The Avett Brothers summon some joy from Des Moines crowd during two-hour concert

When folk rockers the Avett Brothers come to Iowa, they think of the song, “It Sure Can Get Cold in Des Moines.”

But did the audience at their concert at Wells Fargo Arena know it?

Some seemed to, judging by the response.

“I always just assume everybody knows Tom T. Hall songs but then I look on Spotify and he doesn’t even have a little blue validated check beside his name, so I don’t even know if he existed,” Seth Avett said. “Anyway, it’s a good song.”

The Grammy Award-nominated act, founded by brothers Scott and Seth Avett, thanked the audience repeatedly throughout their two-hour set, setting the mood with a twangy, upbeat instrumental as an opener before jumping into “Open Ended Life.”

“Y’all are really amazing,” Scott Avett said. “This is a very unique crowd.”

“Tonight would have not been great without you all,” he added. “Lucky us.”

The Avett Brothers keep it exciting with 'Talk on Indolence'

Sure, the band had its slower moments in the night, minimal lighting and acoustic and all.

Like when they performed “The Ballad Of Love And Hate” off their 2007 album “Emotionalism.”

The song tells the story of the personified love and hate, the former seeing the world and returning home as the latter stews in bitterness, and yet both finding graciousness for each other’s actions when they meet again.

Slower songs are to expected. That’s part of their discography, a body of work that has been built over two decades.

The Avett Brothers practicially spat out their lyrics during “Talk on Indolence” with a speed that called into question when they last took a breath. Later in the song, band member Joe Kwon had fun with his cello, raising it in the air and beating it like a drum before the song came to an end.

No one could accuse the Avett Brothers of being forced to fake their energy, unlike the line, “Because we had to,” in “Talk on Indolence.”

During “Slight Figure of Speech” off their 2009 album “I And Love And You,” all seven musicians on stage, including the siblings, displayed just how much fun they were having with their instruments. Later, they evoked a bit of theatrics as they all proceeded to sit or lie on the stage as it went dark in order to give the drummer some time in the spotlight.

More: Seth Avett says Iowa is 'interwoven' with songster Greg Brown, reflects on 'Swept Away' musical

‘Make a joyful sound if you feel like there’s hope for sure’

The Avett Brothers got the crowd involved early in their set, especially during 2019’s “High Steppin’.”

The song contains a monologue that remarks on financial woes and trying to stay afloat in an at-times tiresome existence. Yet, the monologue ends on a high note with the lyrics, “‘Cause there’s hope for sure.”

“‘Make a joyful sound if you feel like there’s hope for sure,’” Seth Avett added to the song, cupping his ear to elicit what ended up being a loud response from the audience.

“Yes, that’s what I’m talking about.”

Other songs performed throughout the night included “Laundry Room,” “Gimmeakiss,” "Ain't No Man" and the song that launched them into the mainstream, “I And Love And You.”

It’s the opening song of the album by the same name produced by Rick Rubin, the sought-after man who has worked with the Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash and many more.

“Thank you so much for letting us come here and work for you all,” Scott Avett told the crowd just minutes before the show came to a close. “It is our life’s work, and we are honored to come and do it for you. Take care of yourselves, take care of each other.”

Members of the band spent their final moments on stage tossing trinkets and crumpled up balls of paper to the crowd.

Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Des Moines Register. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: The Avett Brothers compliment Wells Fargo Arena crowd in Des Moines