Pulling a Punch...

So we were out this way anyway...so how could we pass up a chance to catch the potent Punch Brothers in a funky Rocky Mountain canyon venue called Mishawaka...out in the middle of nowhere, an hour and a half north of Boulder, Eminor's new home? The place is some ninety years old and its natural beauty alongside the cascading Poudre River is complemented by a seasonal full slate of live music started by its founder Walter S. Thompson. So Friday night, in front of a couple hundred receptive patrons, it was the How To Grow A Band>>>Tensions Mountain Boys>>>Punch Brothers convening from parts unknown to do a relaxed, wide-open set, extended by a triple encore, and all without fifth brother/fiddler Gabe Witcher. Word was he missed his flight from Maui. Whatever created the vacancy, the boys played a major trump card by recruiting the very first Punch Sister to add a wonderfully feminine mystique to the evening, Crooked Still's incomparable lead singer Aoife O'Donovan. We first got to witness the chemistry between Aoife and and the boys when she guested during the band's after-hours Sheridan Opera House set at Telluride in 2007. This night, she filled out a much larger role, nailing everything from high harmony on Lester Flatt's "Little Girl In Tennessee" to dueting with Chris Thile on Bob Dylan's achingly beautiful encore "Farewell Angelina." Guitarist Chris Eldridge who admitted to a fairly high stress level before the show, given their high standards and being without as critical a cog as Witcher, rose to the challenge with spot-on lead and rhythm playing and plenty of solid three-part baritone when the times came. All in all, a memorable evening of magnificent mountain scenery and well-played music that we felt very thankful to have witnessed. And how would you like to open for an act as accomplished as these brothers Punch? An honor yes, but a daunting task. The Grant Gordy Quartet accomplished their mission with nearly an hour of strong string-band instrumentals, drawing from many genres and offering up an impressive forum for Dawg pal Gordy and young Berklee-bound mando master Dominick Leslie. Really fine stuff.

Being out here in the high country is a head-clearing privilege and we're not sure what's gonna be harder...leaving our girl behind so far from home, or departing this spectacular part of the planet. If you've been here you know. If you haven't, put it on your list.

You journal readers are a sharp bunch...I've gotten way more than three correct answers to the question posed in the previous post for free Sheryl Crow tickets. If you haven't entered, all correct answers to the question will be placed in a drawing for three pairs of tickets to her October concert at VCU. Go for it...deadline: September 15th.

Thank the Lord for our Richmond rain and for keeping a muzzle on Gustav.

TT