Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
StickerShock ·
Apr 19, 2011 at 1:48pm
Lance suggested we add Punch Brothers as a song of the day. Here is an appearance on Lettermen, where they performed Rye Whiskey. (Hope the upload works for me.) As one commentator states, they are "five wily, omnivorous bluegrass titans and some of the best string pickers of the new generation."
Their live shows are amazing. My daughter has met mandolin player Chris Thiele (of NickelCreek) playing at Irish sessions in Manhattan and he is delighful and humble, leaning in to learn tunes as she fiddled. I love these guys!
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Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Thanks for the guest post, StickerShock! Its nice to get a surprise like this. I was not aware of the connection to Nickel Creek and have been a fan of Chris Thiele's work with them. I had been planning to play a Nickel Creek tune one of these days, When You Come Back Down or The Lighthouse's Tale. Last news I had heard on the band was Fiona Apple's interest in collaborating with them on a record and have been excitedly waiting. Regarding other seemingly random news I had paid even less attention to was that Steve Martin had been playing his banjo recently. I now wish I had paid more attention. As a big fan of his, at least of his older works, I feel its been years since Steve Martin approached cool (perhaps his Spanish Prisoner days?). Good to see him having fun here.
Big question...was he playing at the show you attended recently in NYC?
Jun '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
That Jude Law sure can play that mini guitar pretty well.
Jun '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Steve Martin claims he got his banjo out about a year or so ago after not giving it much attention for many years. That's when he put out The Crow CD. He was on tour and we meant to catch him, but never did. The bluegrass award he presented to Noam was inspired by his re-entry into playing. He said he was astounded at how rapidly the genre had progressed, to the point that he had once thought of himself as a competent banjo player, but now felt like a rank amateur. He wanted to encourage the musical growth and exploration that people like the Punch Brothers guys do.
We saw Fionna Apple in a great Central Park with Nickel Creek about three years ago. They have a natural chemistry that was fun to experience.
Jun '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Oh .... didn't answer your question. No Steve Martin, but the opening band, Lake Street Dive, was great.
The show was in Delancy Street's Bowery Ballroom. Only downside is that the crowd is full of rude hipsters and you have to stand. My daughter was the youngest in the audience & hubby and I were the oldest. But the beer was cold and the music was fantastic.
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Thanks for the post and the commentary. You have been a hearty proponent of theirs and I am glad to have learned more about them.
Jun '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
I was lucky enough to be at one of Nickle Creek's last shows in Louisville a few years back. Chris has really taken off since then. "How to Grow a Woman from the Ground" is a great album.
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Congrats on making it to the main feed, StickerShock! I have big shoes to fill tomorrow.
Feb '11
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
These guys are fantastic. Thanks for the post, I do have to admit that I cheated a little last night and watched a number of their videos after you mentioned that you would be filling in for Lance today.
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
That's not cheating...that's preparing!
Apr '11
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Thank you so much for posting. I love the Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek before that. I am so glad to hear they have a new album. Maybe they will swing by our way on a tour. They give a great show. Steve Martin was icing on the cake.
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
Excellent post. Thanks. Groups like this, the Cleverleys, Nickel Creek, are giving us listenable music, which the pop scene seems largely to have abandoned.
Nov '10
Re: Punch Brothers -- Song of the Day
I will never stop being surprised at how good Steve Martin is. As someone who grew up thinking of him as an actor rather than a performer, I always thought his banjo playing was a schtick. I'm still getting over the surprise at the fact that he's a serious player, good enough to share the stage with Earl Scruggs himself.