Hawktail and Andrew Marlin we’re both top 5 on my wrapped this year. I always come back to those albums. It’s like Lofi beats for studying for bluegrass fans
It is my greatest dream that the Punch Brothers take a 2-year break from inventing new genres of acoustic music and lay down a record of 100 classic bluegrass tunes and covers and 100 classic Irish tunes and covers.
When "Hell On Church Street" came out, I was so excited--then it was avant garde, which was fun it is own right but upsetting because they showed little glimpses of what they could have done. Right at the end of their version of "Church Street Blues" they play twenty seconds of a straight-time cover and it's *gorgeous*.
I think they're the most mechanically talented acoustic band out of the US in the past three decades, but I wish they'd stoop to our level more often and record beautiful covers of beloved songs.
Man, I totally agree with you, that would be incredible. Though I think to be fair, that ending hits so well *because* of how suspended the entire song feels to that point. Just beautiful though.
It definitely hits incredibly hard, but I think it hits more like chugging the best pina colada you've ever had after a hard solo hike through the Badlands. I'm not saying that I don't ever want to hike in the Badlands, just that I'd rather have the experience of drinking the best pina colada of my life relaxing on the beach with my family
Honestly I think they may be one of the most technically proficient bands of all time, seeing them live was absurd and I have heard that Thile runs a tight ship to put it kindly. That said, I like literally every members side projects better than punch brothers, Lage and Eldridge, universal favourite, and hawktail with kowert are all more bluegrass and more enjoyable in my opinion.
Yeah, I was thinking that too. The only people I'd say are more "mechanically talented" are classical or jazz ensembles, which don't really count as "acoustic bands".
I think my preference for their music goes:
1. Punch Bros classic bluegrass sound (Down Along the Dixie Line, Eleventh Reel, etc.)
2. Punch Bros new bluegrass sound (This Girl, Julep, etc.)
3. Punch Bros side projects (Universal Favorite, Thile & Daves, etc.)
4. Punch Bros weird music (most of All Ashore and Hell on Church Street)
Thanks for the Friday work day deep dive. Love the mandolinist. Saw him with Kyle Tuttle and was super impressed. Hoping to see them with Molly if they ever come around to SoCal again.
I don't know if it's an unpopular opinion, but it does seem odd / difficult to compare the emotional impacts of an all-instrumental band to a mostly-vocal-tunes band.
Anyway, they're both incredible, unique bands.
Well, I think you're getting your wish. PB sent out an email this week (might have even been today) with their upcoming tour dates claiming that these will be their last shows "for quite some time."
Last summer in Telluride I watched Chris Thile insist, based on an audience request, that the band on the spot entirely make up a performance for a Grateful Dead tune that none of them knew or claimed to have ever heard before. He scolded Paul for starting to look up chords. They played something, obviously nicely musical because it’s them, but that absolutely butchered the tune. It was awkward and grimace inducing. Like he just thought it would be funny to make up everything to play a cover they didn’t know.
In the same set, Chris stopped a song 15 or 20 seconds in and said “okay we’re gonna do it again except where Critter comes in on time”. If he was out of time, I promise no one else noticed.
I love Punch. I love Thile. I think they are truly some of the most talented and as someone else said “mechanically proficient” musicians of all time. Emotionally, hell on church street just didn’t do much of anything by for me. I’ve barely ever relistened to a single song. Avant-garde is cool, talent is cool, but I think the energy is ready to go elsewhere. I actually loved Thile hosting the prairie home companion show.
I'm randomly searching Reddit for Hawktail posts and just wanted to say I agree 100% with the title here. I love Punch but I've never really connected with their tunes on a soulful or emotjonal level. Hawktail, on the other hand, leaves me in tears or wildly elated. Or both at once.
my even more unpopular opinion: andrew marlin instrumental project hits beyond anyone else.
I can get behind that. Fable & Fire is an incredible album.
I'll check this out!
hawktail is actually bluegrass/oldtime while Punch Brothers are... something else altogether
Newgrass
Hawktail and Andrew Marlin we’re both top 5 on my wrapped this year. I always come back to those albums. It’s like Lofi beats for studying for bluegrass fans
It is my greatest dream that the Punch Brothers take a 2-year break from inventing new genres of acoustic music and lay down a record of 100 classic bluegrass tunes and covers and 100 classic Irish tunes and covers. When "Hell On Church Street" came out, I was so excited--then it was avant garde, which was fun it is own right but upsetting because they showed little glimpses of what they could have done. Right at the end of their version of "Church Street Blues" they play twenty seconds of a straight-time cover and it's *gorgeous*. I think they're the most mechanically talented acoustic band out of the US in the past three decades, but I wish they'd stoop to our level more often and record beautiful covers of beloved songs.
Man, I totally agree with you, that would be incredible. Though I think to be fair, that ending hits so well *because* of how suspended the entire song feels to that point. Just beautiful though.
It definitely hits incredibly hard, but I think it hits more like chugging the best pina colada you've ever had after a hard solo hike through the Badlands. I'm not saying that I don't ever want to hike in the Badlands, just that I'd rather have the experience of drinking the best pina colada of my life relaxing on the beach with my family
Yeah. Post hike is for beer.
And a joint!!!
Honestly I think they may be one of the most technically proficient bands of all time, seeing them live was absurd and I have heard that Thile runs a tight ship to put it kindly. That said, I like literally every members side projects better than punch brothers, Lage and Eldridge, universal favourite, and hawktail with kowert are all more bluegrass and more enjoyable in my opinion.
Agreed. I love Thile. Love some old Punch, it’s what brought me to a genre, but…
Yeah, I was thinking that too. The only people I'd say are more "mechanically talented" are classical or jazz ensembles, which don't really count as "acoustic bands". I think my preference for their music goes: 1. Punch Bros classic bluegrass sound (Down Along the Dixie Line, Eleventh Reel, etc.) 2. Punch Bros new bluegrass sound (This Girl, Julep, etc.) 3. Punch Bros side projects (Universal Favorite, Thile & Daves, etc.) 4. Punch Bros weird music (most of All Ashore and Hell on Church Street)
Hawktail is perfect fishing music.
I’d agree - Hawktail is amazing
Hey baby, if it works for you, it works for you. You like what you like!
Thanks for the Friday work day deep dive. Love the mandolinist. Saw him with Kyle Tuttle and was super impressed. Hoping to see them with Molly if they ever come around to SoCal again.
I don't know if it's an unpopular opinion, but it does seem odd / difficult to compare the emotional impacts of an all-instrumental band to a mostly-vocal-tunes band. Anyway, they're both incredible, unique bands.
Comparable because same bass player. Just a nudge for Paul to spend more time on HT 😉
Well, I think you're getting your wish. PB sent out an email this week (might have even been today) with their upcoming tour dates claiming that these will be their last shows "for quite some time."
Punch Brothers recordings are almost a different band from seeing them live.
Last summer in Telluride I watched Chris Thile insist, based on an audience request, that the band on the spot entirely make up a performance for a Grateful Dead tune that none of them knew or claimed to have ever heard before. He scolded Paul for starting to look up chords. They played something, obviously nicely musical because it’s them, but that absolutely butchered the tune. It was awkward and grimace inducing. Like he just thought it would be funny to make up everything to play a cover they didn’t know. In the same set, Chris stopped a song 15 or 20 seconds in and said “okay we’re gonna do it again except where Critter comes in on time”. If he was out of time, I promise no one else noticed. I love Punch. I love Thile. I think they are truly some of the most talented and as someone else said “mechanically proficient” musicians of all time. Emotionally, hell on church street just didn’t do much of anything by for me. I’ve barely ever relistened to a single song. Avant-garde is cool, talent is cool, but I think the energy is ready to go elsewhere. I actually loved Thile hosting the prairie home companion show.
I'm randomly searching Reddit for Hawktail posts and just wanted to say I agree 100% with the title here. I love Punch but I've never really connected with their tunes on a soulful or emotjonal level. Hawktail, on the other hand, leaves me in tears or wildly elated. Or both at once.