Chris Thile and Michael Daves have a number of live performances in the coming weeks, starting with a set at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival this Thursday. Audiophile Audition gives their album Sleep with One Eye Open a perfect five stars, saying: "If the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack raised the mainstream awareness of bluegrass, then Sleep with One Eye Open delivers on its promise." Sequenza21 calls it "beautifully simple ... an object lesson in how to do it right."
Mandolinist Chris Thile and guitarist Michael Daves are set to take the stage again on a number of live performances in the coming weeks, performing songs from their recently released Nonesuch debut album, Sleep with One Eye Open, starting with a set at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in Oak Hill, New York, this Thursday. The duo has two back-to-back shows close to home next Wednesday, July 20, with a live broadcast of WNYC's Soundcheck from the Greene Space in downtown Manhattan, at 2 PM ET, followed by an evening show at The Bell House in Brooklyn. They close out the month with a set at the Newport Folk Festival on July 31.
Also this month, when he's not performing with Daves, Thile joins his fellow Punch Brothers for sets at the Winter Park SolShine Music Festival this Saturday and at the Calgary Folk Music Festival the following Saturday, July 23.
For more information on all of these shows, visit nonesuch.com/on-tour.
Sleep with One Eye Open is a collection of 16 traditional tunes by bluegrass legends like The Monroe Brothers, The Louvin Brothers, Jimmy Martin, and Flatt & Scruggs, recorded live to tape over four days at Jack White’s Third Man studio in Nashville.
Audiophile Audition gives the album a perfect five stars.
"Thile and Daves construct a full sound with lead changes, counter rhythms and impeccable timing," writes reviewer Robbie Gerson. "A key source of material comes from the iconic Lester Flatt. The title track employs a jaunty rockabilly style that produces some of the best singing on the album. Bluegrass has always been joyful, and this tune is no exception."
Gerson concludes with a heady comparison: "If the O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack raised the mainstream awareness of bluegrass, then Sleep with One Eye Open delivers on its promise."
Read the review at audaud.com.
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Sequenza21's Christian Carey lauds the album's concept as "beautifully simple ... Just two guys standing toe to toe, playing with youthful energy and nimble virtuosity and singing their hearts out. No backing band, no overdubs: none necessary."
Carey concludes: "In an era of glitzy presentation and overproduction, of far too many cooks spoiling an often thinly appointed stew, Sleep with One Eye Open is an object lesson on how to do it right. Recommended."
Read the complete review at sequenza21.com.
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To pick up a copy of Sleep with One Eye Open, head to the Nonesuch Store, where orders include high-quality, 320 kbps MP3s of the album plus the bonus track "Sophronie" at checkout.
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