Punch Brothers
Punch Brothers were a huge hit at the Newport Folk Festival this summer and the management at the Blues Cafe http://www.newportblues.com decided to invite the powerhouse acoustic group to the Cafe. The band did not disappoint with their brand of "grass nouveau" featuring blazing solos and ridiculous involved harmonies, often 4 part and frequently in the range that only dogs can hear ... Please enjoy some images of that night in late October at The Newport Blues Cafe. The only thing that could have improved this night is to have had a larger crowd AND for those that did come, to actually listen. There were times where the patron volume was greater than the band. Outside of that, it was a GREAT night of brilliant, creative, smart music. They appeared on Letterman on Nov 4th as well - see them here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYuUb29B58s
According to Wikipedia, Punch Brothers are a bluegrass band consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), and Paul Kowert (bass). Bryan Sutton has also filled in on guitar when necessary. Their style has been described as introducing "bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the structures of modern classical."
2006-2007: Beginnings and Grow
Main article: How to Grow a Woman from the Ground
Thile formed the band in 2006 to record the album How to Grow a Woman from the Ground. In an interview with the Nashville City Paper, Thile described the formation of the band:
“ "We got together one night just to drop a ton of money, drink too much wine, eat steaks, and commiserate about our failed relationships. We had gotten to play together a few days before and we had said that we needed to do something musical together. With our hearts smashed to pieces, it became more urgent — our lives had gone the same way for so long. I knew I wanted to have a band with Gabe [Witcher], but I didn’t know if it would be a rock ensemble, an ambitious acoustic classical thing or a bluegrass group. We played, and there was a serious, instantaneous connection. Then I knew I wanted to put together a bluegrass band — one with a lot of range, but aesthetically a bluegrass band."
Initially the band was known as "The How to Grow a Band." In 2007, the band officially changed its name first to "The Tensions Mountain Boys" and then settled on "Punch Brothers." The band names comes from the critical line of a virus-like jingle that is the centerpiece of Mark Twain's short story A Literary Nightmare (later re-published as Punch, Brother, Punch).
Read MoreAccording to Wikipedia, Punch Brothers are a bluegrass band consisting of Chris Thile (mandolin), Gabe Witcher (fiddle/violin), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), and Paul Kowert (bass). Bryan Sutton has also filled in on guitar when necessary. Their style has been described as introducing "bluegrass instrumentation and spontaneity in the structures of modern classical."
2006-2007: Beginnings and Grow
Main article: How to Grow a Woman from the Ground
Thile formed the band in 2006 to record the album How to Grow a Woman from the Ground. In an interview with the Nashville City Paper, Thile described the formation of the band:
“ "We got together one night just to drop a ton of money, drink too much wine, eat steaks, and commiserate about our failed relationships. We had gotten to play together a few days before and we had said that we needed to do something musical together. With our hearts smashed to pieces, it became more urgent — our lives had gone the same way for so long. I knew I wanted to have a band with Gabe [Witcher], but I didn’t know if it would be a rock ensemble, an ambitious acoustic classical thing or a bluegrass group. We played, and there was a serious, instantaneous connection. Then I knew I wanted to put together a bluegrass band — one with a lot of range, but aesthetically a bluegrass band."
Initially the band was known as "The How to Grow a Band." In 2007, the band officially changed its name first to "The Tensions Mountain Boys" and then settled on "Punch Brothers." The band names comes from the critical line of a virus-like jingle that is the centerpiece of Mark Twain's short story A Literary Nightmare (later re-published as Punch, Brother, Punch).
