Back in the Day

May 2001, Seth sings guest harmonies at Puckett's in Derita. My first photograph of an Avett.

From left: Scott Avett, Seth Avett, and Bob Crawford. This was my first photo shoot with the Avetts, in their parents’ garage in April 2002. I knew bassist Bob Crawford through another local band. One day, Bob told me about a couple of brothers that he had just started playing with, suggesting I come check them out. I saw them for the first time at Fat City in August 2001.

October 2003, Sylvia Theater in York, South Carolina. Johnny Cash had recently passed away, and I told them about a shoot I did with Cash that summer. The band later got to overdub their instruments on Cash's new, posthumous album, because they now share a producer, the legendary Rick Rubin.

In 2004, the band played a homecoming show at the old George Washington Tavern in Concord on "Avett Brothers Day." This show was insanely packed and ended with the band throwing their instruments around during a fun and messy cover of the old hymn "I'll Fly Away."

September 2004, Scott and the band rehearse the song "Talk on Indolence," which they had just written, in Seth's kitchen.

The band played in a Concord ice cream shop for WCNC's Carolina Traveler. That's host Mike Redding dealing with a couple fans.

Bob Crawford talks to fans after the band's second appearance at Merlefest in 2006. Bob's role in the band can't be overstated.

In a Winston-Salem studio in 2005, working on overdubs for Four Thieves Gone, the band's third studio album. I really like this shot of Seth, thinking while listening to a playback.

I walked out through the back stage door as the band entered the Verizon stage. The sun was setting in the distance, and backlit the area behind the crowd. Sometimes you walk into a shot like this, and you learn to get it quickly, before the world changes it.

This shot of Scott was taken backstage at the Verizon Ampitheatre in August 2006. The band and manager Dolph Ramseur set up this all-day show with the Avetts headlining.

At the 2006 Merlefest appearance, Seth fell to his knees during a song, and then stayed on his back for a minute or two, playing the entire time.