Punch Brothers keep it not only simple, but great
The Theatre at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, January 19, 2022
Reviewed by Dan MacIntosh
Led by the sometimes awkward looking (but nevertheless brilliant) mandolinist, Chris Thile, the group, which also includes Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (acoustic guitar). Paul Kowert (bass) and Gabe Witcher (fiddle), many times mixed in rhythms not usually associated with bluegrass, including the rock-ish "The Angel of Doubt" and downhome country of "Any Old Time." An older one, "Magnet," even featured Witcher beating on his fiddle as though it were a drum.
The act performed a few noteworthy covers toward the end of the evening. One was a quirky take on Tom Paxton's "The Last Thing on My Mind." "Pride of Man was played with Sunday morning preacher authority, while a take on Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" breathed new life into this old folk song.
Thile had fun explaining how to make a Jungle Bird, before playing the instrumental with that name, and had the audience standing, clapping and singing along to show-closer "Rye Whiskey." Here, the audience matched Thile's enthusiasm.
Punch Brothers proved that five instrumentalists and a microphone can create quite a variety of different sounds. No video screens. No special lighting. Just great music. This made for a simple, but highly effective and entertaining formula.
©Country Standard Time • Jeffrey B. Remz, editor & publisher • countrystandardtime@gmail.com
About • Copyright • Newsletter • Our sister publication Standard Time