While the holidays are a time for family, good food, and numerous other traditions we cherish, the holidays are also a time that the record industry takes a break and therefore there is a shortage of things to review. Luckily enough, I had the pleasure of a live performance from a musician you and I both know. Except instead of solely playing mandolin and emceeing the program, he was responsible for comedic relief, revealing desirable aspects from numerous interviews, and fill the shoes, yet not remind the audience of the most renowned (if not currently toxic) speakers and performers, Garrison Keiler.
Of course I am talking about the live performance from PBS of the recently titled ‘Live From Here’ from Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, featuring their new host Chris Thile. Whether a fan of his music or not, Chris has always excelled as a performer and host and has always given crowds energy due to his obvious excitement when performing. Since this was radio, it was up to Chris to warm up the crowd before the live performance and he did not disappoint. He came out playing one of my personal favorite Punch Brother songs “My Oh My”, although it was a solo version instead of the full band. What this version revealed was an even more vocally ambitious Thile that would only add to his acclaim by his supporters and bring further proof from his detractors.
The other warm up act, the appropriately titled I’m With Her, has quickly been ascending and their performance yesterday was a perfect example of why. Their growing popularity could also be attributed to the fact that each one of these women is a star in their own right. Sarah Jarosz has been touring as a singer song writer for years now and her voice is personally one of the most soothing and pristine. There’s also Aoife O’Donovan who’s unique wispy timbre makes her one of the most treasurable live experiences in music today. Her work in Crooked Still was also exceptional. And last but not least, Chris Thile’s own former band mate Sara Watkins. If you were thinking that these three exception singers are talented, but might not be able to mold their voices right, you would be dead wrong. Whether Jarosz, O’Donovan, or Watkins is singling lead, the accompanying vocals blend and soar beautifully and it is truthfully an experience to behold.
I’m With Her and Thile’s talents didn’t only appear when performing their own material. Thile has turned the program into numerous platforms to show the diversity of his musical skills and there were a few that seemed to tower above the rest. The first is that the audience can tweet out any song they want Chris and the band to perform and they will. This week’s winner was Cake’s “Short Skirt, Long Jacket”, and it was way more effortless than it should be. What was most remarkable, Thile somehow knew the words off the cuff. Not as improvised, but just as impressive is Thile’s new birthday tunes idea. Each week he selects musicians who had birthdays the week of the show and perform them. This week included music from Doowop, “Freight Train Song” from Elizabeth Cotton, “Hot Stuff” by Donna Summer, and John Hartford’s “Gentle on my Mind” as a sublime conclusion to the program.
The fact that yesterday was the birthday of Earl Scruggs and there was no tribute, shows that Thile is not here to change his audience, but to show his ability to mold and adapt like the musical auteur he is. These performance as well as Mozart Chamber pieces and Chopin and Liszt piano pieces, performed by members of the San Francisco Symphony, show that the Thile’s program is a dream for a musical enthusiast, but not sublime for somebody hoping Thile would take this opportunity to spread bluegrass awareness. There was a half hearted attempt by allowing Brittney Hass to have a “fiddle Tune of the Week”, but these are placed at an awkward time of the show and are cut off to simply melodies with no ability for Hass to flourish.
As a long time Thile fan, I am happy that Thile’s talents can now be seen by an even more diverse audience. His energy, personality and obvious talent make him a host who is able to do all the things Keilor could do, and very few things that he couldn’t (besides be a human lullaby). Regardless, if you expect Thile to make one of the most popular radio programs more accessible to bluegrass fans, you will be disappointed, but I hope not surprised.
