The show in Birmingham last weekend was my fifth time seeing the Avett Brothers live. Pretty cool, right? I must be a huge fan. Not according to a mother and daughter I met there. The daughter was attending show number 17. Her favorite songs? “Talk on Indolence” and “When I Drink.” She is 10.

That’s exactly why I love the Avett Brothers. They embody raw, unadulterated honesty to self. And their honesty is easily accessible for everyone. They write with a scary conviction, saying things I could never say to myself—not to mention crowds of thousands.

From rolling around on barroom floors, to dancing on stage in packed auditoriums, the Avetts play with a captivating intensity that brings audiences to new highs and lows. This show was no exception. Whether pounding out the chords to “I Killed Sally’s Lover,” or quietly singing a rendition of “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” the crowd followed every step of the way.

They breathe with the crowd. They smile when you yell their names. And you can tell that every strum and pluck and scream means as much to them as it does to you.