There is a brand new music venue in San Diego named the "Observatory" in the enclave of North Park. A beautiful old theater with tremendous acoustics, remodeled and refitted to be nothing more than a more than appropriate music venue. It was here last night that the Punch Brothers testified and the sold-out house marveled in the performance with a sense of reverence. There was no talking during their set, no filming, just a crowd that seemed to sense that skill of the performers was something worth listening to with all of their being. Thile and company delivered a show that was somewhere between captivating and melancholy and at the same time was a mix of Celtic bluegrass and jazzed up country-folk. All five of the players on stage had an opportunity to showcase their skill sets and some of it came in the interplay between varied players at different times during their set. When Mr. Thile and guitarist Chris Eldridge were not face to face, trading licks or playing off one another, double bassist Paul Kowert and fiddle player Gabe Witcher were. Their ability to harmonize one moment and have the crowd in stitches the next provided a nice balance to the roughly 100 minute show. Lest I forget Banjoist Noam Pikelny who was simply amazing while Mr Witcher sat in on the drums, it seems there was no note left unturned and their collective performance was well, flawless. This was my first exposure to these gentleman and no doubt I will find myself in the crowd the next time there are here in San Diego. if they come to your town, by all means go.

And yes, after the show, Chris Thile signed my guitar!