The 'Grass Grows Greener on the LES

"...Lately, you can find shows and open jams any night of the week, anywhere: Paddy Reilly's in Murray Hill, Banjo Jim's (dedicated exclusively to bluegrass and country) and Joe's Pub in the Village, Iona in Williamsburg, Barbés in Park Slope, or the Living Room and the Rockwood Music Hall on the LES..."

"...Last week, at an unassuming West Village pub called the Baggot Inn, a handful of local bluegrass acts got together for an annual group show called the Sheriff Sessions. One of these bands was the Punch Brothers, headed by bluegrass darling and recent Gotham transplant Chris Thile, formerly of Nickel Creek, a progressive act whose clean pop sound sold millions. But this new group, as evidenced by Thile's rock-inspired mandolin solos and the other Brothers' whiskey-fueled improvisation, isn't nearly as polite. Eschewing smoothness and precision, these guys wailed, they sweated, they rocked. It was a hootenanny done right, and bluegrass that does New York City proud..."

Elissa Strauss
Tuesday, October 9th 2007