ROOTS
PUNCH BROTHERS
Chris Thile’s quintet pushes bluegrass boundaries into experimental rock territory. Taking their name from the Mark Twain story, “Punch, Brothers, Punch!,” the wild bluegrass crew of Punch Brothers jumps out from the ranks. By lacing traditional bluegrass instruments with rock-worthy bass lines and banjos electrified with all manner of effects pedals, this bunch of fretboard-cowboys has built an entirely new form of bluegrass music – true to its musicality and instrumentation but unburdened by genre confines. Their catalogue ably spans old-time country themes in songs like “Rye Whiskey” to innovative covers of contemporary hits, like Radiohead’s electronic masterpiece, “Kid A.” In 2006, mandolinist and former Nickel Creek member, Chris Thile instigated the collaboration that evolved into Punch Brothers when he recruited Chris Eldridge, banjo player Noam Pikelny, and violinist Gabe Witcher to back him on a solo album, How to Grow a Woman; bassist Paul Kowert joined the band three years later. They officially became Punch Brothers, releasing a debut album, Punch, in 2008. They’ve made it their musical mission to convey their “real musical camaraderie, creative camaraderie, to people who come to our shows and those who listen to the records.” Listening to the band’s live recordings, it’s impossible not to be swept up in the fun and precision of their songs. Thile strums his mandolin until it’s boiling, and the interplay between fiddle and banjo borders on competitive. Punch Brothers’ songs would be as welcome at a down-home country bar or a Williamsburg hipsterlounge, and their lyrical wit and buoyant charm make them festival darlings at Bonaroo and beyond.
Dec • 4
“I couldn’t believe how young and brilliant they are. Not since the Band and Little Feat have I heard a band that enthuses me this much.”
The Brothers have been known to jam spontaneously with high-profile fans such as Elvis Costello and T. Bone Burnett while out on tour. Elton John has raved in a recent issue of Rolling Stone, “I couldn’t believe how young and brilliant they are. Not since the Band and Little Feat have I heard a band that enthuses me this much.”
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– Elton John, Rolling Stone Though his mandolin playing was often the lead instrument in Punch Punch Brothers will pick and strum their Brothers’ earlier work, Thile relinquishes soloing duties this time way into hearts and album collections around to Pikelny on banjo and Witcher on violin on the new on December 4 as the conclusion of the tunes. Quips Witcher, admiringly, “To a lot of people, Chris Thile dynamic Lobero LIVE Roots series. is the greatest mandolin player alive.”
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