Glassweb
Dec-16-2010, 2:49pm
I've seen Chris Thile perform in many settings over the last 7 years or so... first with Nickle Creek, then in duet with Mike Marshall, then with The Mutual Admiration Society... all these concerts in Seattle... then at The Living Room in NYC, then in duet with Hilary Hahn in NYC and, finally, on some recent U-TUBE videos with The Punch Bros.
I've always admired Chris' unique gift and his super-human abilities on the mandolin... he's gotten way better over time (if that's possible) and I know he's a VERY commited musician. Strangely I've never been particularly captivated by "the music" he was creating. I chalked this up to his youth and figured eventually he'd find his groove. Well, maybe I'm late in figuring this out... but with The Punch Bros. I feel he's now really in his element... singing great and very free... having a good ole time and, obviously playing his ass off. The last time I saw him in NYC he told me he was forming a group with a bunch of "young guys". Well, this bunch of "young guys" are really getting the job done so far as I can tell.
When I saw Chris back in 2007 at The Living Room in NYC I found it nearly impossible to watch him... all the jerking and twitching and posturing... but he was captivating nonetheless because of his unique abilities on the mandolin. Yet I noticed he was knocking back shots of whiskey and getting "kinda loose"... which I thought could be a mixed blessing for Chris. I must admit at the time I was a little concerned for him because I knew he had been through a rough divorce and was now a young, talented, good looking "mec" in The Big Bad Apple. Lot's of ways to get into trouble there... alcohol, drugs, distracting relationships etc... but a few weeks later I ran into him while he was jogging across 6th Ave down in Greenwich Village. I mean JOGGING... as in working out jogging. We chatted a bit a he flew off with me feeling confident he was in control of things and in good health. I think my suspicions of the time are correct... he seems to be playing what he wants with who he wants (everybody and anybody including his band) at an extremely high level and having a hell of a good time living the grand life of a happening artist living in Brooklyn New York - the new epicenter of NY koolness. He's got it all together and I couldn't be happier for him. If it took a focused interest in the pleasures of the antifogmatic lifestyle, well so be it. His music only seems to be blossoming...
Chris... my hat's off to ya... keep on keepin' on brother!
I've always admired Chris' unique gift and his super-human abilities on the mandolin... he's gotten way better over time (if that's possible) and I know he's a VERY commited musician. Strangely I've never been particularly captivated by "the music" he was creating. I chalked this up to his youth and figured eventually he'd find his groove. Well, maybe I'm late in figuring this out... but with The Punch Bros. I feel he's now really in his element... singing great and very free... having a good ole time and, obviously playing his ass off. The last time I saw him in NYC he told me he was forming a group with a bunch of "young guys". Well, this bunch of "young guys" are really getting the job done so far as I can tell.
When I saw Chris back in 2007 at The Living Room in NYC I found it nearly impossible to watch him... all the jerking and twitching and posturing... but he was captivating nonetheless because of his unique abilities on the mandolin. Yet I noticed he was knocking back shots of whiskey and getting "kinda loose"... which I thought could be a mixed blessing for Chris. I must admit at the time I was a little concerned for him because I knew he had been through a rough divorce and was now a young, talented, good looking "mec" in The Big Bad Apple. Lot's of ways to get into trouble there... alcohol, drugs, distracting relationships etc... but a few weeks later I ran into him while he was jogging across 6th Ave down in Greenwich Village. I mean JOGGING... as in working out jogging. We chatted a bit a he flew off with me feeling confident he was in control of things and in good health. I think my suspicions of the time are correct... he seems to be playing what he wants with who he wants (everybody and anybody including his band) at an extremely high level and having a hell of a good time living the grand life of a happening artist living in Brooklyn New York - the new epicenter of NY koolness. He's got it all together and I couldn't be happier for him. If it took a focused interest in the pleasures of the antifogmatic lifestyle, well so be it. His music only seems to be blossoming...
Chris... my hat's off to ya... keep on keepin' on brother!