Mike Romkey
Nov-17-2011, 12:28pm
The Punch Brothers opened for Paul Simon last night (Nov. 16) in Moline. It was definitely a crowd of Simon fans, though the Punch boys went over quite well with an audience that was, as a whole, probably unfamiliar with their music.
The Punch Brothers played a 30-minute set that had all the usual flashes of virtuosity combined with a lot of selfless backup for whomever's turn it was to solo, and the songs themselves. Maybe the only thing more amazing that all that talent on stage is to see such tasteful restraint. They're very disciplined about keeping everything in proportion and place.
Thile was playing his Loar, and the mandolin sounded amazing even in a hockey arena.
I'm more a fan of their playing than their songwriting, but last night was an OK balance between songs about failed relationships and the other flashy post-bluegrass (or whatever) material. If Chris is going to sing falsetto, I'd rather hear "Brakeman's Blues" than "Stay With Me," but that's just my personal opinion.
Update: Here's an embed of a video snippet.
http://youtu.be/5g4Q6qSAw5M
Paul Simon did a good job, too, as the Punch Brothers' closing act. (g) Unlike with Punch, the vocals and instruments for Simon and band seemed way over compressed. Would (excessive) compression make it easier on Simon's voice, and easier with his finger-style guitar playing, to get a consistently loud signal without having to put much into it? Just wondering.
The Punch Brothers played a 30-minute set that had all the usual flashes of virtuosity combined with a lot of selfless backup for whomever's turn it was to solo, and the songs themselves. Maybe the only thing more amazing that all that talent on stage is to see such tasteful restraint. They're very disciplined about keeping everything in proportion and place.
Thile was playing his Loar, and the mandolin sounded amazing even in a hockey arena.
I'm more a fan of their playing than their songwriting, but last night was an OK balance between songs about failed relationships and the other flashy post-bluegrass (or whatever) material. If Chris is going to sing falsetto, I'd rather hear "Brakeman's Blues" than "Stay With Me," but that's just my personal opinion.
Update: Here's an embed of a video snippet.
http://youtu.be/5g4Q6qSAw5M
Paul Simon did a good job, too, as the Punch Brothers' closing act. (g) Unlike with Punch, the vocals and instruments for Simon and band seemed way over compressed. Would (excessive) compression make it easier on Simon's voice, and easier with his finger-style guitar playing, to get a consistently loud signal without having to put much into it? Just wondering.