Punch Brothers August 26, 2011

Perhaps you’d call the Punch Brothers a progressive bluegrass band. And perhaps you’d be right, but it might send the wrong idea. While some bands rock out with bluegrass, Punch Brothers have this whole high-art classical angle on the genre. Mixing trippy, witty elements of Radiohead with the complexity of Bach is the kind of genius we’re talking about. Mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile, of Nickel Creek fame, is the main composer behind the group and although you’re going to find several pop-culture references, there is a delicate balance of new and old styles along with something distinctively American and twangy. Built up by amazing musicians -- fiddler Gabe Witcher, banjo player Noam Pikelny, bassist Paul Kowert, guitarist Chris Eldridge-- Punch Brothers are a game-changing group of artists worth watching. We are proud to have them on StageOne.

“Even with the shifting boundaries of what is called new acoustic music, “The Blind Leaving the Blind” (a song off the album Punch) expands the frontier of an emerging style of what might be called American country-classical chamber music.” New York Times

“For the sheer technical virtuosity of its compositions and the fearlessness of its arrangements, Antifogmatic suggests that Punch Brothers are rapidly evolving into a string-band version of Radiohead.” –Slant Magazine