Punch brothers on leno

[Curtis]

No offense, but I really think you need to listen to the album before passing judgment.

Hmm, I tried to use as many qualifiers as I could. . . guess I didn't use enough for Thilephiles.

At no point did I "pass judgement" but rather offer a gut reaction.

The full album is up on Rhapsody. Listening now. I stick by all my opinions. . . including my last statement which you seem to have glossed over considering how you made the same statement in seeming disagreement with me when we actually were in agreement.

On another note having nothing to do with the quote above. . . I enjoy listening to and performing a good deal of complex music. I had the extreme honor of playing with Maria Schneider. She is one of the most amazing composers/arrangers I've ever heard. Her music is extremely complex. Yet there is something holding it all together. There's some musical glue. When I listen to these PB tunes there seems to be some little thing missing that would hold all these other parts together. FWIW

BTW, those people who have seen Thile's MySpace and read interviews with him. . . you don't find even his personality a bit . . . pretentious?

[first string]

No offense, but I really think you need to listen to the album before passing judgment.

Hmm, I tried to use as many qualifiers as I could. . . guess I didn't use enough for Thilephiles.

At no point did I "pass judgement" but rather offer a gut reaction.

The full album is up on Rhapsody. Listening now. I stick by all my opinions. . . including my last statement which you seem to have glossed over considering how you made the same statement in seeming disagreement with me when we actually were in agreement.

On another note having nothing to do with the quote above. . . I enjoy listening to and performing a good deal of complex music. I had the extreme honor of playing with Maria Schneider. She is one of the most amazing composers/arrangers I've ever heard. Her music is extremely complex. Yet there is something holding it all together. There's some musical glue. When I listen to these PB tunes there seems to be some little thing missing that would hold all these other parts together. FWIW

BTW, those people who have seen Thile's MySpace and read interviews with him. . . you don't find even his personality a bit . . . pretentious?

I noted your qualifiers. But to me, to label a piece pretentious without having heard it all the way through, does seem like a summary judgment. It's not really that big of a deal. Just a difference of opinion. I do find it interesting that I've become a "Thilephile," because I voiced a simple defense of this particular project of his. I've strongly disliked a good deal of the music he's put out to date. I don't particularly care whether anyone likes any particular piece of music. But I don't see anything wrong with a little spirited discussion of the merits of a given argument for or against it. That's part of why we are all here right?

Also, hopefully it's clear that I wasn't saying that the piece was necessarily over your head, or that you aren't capable of enjoying complex music. I was making an observation about the reaction to the album from the bluegrass community at large.

[mdlorenz]

I'll butt in here again #

I really do think you need to listen to the album, not just snippets, & not just once in the car, or wherever. Really listen to it, w/ a discerning ear... & term I like... "Headphone worthy". This album is headphone worthy.

We concentrate on Thile so much, & for good reason, this is a mandolin site, BUT the other artists on this album are ALL equally talented, & deserve admiration just as much. Some of the playing back & forth w/ Pickles & Gabe & Greg & Eldridge is just genius...

Also on the subject of Thile being a bit pretentious... In my limited time interacting with him after show & discussing everything from How his valentines day gift to his girlfriend got botched, to the cubbies, to music, he couldn't have been any nicer. He actually talked MY ear off... He couldn't have been any further form pretentious. I mean the guy's been a child prodigy from age 5. He knows a bit about the instrument, & maybe that comes off as a little know it all... Who knows.... I dont' see it.

To each their own though.

[Daniel Wheeler]

I just went through a great deal of this thread....

Its not bluegrass..

Its not trying to be bluegrass!!!

[mdlorenz]

I'll agree there... it definitely ain't bluegrass.

Listening to it right now... 9:15 of the third movement is awesome.

[kmiller1610]

I'll agree there... it definitely ain't bluegrass.

Listening to it right now... 9:15 of the third movement is awesome.

Agreed. There are a lot of 30-40 second sections that are just good, traditional, smoothly played, clean music.

Thankfully, that's not all.

[Shalebot]

I didn't hear the mandolin that well. Terrible mix overall. But the performance was still decent. It was still obvious they are a talented young bunch.

Also, was it me or did Chris seem nervous?

He seemed very nervous. Not their best performance by any stretch (I'd go as far to say that it was one of their worst).

Interesting that such a veteran player still has nerves to deal with.

[JeffD]

To me the Leno peformance gets better every time I go back to it. #At first I didn't like it, but as others have noted that Punch Bowl song grow on you.

It occurs to me that your comment demonstrates my point. You don't put something on Leno, your one shot to hit tens of millions at a time, and play something that folks have to listen to several times enjoy.

Live television is still a one time deal. The only folks who are listening over and over to their television performance as recorded on youtube are those who were already interested. I doubt there any, ok maybe one or two, who upon hearing Thile for the first time that night, went back to hear it again on YouTube.

[JeffD]

I don't care who does and doesn't like what the band is doing but surely you can't criticise them for playing their own material on TV just because you don't like it.

Matt

I am criticising the strategy.

Your first introduction to many many millions of general-public-not-necessarily-musical-oridnary-folks on live television is not the time to introduce your less accessable stuff.

That first live show is when you hook 'em, and reel 'em in. Later, when you have generated a buzz, when folks are talking, you can introduce your edgier modern stuff.

Thats my take anyway.

[Daniel Wheeler]

But if they play something not on the CD they are promoting and someone goes out to buy the promoted CD for that song you would undoubtedly have a bad reputation. Although I don't know how far word of mouth goes when it comes to this.

[Daniel Wheeler]

Unless Leno pre faces the song with they are promoting this CD but they aren't going to play a song off this CD because its some funky stuff. So here's some of there dumbed down material.

[kmiller1610]

Your first introduction to many many millions of general-public-not-necessarily-musical-oridnary-folks on live television is not the time to introduce your less accessable stuff.

That first live show is when you hook 'em, and reel 'em in. Later, when you have generated a buzz, when folks are talking, you can introduce your edgier modern stuff. [/quote][/QUOTE]
If Mr. Thile cared about building an audience, he would still be with NC and would not think of writing classical music. So while I agree with your premise, it doesn't match the subject. If you watch any of the early Woodsongs interviews, it's apparent that Thile wants to stretch the boundaries. That's what he's about.

[Tom F]

It's interesting, when you watch ultra-talented musicians advance through their careers. It is their drive, progressive enthusiasm, and talent that made them great and made us love them. At some point they will climb to the peak of their creative mountain in that genre. That energy and creativity still needs an outlet and it is then when they often break our hearts and seemingly fly away on a musical journey we do not understand. I truly wish, selfishly, that Thile would have stayed with the more original Nickel Creek stuff, that is what I prefer, it is incredible music. I listen to the new stuff, but openly admit it has not sunk in yet, and may not ever. I appreciate it, but I listen more because I feel I should rather than I fee l want to. And that is ok.

That said, I completely understand that it is a journey for Chris, and one that is only fun if he continues to explore. If he is going to be true to himself, he will go whatever direction that moves him. I have no doubt that there will be a whole new audience that will be wowed by this new music, perhaps just as wowed as we were by the old. Take the Kraus / Plant CD for example, people are approaching me with “you gotta listen to this new CD by Robert Plant, he is singing with this new chic who is going to be really good some day”. They had no clue. I sent this particular person a youtube link of Alison playing with Tony Rice in the early days, and another of AKUS live off the DVD, it didn’t interest him at all. Meanwhile, there is an entire fan base crying and wondering why she left them.

[Curtis]

I really do think you need to listen to the album, not just snippets, & not just once in the car, or wherever. Really listen to it, w/ a discerning ear... & term I like... "Headphone worthy". This album is headphone worthy.

I really can't see the point in forcing myself to listen to something though when I don't like what I've heard so far. The times I've had people say "hey man you gotta check this out" and I didn't like it at first but ended up liking it later, the change wasn't because I finally went and listened to the whole album 5 times in a week. But rather something else. . .my tastes changed. . . I was "ready" for it. . . something intangible. So maybe a year from now I'll hear it and dig it.

I was merely talking about the music being a bit pretentious. No idea what he's like in person. Although his MySpace stuff seems a bit out there I'll be the first to admit that someone's online avatar and their IRL persona can be vastly divergent.

[Baron Collins-Hill]

while i dont really understand why thile went on leno, i can sort of see a possible idea.

he is doing exactly what a lot of bands are doing by going on tv. seeing who likes their music. in the case of thile, its not to take a stab at becoming huge, its about seeing who digs his music. if he wanted to gain a huge audience for a direction he is no longer pursuing (so far as i can tell) he would have played brakeman's blues and everyone would have taken a flashy break. if he wanted to show people what he is interested and see who grabs it, he has accomplished his task. i see the PB leno appearance as an open invitation to let a large group of people see his music for what it is and let them decide for themselves.

maybe im crazy,

well theres no question really

[fwoompf]

I wouldn't read too much into it. Simple answer is usually right.

1). He's on a major label now, those kinds of opportunities will present themselves - possibly with little effort on his part.
2). He'd been on Leno before with Nickel Creek.

Simple!