In the 2009-10 season, the band visits a long list of venues including Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall (where they debuted in Zankel Hall in 2007), the Somerville Theater in Boston, Old Town School in Chicago, the Herbst Theater in San Francisco, UMS Ann Arbor, Duke University, the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and many others. They have performed recently in nearly every conceivable format and space, from small clubs (they have a regular series at the Living Room in New York and have played frequently at Largo in Los Angeles) to concert halls (Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Sheldon Hall in St. Louis, Mondavi Center in Davis, Pabst Theater in Milwaukee, the Allen Room in New York, in addition to Carnegie) to festivals of all kinds (Bonnaroo, Ravinia, Aspen, Telluride, Spoleto, Savannah, Chamber Music Northwest). Their shows include an unpredictable mix of original songs written by the band, the 4-movement chamber suite The Blind Leaving the Blind (composed by Thile), traditional bluegrass and folk tunes, arrangements of Bach and Mozart, and covers of Radiohead, The Beatles, The Band, The White Stripes, The Strokes, and multiple other sources. In the fall of 2011, the band embarked on a tour opening for music legend Paul Simon, occasionally accompanying him on "The Boxer."
Punch Brothers return with their second album, Antifogmatic, June 15 on Nonesuch. The record is the follow-up to the band’s highly praised 2008 debut, Punch, which The New Yorker calls “...wide-ranging and restlessly imaginative...” A special deluxe edition of the album will also be available. Included in this package is a four song instrumental EP, All of This Is True, as well as a seven song DVD, Live from the Lower East Side: It’s p-Bingo Night!, which was filmed during the band’s residency at NYC’s The Living Room. Pre-orders of both the standard and deluxe editions are available now at www.nonesuch.com and www.punchbrothers.com. The first 500 orders of the deluxe edition will include an autographed official Punch Brothers cocktail recipe guide.
At home in a dizzying array of settings even outside of their expansive core activities, Punch Brothers are the subject of an upcoming feature-length documentary called How to Grow a Band, have appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and were among three finalists in ESPN’s cut-throat, fan-voted battle of the bands in interpretations of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”. The band members’ diverse backgrounds and extraordinary talents make the group impossible to describe and thrilling to experience.
Chris Thile has changed the mandolin forever, elevating it from its origins as a relatively simple folk and bluegrass instrument to the sophistication and brilliance of the finest jazz improvisation and classical performance. In the 2009-10 season, he premieres his Mandolin Concerto with six orchestras in the US. For more than 15 years, Thile played in the wildly popular band Nickel Creek, with whom he released three albums and sold two million records, was awarded a Grammy® in 2002, and traveled the world on sold-out concert tours. As a soloist he has released four albums, as well as performing and recording extensively as a duo with double bass virtuoso Edgar Meyer and with fellow eminent mandolinist Mike Marshall. He has written a duo for Meyer and pianist Emanuel Ax; recorded with Yo-Yo Ma, Renee Fleming and Joshua Bell; and collaborated with a pantheon of bluegrass innovators including Bela Fleck, Dolly Parton, the Dixie Chicks, Jerry Douglas, and Sam Bush.
Although initially drawn to the electric guitar, by his mid-teens Chris Eldridge had developed a deep love for acoustic music, thanks in part to his father, a banjo player and founding member of the seminal bluegrass group The Seldom Scene. Eldridge later gained in-depth exposure to a variety of different musical styles while studying at Oberlin Conservatory, where he earned a degree in Music Performance in 2004. During his time at Oberlin, Eldridge studied with legendary guitarist Tony Rice. Before joining Punch Brothers, he was a founding member of the critically acclaimed bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters.
Paul Kowert is from Madison, WI and graduated from The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. As a classical musician Paul has performed with various orchestras as a soloist and as a section member, most recently playing in the Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland in the summer of 2008. He was one of the performers at Edgar Meyer’s Carnegie Hall workshop in 2006, and since then has appeared in concert with Darol Anger’s Republic of Strings, Tristan and Tashina Clarridge, Alex and Tatiana Hargreaves, Futureman’s Black Mozart Ensemble, Jordan Tice, Brittany Haas, and Jeremy Kittel. Paul can be heard as a member of the “Big Trio” with mandolinist Mike Marshall and violinist Alex Hargreaves, a group that released its first album in spring 2009.
Noam Pikelny (born Noam Pikelny) hails from Chicago, IL where he picked up the banjo at the age of 8. He studied old-time and bluegrass banjo at the Old Town School of Folk Music. Throughout high school, he played all over Illinois and Indiana with several traditional bluegrass bands, who occasionally required him to wear a uniform. Noam studied music theory at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. In 2002, he became the principal banjoist with the award-winning Colorado ensemble Leftover Salmon. His debut solo record, In the Maze, was released on Compass Records, and though it did not have much success on the billboard charts, it made a splash in the world of postmodern progressive three-finger style five-string banjo. He relocated to Nashville, TN in 2006 to play with New Grass Revival bassist and vocalist John Cowan. He starting performing and recording with mandolinist, fellow Cubs fan, spiritual advisor, and life coach Chris Thile in the fall of 2005. Noam relocated to Brooklyn, NY in the spring of 2008.
Gabe Witcher began his musical training at age five, learning classical violin and bluegrass fiddle simultaneously. By age six he was performing professionally with his father in the bluegrass band The Witcher Brothers; over the next decade, he gained renown as both a member of that group and as a multiple winner on the California competition circuit. In 1994, Witcher was recruited by veteran musician Herb Pedersen to fill the shoes of three-time national fiddle champion Byron Berline in the group The Laurel Canyon Ramblers. By age 17, Witcher was recording for heavyweights such as Randy Newman, Bernie Taupin, and producer Don Was. He has since contributed to more than 300 records and countless movie and television scores, including 2006 Oscar® winner Brokeback Mountain. Over the last five years, he has solidified his place at the forefront of the progressive acoustic music scene by playing with 12-time Grammy® winner Jerry Douglas.
Familiarity
Punch Brothers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Again you hate it but you know it then
You know it and so do your friends
And you can sing together when
It's on
Pretend you love it because you love them
As you explode out of your phones (amen)
to make some music of your own (amen)
A man among amens
A ringing bell, or programmed drums or both
I couldn't tell but I rejoice
A smoke machine or a swinging thurible
it was hard to see but I lifted up my voice
We've come together over we know not what
A call to prayer, or the last for alcohol
we didn't care; We knelt and bowed our heads
Or did we dance? Like we may never get another chance to disconnect
We've come together Over we know not what to say I love you
I love you, I love you
I mean it, I want feel it
God help me feel it
I love you
God knows I mean it
God help me feel it
God knows we mean it
God help us feel it
We lie in bed
The wireless dancing through my head
Until I fear the space between my breath
I see an end to where I don't love you like I can
Cause I've forgotten how it feels (amen)
To love someone or thing for real (amen)
Darling when you wake, remind me what we've done
That can't be shared, or saved, or even sung
It's on
Again you nod your head and take my hand
Though I'm not sure where we'll go (amen)
To worship more than what we know (amen)
As long as you're there I won't be alone
A man among amens
The song "Familiarity" by Punch Brothers speaks about the power of music to bring people together, even when they do not know exactly what they are gathering for. The first stanza talks about how people pretend to love the music that they actually hate just because they love the people they are with. The second stanza talks about the effect of music on the listeners, whether it is a ringing bell or programmed drums, everyone rejoices together. The third stanza highlights how music unites people irrespective of their beliefs, whether it is a call to prayer or the last call for alcohol, people come together, kneel and bow their heads or dance, forgetting all their differences.
The chorus "I love you, I love you, I mean it, I want feel it, God help me feel it, I love you, God knows I mean it, God help me feel it, God knows we mean it, God help us feel it" showcases the power of music to remind us of our loved ones or things we love, giving us the strength to believe in our love and feel it. The last stanza concludes with the singer lying in bed, realizing that he has forgotten how it feels to love someone or something for real, but he has faith in his loved one to remind him of what they have done together and what they will do in the future.
Overall, the song highlights the power of music to unite people, make them forget their differences, and remember what they love.
Line by Line Meaning
It's on
The music has started and we're all joining in
Again you hate it but you know it then
Even if you don't like the music, you're familiar with it and you know what to expect
You know it and so do your friends
You and your friends are familiar with the music and can appreciate it together
And you can sing together when It's on
When the music starts, you can all come together and sing along
Pretend you love it because you love them
Even if you don't really like the music, you pretend to enjoy it because you love the people you're with
As you explode out of your phones (amen)
You're so into the music that you can't help but share it with others, whether through your phone or in person
to make some music of your own (amen)
This music inspires you to create something of your own
You can hate it softly to yourself alone
Even if you don't like the music, you can quietly keep that to yourself
A man among amens
You can still appreciate the music even if you don't fully believe in it
A ringing bell, or programmed drums or both
It's hard to tell what's making the music, but it makes you happy regardless
I couldn't tell but I rejoice
Even if you don't understand what's going on, you can still enjoy the experience
A smoke machine or a swinging thurible
The atmosphere is hazy and surreal, creating a unique ambiance
it was hard to see but I lifted up my voice
Even if you can't see what's happening, you can still participate by singing along
We've come together over we know not what
We're united in our shared love of music, even if we don't know exactly what we're celebrating
A call to prayer, or the last for alcohol
The music reminds us of a variety of experiences, from religious rituals to late-night parties
we didn't care; We knelt and bowed our heads
Regardless of our individual beliefs, we're all brought together by the music
Or did we dance? Like we may never get another chance to disconnect
The music makes us want to let loose and lose ourselves in the moment
We've come together Over we know not what to say I love you
We may not know exactly what we're celebrating, but we're all connected by our shared love and appreciation
I love you, I love you
The music makes you feel deeply emotional and connected to those around you
I mean it, I want feel it
You're not just saying you love someone, you truly mean it and want to feel that love more deeply
God help me feel it
You want a divine force to assist you in feeling that love more fully
God knows I mean it
Even if others don't believe you, you know that you truly mean what you're saying
God help me feel it
You continue to seek divine assistance in feeling and expressing your love
God knows we mean it
All of us here mean what we're saying and feeling, regardless of any doubts or disbelief
God help us feel it
We all need help to truly feel and express our love for one another
We lie in bed
You and your loved one are together, still feeling the afterglow of the music
The wireless dancing through my head
The music is still playing in your mind, even after the event is over
Until I fear the space between my breath
You become acutely aware of the silence and the distance between you and your loved one
I see an end to where I don't love you like I can
You worry that your love for your partner will fade
Cause I've forgotten how it feels (amen)
You worry that you'll forget how to truly love someone, like you did during the music event
To love someone or thing for real (amen)
You want to feel that intense, raw love for someone or something again
Darling when you wake, remind me what we've done
You want your partner to help you remember the intense emotions you felt during the music event
That can't be shared, or saved, or even sung
The intensity of that moment can never fully be communicated or recaptured
Again you nod your head and take my hand
Your partner reassures you and helps you feel less alone in your fears
Though I'm not sure where we'll go (amen)
You're not sure what the future holds, but you're willing to face it together
To worship more than what we know (amen)
You're willing to explore new experiences and emotions together, even if you don't fully understand them
As long as you're there I won't be alone
You know that you can face anything as long as you have your partner by your side
A man among amens
You may have doubts and questions, but you're willing to participate and connect with others through the power of music
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Curtin Eldridge, Christopher Scott Thile, Gabriel John Witcher, Noam David Pikelny, Paul Frederick Kowert
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Colorado Paul
I have listened to this song at least one hundred times and I am still stunned by its complexity and beauty.
Orteza, C.
It's on, again.
And this song counts as a beautiful exception.
Jimbus Crust
What's so neat about it is that it's complex, but it doesn't feel busy. There are hundreds of 10 minute songs that feel extremely cluttered and busy (I.e. Dream theater, or almost any 70s progressive epic.) few have ever matched this when it comes to really long songs!
Mark Tyson
+Justin Leatherwood I saw this comment months ago and thought those were the lyrics. I finally looked them up after I saw them in concert and now it makes sense. :) Alone, a man among Amens.
Justin Leatherwood
@Colorado Paul Alone, Amen, Amon, Amen!
Front Row Boston
@Colorado Paul here, here! Couldn't agree more
Steve Zolis
The fact that they can execute a fade out LIVE is just outrageous.
grey
A lot of that was on the sound engineering. A few of the mics/instruments were turned down for the fade. But still, it's a really cool and unusual thing to see happen live, for sure.
BitterladVEVO
I'm almost convinced that these guys are all vampires with over a century of musical experience.
ChrisTopher
Lol right?!