If you could ask Chris Thile and the Punch Brothers one question.

[Benjamin Gieseke]

...what would it be?

I ask because my wife and I decided to treat ourselves to VIP passes to the Punch Brothers concert in St. Paul this weekend, which includes a Q&A session, and I'm trying to decide what question(s) I might want to ask!

I already thought of "what pick are you using" and "what strings are those" so I'm curious to hear other ideas/suggestions (also promise to come back with an update/answers after the show)!

Thanks everyone!

[jaybp30]

Ask him if he charts everything out. Someone in another thread mentioned seeing them with the fiddle player, Gabe, not being there and the guy who sat in played everything flawlessly. I feel like to play that music on short notice you'd need to be reading music. I've also wondered if he often chops on just muted strings instead of chords. Kind of sounds like it to me although someone on this site could probably answer that question. Lastly, ask him if he had to sell someone else's soul to the devil in addition to his own to play like that.

[blawson]

(1) Whose music are you currently listening to? (2) Which author are you currently reading?

[JEStanek]

What do you like to do to unwind and have fun?

He posted a playlist to Spotify so, I know who he listens to (I just assume damn near everything).

Jamie

[Chris Daniels]

...what would it be?

I ask because my wife and I decided to treat ourselves to VIP passes to the Punch Brothers concert in St. Paul this weekend, which includes a Q&A session, and I'm trying to decide what question(s) I might want to ask!

I already thought of "what pick are you using" and "what strings are those" so I'm curious to hear other ideas/suggestions (also promise to come back with an update/answers after the show)!

Thanks everyone!

Trust me, pick just one that means something to you because there will only be time for half a dozen questions in total and you may just have to speak up to get yours asked. I recommend asking something that applies to the group as a whole because Chris will likely answer it anyway (in long-form since he tends to ramble) but you might get interesting insights from the others too, usually Noam or Gabe.

I got to ask about the evolution of their rhythmic style since I am curious how Chris approaches the percussive side of the mandolin beyond the usual basic offbeat chop. It was right after they played Three Dots and a Dash and he was able to explain how the inspiration for the song in Noam's opening banjo riff is in 6/8 but he heard it in threes (check how he counts off in the below video). They evolved through 4 or 5 rhythms trying to get it to sound 'right' and were able to demonstrate what other options they tried and how each affected the tune, even showing how the bass line is crucial to knowing where the actual downbeat starts.

It's hard to really explain what it took 10 minutes for them to show us and it was not at all what I expected but it was more than I could have hoped for. Good luck with your question and enjoy the concert!



C. ~/:/~

[CarlM]

When I got to talk to Sam Bush I asked him about rolling Brian Sutton's pant legs up at Merlefest in front of fifty thousand people. Probably not the sort of question you were looking for but it started a good, happy conversation with Sam.

[blawson]

He posted a playlist to Spotify so, I know who he listens to (I just assume damn near everything).

Jamie

Have a link to share, for those in the audience who may be unawares, or for those who do not (regularly) use Spotify?

[Roger Moss]

Spare change?

[JEStanek]

Have a link to share, for those in the audience who may be unawares, or for those who do not (regularly) use Spotify?

I don't use Spotify and it's a 29 Song list and I couldn't Copy/paste the text so, log in!

Jamie

[MikeZito]

"Can I sit in with you guys?"

[Mark Wilson]

"Do you ever lurk on the Mandolin Cafe?"

[pelone]

Ask if he ever considers "playing a song at either a slow or moderate pace---one that allows the listener to embrace the melody?"

[Michael Neverisky]

Have you ever been pulled over for playing too fast? 8-)

[Darren Bailey]

How many songs did you record with Michael Daves and how do I get a copy of the unreleased stuff?

[Chris Daniels]

Ask if he ever considers "playing a song at either a slow or moderate pace---one that allows the listener to embrace the melody?"

I'll pretend this question was posted in good faith. Here's a sampler from about 5 minutes of YT searching:

https://youtu.be/XP25zlcZMu8

https://youtu.be/Yib-cwq_UsQ

https://youtu.be/4__oDGZ2058

https://youtu.be/Qk6rzFilcpI

https://youtu.be/FFtVeMQkWVI

https://youtu.be/QY7MliXa9nY

https://youtu.be/Db7Bgy5LxPw

https://youtu.be/m0WN0rgIhxE

https://youtu.be/rOb9A2iz02M

https://youtu.be/xpnar6T7Kv0

https://youtu.be/5p5EO8RUpmw

https://youtu.be/fPg1ZsplDlM

https://youtu.be/Ppn7eQSBdJQ

https://youtu.be/Xr6-TRaaWtg

https://youtu.be/FowB43JjyT4

https://youtu.be/82LxmTRfJ8U

C. ~/:/~

[jesserules]

I'd ask him to tell some of his favorite anecdotes about his ancestor, Baseball Hall of Famer Samuel "Big Sam" Thompson.

[MissingString]

I went to the vip segment in Boston before the show a couple weeks back. Someone mentioned only about six questions will be taken which is consistent with my experience. Expect about 50 folks in there with you and many will have their hand up. I was in the front row and got lucky to have made eye contact with my hand raised. I asked...”what is the last concert you paid to attend?”. The band (and audience) seemed to like the question. It allowed all members to answer and potentially gave many of us a new band to explore. Personally I like questions such as current listening pleasure and favorite author as BLawson suggested. Have fun - it was a phenomenal show and the vip package was a great treat.

[MissingString]

I'd ask him to tell some of his favorite anecdotes about his ancestor, Baseball Hall of Famer Samuel "Big Sam" Thompson.

Good one! I saw them at House of Blues which sits behind Fenway Park in Boston. Noam said “is it fair to say we almost sold out Fenway Park?” Or something like that...baseball is a great topic for Mr. Thile.

[mandocrucian]

Who's your all-time favorite sax player....Coltrane, Rollins, Ornette, Art Pepper or someone else?

[Bren]

"If I went back in time and started learning a year before you did, would I be better than you now?"

[MikeZito]

Ask if he ever considers "playing a song at either a slow or moderate pace---one that allows the listener to embrace the melody?"

Amen!

[blawson]

I asked...”what is the last concert you paid to attend?”. ... It allowed all members to answer and potentially gave many of us a new band to explore.

Do you recall their answers?

[MandoNina]

If you weren't "primarily" a mandolinist what would have been your instrument?

[MissingString]

@dlawson

Thile said Radiohead at MSG. Noam, Critter and Gabe said Vasen (that was a new one for me) who has an excellent Tiny Desk concert. And Paul mentioned a fiddler/violinist whose name escapes me at the moment. I do have it written down at home.

[ikusan]

Do ask him about the pick! He's using a new one in this new video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FWCH_h8SEuo (clearly visible starting at 1:39:25) Doesn't look like the usual Wegen/Bluechip