Mike Patton Joins Forces with The Avett Brothers for a Strange Collab

I certainly didn’t have this on my 2025 bingo card, but here we are. In what could be one of the more unexpected collaborations in Mike Patton‘s long and winding career, he and The Avett Brothers have combined their musical talents for a new project called AVTT/PTTN.

Comprised predominantly as a trio, AVTT/PTTN will be releasing their debut self-titled album on November 14 via Thirty Tigers, Ramseur Records, and Ipecac Recordings. To mark the occasion, the project released their first single, “Eternal Love,” earlier today.

As a huge fan of Patton and his work, I gotta say that I’m a little taken aback by this move. It’s an interesting piece of music, for sure, but I think I was expecting a way more Americana-infused sort of Tomahawk situation, but it feels like Patton’s giving the Avett Brothers so much room to exist in the mix that he’s there to serve as a sort of embellishment to the track’s overarching flavor.

Speaking of the two entities joining forces, Scott Avett said this was the embodiment of artistic expression manifest.

“This is what art is. This is what making is supposed to be: in secret and with no ambition.”

As for his performance alongside Patton, Scott said it was a surreal experience because he’s “part of our DNA, like the fabric of our youth. Literally, we studied him. He’s a dear friend now, but when we were younger, I was imitating him.”

That’s a hell of a musician to try to emulate, but it’s always good to have lofty goals. As for Mike’s contribution, he said he just tried to figure out what his motivations were as a performer and go from there.

“My peculiar challenge in this was to become a long distant cousin. A brother that was orphaned. Maybe they kept him in the chicken coop or some shit. They brought him out years and years later.”

AVTT/PTTN will be released on November 14 via Thirty Tigers/Ramseur Records/Ipecac Recordings, but you can preorder your copy today