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Biography
With a band name taking from a Mark Twain short book entitled “A Literary Nightmare”, where the chorus is “Punch, brother, punch with care, punch in the presence of the passenjare”. The band released their debut album “Punch” on February 26th 2008. The trademark of the album being a four-movement suite entitled “The Blind Leaving the Blind”. The inspiration behind the piece was that of divorce. The follow up album came in the form of “Antifogmatic” on June 15th 2010. With an album what is dubbed as progressive bluegrass. The title comes from a 19th century alcoholic beverage that featured natural remedies. At the Bonnaroo Music Festival, the gathering were entitled to purchase the album three days before it’s release date.
Punch Brothers released a documentary called “How to Grow a Band”. It was directed by Mark Meatto, documenting two years of the bands existence. It premiered at the Nashville Film Festival on April 15th 2011. It also made it to the silver screen of the Annual Telluride Bluegrass Festival the same month.
“Who’s Feeling Young Now?” is the third instalment from Punch Brothers. It was released on Valentines Day 2012, and featured indie rock tendencies throughout the album. It was defined as more accessible than the band’s previous worked with the album featuring more simplicity. It maintained a little obscurity with the song “Movement and Location”, which is a song that was written by Chris Thile, who is a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, and claimed that he was inspired by Greg Maddux’s obsession over the movement and location of his pitches.
Live reviews
First time seeing Punch Brothers after being introduced to them about a year ago and avidly obsessing over their wonderfully unique music.
The venue was absolutely incredible (first time to the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor), and the band was just fantastic, I don't think I've ever spent that much time at a concert with my jaw on the floor.
They are quite possibly one of the most unique bands I've ever had the pleasure of watching play, each band member is so incredibly technically talented that it's difficult to not get lost in the performance of each, while the overall performance is wonderfully tight and refined.
While watching, I got distracted by the immense skill of one band member, while the others are playing on the exact same level, each contribution being so precise and mindblowing that it's almost difficult to manage to absorb the presentation as a whole (in a very positive way).
When your focus does shift to the whole, you are treated to a magnificent presentation of sound, surging in waves of intensity, ebbing in it's own mystical flow.
Even in the way they constructed their set list, they were very good at guiding the audience along between old songs (sometimes VERY old), intricate instrumental pieces, and new songs.
At the conlcusion of a volcanic performance of "Another New World", they give the audience a song to unwind from the intensity before bringing it back up again. They were -very- good at controlling the flow of the evening, which is something that not all bands are gifted at.
Overall, a truly fantastic performance and I Can't wait to see them again.
And again.
..And Again.
benobledark
This was a spectacular event! I saw Nickle Creek twice in 2014 and was really looking forward to Punch Brothers and I was not disappointed.
The 930 Club is such a great, intimate venue for this type of concert, and the PB's had the audience from the start. There were times when the music was so quiet you could hear the breath of the crowd, and at the next moment the place was rocking or foot stompin'!
In one piece, Chris Thile was in a mandoline jam and a woman from the audience, audibly murmured "uh huh" during a rest in the solo, so Thile incorporated the "uh huh" into the solo encouraging her at the next rest...then encouraged the crowd...soon the entire crowd was filling breaks in the solo with "uh huh!"
A moment you can only experience at a live music event.
The band was so tight and together. And, what a line up! These guys are true virtuoso performers. From a dissonant Radio Head cover to a bluegrass breakdown, from a Debussy piece, to the hit Magnet, from a 12 minute Punch Brothers opus to the acapella Auld Triangle (which was featured in a Cohen Brother's film)... these guys covered the spectrum!
In the shadow of Kanye West's comments about Beck, Beyonce' and "artistry" I think it is safe to say Punch Brothers are true artists who do not rely on canned music or studio effects- they are one of finest tuned bands in America.
tad-janes
It’s crazy to think that the Punch Brothers got together one night to have a few drinks and a catch up after meeting a few days previously for a jam night. Talk began about a band…and look where the guys have got to today! Going from strength to strength since their formation in 2006, the band now have 4 studio albums and a whole host of singles.
Something that becomes more noticeable in a live performance, is the individual calibre of each musician. They could work independently and create hit tracks, yet when they combine their forces, even more incredible music is created. It becomes obvious when they play together that they are working off of each other, listening to the movement of the melody, and jamming along together.
The night went from strength to strength with the older tracks morphing into the newer ones, constantly providing something for the audience to sing, dance, and jive along to. Not a seat in the house was sat on, everyone was on their feel applauding the fantastic musicianship we witnessed. One not to miss!
yazhow
Saw the Punch Brothers at the Southbank Centre (with Sarah Jarosz as an opener - she's brilliant!). It's one of the best arranged gigs I've seen - a thought-out mix of favourites and new material. Their stage presence is cool, relaxed and personal, but always big and confident. Great banter and an easy expression of the close-knit group. It's amazing to see five great musicians in a group that have played together so long that they know what's going on all the time and so aren't afraid to play around. Genuinely worth seeing live, especially as they lead one song into another, or start or end in different ways - something you don't get on an album.
gwilym-hardy
I want to see Gaby Moreno I didn't go to see a Punch Brothers and it was her show was too short and their show was too long Plus plus they kept us waiting for an hour before they came out on the stage The Punch Brothers dead which really pissed me off and they need a couple more vocalist to harmonize with the lead singer other than that they had good instrumental very good but they shouldn't have kept us waiting for an hour that's inconsiderate and egotistical and that's all I have to say for the man
bruce-adams-1
Seriously, these guys are the best musicians I've ever seen live. The opened with a new song, then went right into Movement and Location, my favorite song of theirs. Chris Thile's voice is so pure, it sounds better in person than it does on the CD. And the finger work on the banjo and mandolin are mind blowing. Great show, great songs, very memorable evening.
jlove111
The Ryman Auditorium is my favorite venue in the diverse Nashville market so I was extra excited to see The Punch Brothers there once again last night. For our show, there was no opening act so don't be late! The show was its usual high-energy, technically flawless, festival of musical virtuosity. I think I'm in love with Chris Thiele.
susan-davis-thibodea
The Ryman Auditorium is my favorite venue in the diverse Nashville market so I was extra excited to see The Punch Brothers there once again last night. For our show, there was no opening act so don't be late! The show was its usual high-energy, technically flawless, festival of musical virtuosity. I think I'm in love with Chris Thile.
susan-davis-thibodea
This is the third time my son and I have seen the Punch Brothers in Minnesota. Last night's performance was just as amazing as the last two times. It's exhilarating to just stand in the crowd and watch and listen to such talented musicians and singers. When they come to Minnesota again, we'll be at their concert.
nancy-jorgenson-lili
