The Avett Brothers Cover Toby Keith’s ‘As Good As I Once Was’ on ‘ACL’

Given their instrumentation and mountain-music harmonies, the Avett Brothers have always been naturals when it comes to country covers. When they last appeared on Austin City Limits in 2014, they zipped through a version of George Jones’ “The Race Is On.”

For their next spot on the show, airing Saturday, Jan. 18th, the Avetts devote most of their set to songs from last year’s The Avett Brothers. But the band also offers up another country homage, this one both cheeky and a little touching.

Some fans may not think that Toby Keith‘s “As Good As I Once Was” would be Avett-friendly. We all remember both the song — that Buffett-gone-wild vamp from 20 years ago — and especially its video, complete with barroom brawls, Viagra, and twin vixens. But in their performance Scott and Seth Avett find the humor and simpatico interest in the song. Stripping Keith’s hit down to two guitars and a bass (by band member Bob Crawford), the Avetts turn “As Good As I Once Was” into a cantina sing-along imbued with good-hearted affection and a dose of wry appreciation (they’ve been around a little while too). Scott gets the “Daaave….?” line right too. Not surprisingly given the setting, the “big Texas smile on your face” line goes over as well with the ACL audience.

For added poignancy, the cover arrives at close to the first anniversary of Keith’s death from stomach cancer on Feb. 5, 2024. When the song ends, both Avetts look upward and smile. “Thank you, Toby,” Scott adds. You leave the performance sure that, yes, Keith would have defended these guys in a bar fight.