Proof bluegrass can be fun, even without the foot stomping
The Punch Brothers are the new project of mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile, who first gained famed as part of Nickel Creek in the 90's and early 2000's. Since the Punch Brothers' formation in the 2006, they have released three progressive bluegrass albums. I had actually seen them twice before, once at Bonnaroo and another time opening for the Dave Matthews Band. So I knew what I would be getting but looking forward to seeing them on their own set. An all string quintet, the Punch Brothers' music is often based on complicated instrumentation and classical music elements. This makes it a relatively quiet variety of bluegrass. Unlike the catchy, foot stomping sound of Yonder Mountain String Band, The Steeldrivers, or The Wailin' Jennys, the Punch Brother's are much more subdued and introspective.
With several of the members hailing from the Midwestern US, they were excited to sell out the Vic Theatre, a 1,400 person venue in Lincoln Park. We were fairly close to the stage, which was helpful considering just how quiet their music is. Certainly didn't need my earplugs that evening, except for a few loud cheers from the crowd. While I don't have their setlist, I remember a good mix of songs from each of the three albums, with only a few familiar enough with the audience for everyone to sing along. Chris Thile sang lead vocals on most of the songs, though I found Chris Eldridge's voice, who lead on one song, as good or even better than Thile's. I was even willing to look past his southern accent despite his Wikipedia page indicating he's from Fredericksburg, Virginia (accent is not impossible, just a bit suspect). At the beginning of the encore Chris Thile played the 4th Movement from Bach's G Minor Sonata, without the aid of a a microphone. After all the shhhing, it's nice to hear a completely silent audience with everyone keenly listening to the strings. The band, as well as opening act, The Milk Carton Kids for one song, joined to finish up the show.
The Punch Brothers are the new project of mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile, who first gained famed as part of Nickel Creek in the 90's and early 2000's. Since the Punch Brothers' formation in the 2006, they have released three progressive bluegrass albums. I had actually seen them twice before, once at Bonnaroo and another time opening for the Dave Matthews Band. So I knew what I would be getting but looking forward to seeing them on their own set. An all string quintet, the Punch Brothers' music is often based on complicated instrumentation and classical music elements. This makes it a relatively quiet variety of bluegrass. Unlike the catchy, foot stomping sound of Yonder Mountain String Band, The Steeldrivers, or The Wailin' Jennys, the Punch Brother's are much more subdued and introspective.With several of the members hailing from the Midwestern US, they were excited to sell out the Vic Theatre, a 1,400 person venue in Lincoln Park. We were fairly close to the stage, which was helpful considering just how quiet their music is. Certainly didn't need my earplugs that evening, except for a few loud cheers from the crowd. While I don't have their setlist, I remember a good mix of songs from each of the three albums, with only a few familiar enough with the audience for everyone to sing along. Chris Thile sang lead vocals on most of the songs, though I found Chris Eldridge's voice, who lead on one song, as good or even better than Thile's. I was even willing to look past his southern accent despite his Wikipedia page indicating he's from Fredericksburg, Virginia (accent is not impossible, just a bit suspect). At the beginning of the encore Chris Thile played the 4th Movement from Bach's G Minor Sonata, without the aid of a a microphone. After all the shhhing, it's nice to hear a completely silent audience with everyone keenly listening to the strings. The band, as well as opening act, The Milk Carton Kids for one song, joined to finish up the show.
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