NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Critically acclaimed North Carolina folk-pop-rock stalwarts The Avett Brothers, are preparing to release their brand new album, The Carpenter, on September 11, 2012 (American Recordings). “Live and Die,” a moving song of humility, will be the first single from the album and is set for release on July 3; the track makes its debut on NPR's "All Songs Considered" Tuesday June 26.
Produced by Rick Rubin and recorded in North Carolina and Malibu, the record follows the group's 2009 breakthrough release and celebrated major label debut, I and Love and You. That album reached #16 on the Billboard Top 200, and received rave notices from press that includes Rolling Stone (2009 Band to Watch), Paste (voted the #1 album of 2009 and one of the Best Albums of the Decade), Time magazine (voted one of the Top 10 albums of 2009..."The Avett Brothers specialize in epic sincerity played on acoustic instruments"), New York Times ("a highlight of 2009 for its textural complexity and subversive punky energy"), Billboard ("nothing less than a game-changer"), and the Los Angeles Times ("soaring harmonies, Southern twang and lyrics that evoke both Walt Whitman and Will Oldham"). The buzz on the band grew so strong, The Avett Brothers were invited to perform their track "Head Full of Doubt, Road Full of Promise" on the 2011 Grammy Awards, and then, along with Mumford & Sons, backed up Bob Dylan on his iconic "Maggie's Farm." Blending bluegrass, folk and punk with a rock'n'roll attitude, the quintet, led by brothers Seth and Scott Avett, continues to pen poignant and powerful songs on this new release.
The Carpenter includes several of the group's signature harmony-driven acoustic ballads such as "The Once and Future Carpenter," a song that paints a picture of life on the road, the waltzing sing-a-long "Down with the Shine," and the elegant "Winter in My Heart," a song the band performed for only the second time on the main stage at Bonnaroo earlier this month. But the brothers also get boisterous on tunes like "Paul Newman Versus the Demons," an ode to their favorite actor.
The Carpenter is the band's second album produced by Rubin and is set to be the first release via the new joint venture between Rubin's American Recordings and Republic Records. "It is always inspiring to be around Seth and Scott," said Rubin. "They may well be the most sincere and genuine people I've ever met, and that quality shines through in their writing. Particularly on this new album, they continued to surprise me with how deep they would go during the writing process, how personal their songwriting was. They are both amazing people."
About the release, Republic Records President and C.E.O. Monte Lipman enthuses, "This is the perfect way to kick off our partnership with American Recordings and Rick Rubin. The Avett Brothers remain both impressive songwriters and incredible performers. This record is special for a number of reasons, but mainly because the band is simply so good."
The Avett Brothers plan to tour extensively in support of The Carpenter; upcoming tour dates are as follows:
| 6/22 | Los Angeles, CA | Nokia Theatre | ||||
| 6/23 | Berkeley, CA | Greek Theatre | ||||
| 6/24 | Sacramento, CA | The Grove Amphitheater @ The Woodlake Hotel | ||||
| 6/26 | Vancouver, BC | Vancouver International Jazz Festival | ||||
| 6/28 | Salt Lake City, UT | Gallivan Center w. City and Colour | ||||
| 6/29 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheater w. City and Colour | ||||
| 6/30 | Morrison, CO | Red Rocks Amphitheater w. Devotchka | ||||
| 7/03 | Council Bluffs, IA | The Cove | ||||
| 7/05 | Milwaukee, WI | Summerfest | ||||
| 7/06 | Des Moines, IA | 80/35 Festival – Western Gateway Park | ||||
| 7/07 | Minneapolis, MN | Basilica Block Party | ||||
| 7/20 | Glen Allen, VA | Innsbrook After Hours at Snagjob Pavilion | ||||
| 7/21 | Camden, NJ | 2012 Xponential Festival | ||||
| 7/22 | Bridgeport, CT | Gathering Of The Vibes Festival | ||||
| 7/26 | Kansas City, MO | Crossroads KC | ||||
| 7/27 | Oklahoma City, OK | Chesapeake Energy Center | ||||
| 7/28 | New Braunfels, TX | Whitewater Amphitheater | ||||
| 8/22 | Chico, CA | California State University @ Chico | ||||
| 8/24 | Jacksonville, OR | Britt Pavilion | ||||
| 8/25 | Troutdale, OR | Edgefield | ||||
| 8/26 | Troutdale, OR | Edgefield | ||||
| 8/29 | Palmer, AK | Alaska State Fair | ||||
| 8/31 | Quincy, WA | The Gorge Amphitheatre | ||||
| 9/01 | Quincy, WA | The Gorge Amphitheatre | ||||
| 9/02 | Quincy, WA | The Gorge Amphitheatre | ||||
| 9/12 | Toronto, ON | Molson Canadian Amphitheatre | ||||
| 9/14 | Fredericton, NB | Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival | ||||
| 9/15 | Burlington, VT | Grand Point North Festival | ||||
| 9/16 | Boston, MA | Bank of America Pavilion | ||||
| 9/18 | New York, NY | Central Park - Rumsey Playfield | ||||
| 9/21 | Atlanta, GA | Music Midtown Festival | ||||
| 9/23 | Baltimore, MD | Pier Six Pavilion | ||||
| 9/28 | Chicago, IL | Charter One Pavilion | ||||
| 9/29 | St. Louis, MO | Fabulous Fox Theater | ||||
| 9/30 | Indianapolis, IN | The Lawn @ White River State Park | ||||
| 10/14 | Austin, TX | Austin City Limits | ||||
| 10/21 | Clearwater, FL | Clearwater Jazz Holiday | ||||
| 10/26 | New Orleans, LA | Voodoo Music + Arts Experience | ||||
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