not.

I was supposed to go to yoga and dinner with friends tonight but I got caught up at work late and really needed to get a run in so I had to cancel. The run didn’t go great – my body told me loud and clear that it needed a little more rest after Sunday’s 20-miler but that’s okay. I didn’t freak out about it. That was a hard run and my body was so nice to get me through it!

Brandon wasn’t home for dinner tonight so I went with something simple and comforting.

Sauteed shrimp and sundried tomato sauce over whole wheat penne. I served it on a bed of spinach and topped it with fresh basil and parmesan.

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