SLCene Suggests: Punch Brothers at The Depot

THE PUNCH BROTHERS, THE DEPOT, Friday, Dec. 7, 9 p.m., $20 advance/$25 day of show

Anyone who’s seen Chris Thile play mandolin–in the Punch Brothers, his former band Nickel Creek or as a solo artist–wasn’t surprised when he was recently awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, otherwise known as the “genius grant.” The fleet-fingered Thile certainly lives up to the MacArthur Foundation’s honor for those who “have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction.” The surprising thing was that the Foundation saw fit to recognize a guy playing an instrument many associate with bluegrass “redneck” culture. Thile’s Punch Brothers are no rednecks, but they can get rootsy with their tunes. The quartet can also cover the likes of Radiohead to great effect, even while eschewing that band’s electronic flourishes in favor of acoustic adventures. Joining Punch Brothers at The Depot is Milk Carton Kids.