Photo by Danny Clinch
Chris Thile is a merry mandolinist who creates incredible music. He came to the world's attention as a member of bluegrass band Nickel Creek and by collecting Grammys. His versatile style and collaborations (from Yo-Yo Ma to Edgar Winter) and mammoth creativity earned him a 2012 MacArthur "Genius" fellowship. Punch Brothers evolved out of the intersecting life journeys of mutual friends: Chris Eldridge (guitar), Noam Pikelny (banjo), Gabe Witcher (violinist) and Paul Kowert (upright bass). This is a standard bluegrass lineup, but the amazing part is how they use that assortment of acoustic instrumentation. You'll get the full experience on March 18 at The National, where singer-songwriter Aoife O'Donovan will join them. 8 p.m. $20 in advance, $25 day of the show. 612-1900 or thenationalva.com
