Punch Brothers:

I love getting into a new artist, especially when they play music that’s typically outside of my comfort zone. I’m open to all types of music, but if you asked me a year ago I certainly wouldn’t have said that I was a Bluegrass fan. That was before I found Punch Brothers. I didn’t know I was looking for a new favorite band when I heard their cover of Radiohead’s “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” (from the deluxe edition of their sophomore record, Antifogmatic), but that’s what I got. Their style is commonly referred to as “Progressive Bluegrass”, and the easiest explanation of that would be that their tunes contain common Bluegrass instruments and vocal stylings, but their song structures are much closer to Progressive Rock. Look no further than the four part 42+ minute suite “The Blind Leaving The Blind” on their debut record Punch for such proof. Their arrangements have shades of Classical, Jazz, Rock, and Bluegrass melded together with meticulous care. Such a combination could lead to a raucous acoustic cacophony in less capable hands, but Punch Brothers have proved after three records, that they are truly adept craftsman. Their latest disc, this years Who’s Feeling Young Now? fits perfectly with their catalog, but also finds the band embracing Popier pursuits, such as on the track “This Girl”. Also, for the Radiohead fans out there that were intrigued by the cover mentioned earlier, give a listen to their version of “Kid A” that solidifies WFYN?’s second half. Check them out and let me know what you think!