Live From Here - Is There a Better Music Show ANYWHERE?

**BradKlein** · Nov-02-2019, 8:06pm

Through an odd series of events, I helped the Cafe break the story that Thile was going to take over as host of Prairie Home Companion. I was excited, but I'd be lying if claimed to have realized what the show would become. Watching the live stream today - Common, Gregory Alan Isakov, Aoife O'Donovan, The Fates from Hadestown, Serena Brook & Tom Papa - I realized that I've never seen... never imagined... a better, smarter music program.

And there's a mandolin in the middle, people! Our guy is at center stage!

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**Don Grieser** · Nov-02-2019, 8:16pm

Incredible show tonight!! The Joni Mitchell musicians' birthdays segment blew me away--Aoife especially, but the whole band just nailed everything about those songs.

**BradKlein** · Nov-02-2019, 10:03pm

Agree! Aoife did a wonderful job with Joni’s songs.

**V70416** · Nov-06-2019, 6:42pm

There are always some birdseye camera views of Master Thile's Loar in action,now with a pickup?

Love watching those incredible musicians play so well together.

Rachel Price should be on every show. Please.

**Caleb** · Nov-06-2019, 7:26pm

I wish this show was available via podcast.

**CES** · Nov-06-2019, 7:32pm

I’m a huge college football fan, for all of its foibles...this show makes me think twice about what I watch Saturday evenings when I’m not at a home game...seriously...

**DevanBennett** · Nov-06-2019, 9:41pm

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

**Pittsburgh Bill** · Nov-06-2019, 10:41pm

Originally Posted by DevanBennett

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

If I had his talent I would be a smug little show off. He can show off his talent for my entertainment anytime. Never noticed him being smug as it is his talent that wows me. Just my humble opinion.

**Jeff Mando** · Nov-06-2019, 10:53pm

Originally Posted by DevanBennett

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

I know how you feel. At some point, I had to let it go and just enjoy the music. At various times I've had similar feelings about Dwight Yoakam, Marty Stuart, Jack White, Harry Connick, Jr., and actually many others, for some reason....

Oddly enough, I never got that vibe from Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Bill Monroe, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Billy Strings, Doc Watson -- maybe they seem "more pure" and less derivative to me....

OTOH:

1. I think it takes a HUGE ego to even consider a career in show business, let alone to be able to maintain a career year after year.
2. Their talent employs a lot of great, lesser known artists and support staff.
3. It does strike me as weird that a handful of people get the "coolness stamp" and get to make a nice living while other equally great talents go undiscovered.
4. I fully admit I am jealous!

**Steve-o** · Nov-06-2019, 11:06pm

Originally Posted by DevanBennett

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

If you ever met Chris in person, he’s a very down-to-earth nice guy. It’s true, he’s a ham, and thankfully so. Many entertainers are wired that way. And yes, when you have his amazing talent, it can seem smug to us mere mortals.

**Chris Daniels** · Nov-06-2019, 11:26pm

Originally Posted by DevanBennett

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

Just last month the term de jour was 'pretentious', and now it's 'smug'. At least y'all are consistent with the synonyms.

We get it. Virtuosity ain't your bag, baby. That's fine, as the enjoyment of music and performance is subjective and you're entitled to your opinion, but ascribing intent based on your own perception is short sighted if not downright spiteful. Plus, some variety in the inevitable disparagement would be nice after decades (likely centuries) of hearing the same old tired sour grapes descriptions of those artists who forge their paths the way they want instead of bending to the will of the masses, regardless of genre or form of expression.

C. ~/:/~

**JeffD** · Nov-07-2019, 12:54am

Originally Posted by Chris Daniels

We get it. Virtuosity ain't your bag, baby. That's fine, as the enjoyment of music and performance is subjective and you're entitled to your opinion, but ascribing intent based on your own perception is short sighted if not downright spiteful. Plus, some variety in the inevitable disparagement would be nice after decades (likely centuries) of hearing the same old tired sour grapes descriptions of those artists who forge their paths the way they want instead of bending to the will of the masses, regardless of genre or form of expression.

Who is we?

Not every virtuoso is smug or pretentious, Yo-Yo Ma for instance never comes across that way. IMO. And certainly not every smug or pretentious person is a virtuoso. And more importantly, nobody thinks so.

We (the other we) are perfectly capable of separating virtuosity from pretentiousness, and can accurately complain about one, or the other, or both, as is our want.

I think the new Live From Here show is pretty good. I could wish for changes, more music, less humor, but that is a taste thing. I would ideally love a long form interview format, Thile talking inside music and playing with new and well known artists. But who knows if that would go over well anyway.

I listen about as often as I used to listen to Prairie Home Companion, which was more than somewhat.

**Caleb** · Nov-07-2019, 2:41am

Someone should coin a term (like Godwin’s law, etc.) for when Thile gets mentioned and all hell breaks loose after.

**dang** · Nov-07-2019, 4:39am

Originally Posted by Caleb

Someone should coin a term (like Godwin’s law, etc.) for when Thile gets mentioned and all hell breaks loose after.

Thile’s razor:

“It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer. Except notes from a mandolin.”

Or

“Some, when appreciating genius, can be parsimonious with praise”

Or

What Chris shaves with

**Pittsburgh Bill** · Nov-07-2019, 10:15am

Again in my humble opinion, he could loose the "YA HOY". It sounds like he is approaching shore on a sail boat.

**CBFrench** · Nov-07-2019, 12:50pm

From what little I've watched, I much prefer the original and Woodsongs Old Time Radio

**Caleb** · Nov-07-2019, 2:26pm

Originally Posted by CBFrench

Woodsongs Old Time Radio

Big fan here. I DVR this on RFDTV and enjoy it a lot. A great way ton discover new artists. And it’s always fun to try to figure out what type of mandolin someone is playing. I tend to end up thinking: “How can everyone be THAT much better than me on the mandolin?”

**JeffD** · Nov-07-2019, 6:01pm

There is some truth in that many many threads here on Chris Thile, end up with some kind of fracas. He is a polarizing character I guess.

Woodsongs Old Time Radio is really good too. Some great people on that show.

**BradKlein** · Nov-08-2019, 9:00am

I was discussing Live From Here with a knowledgable show producer the other day, and the first thing she says to me is, 'I love how generous Chris Thile is toward his guests and his band', and I couldn't agree more. He's super careful to find opportunities to let the folks around him shine, and that is not a universal quality among those at the 'center'.

Ahoy! came about with the Punch Bros album of that name. And I was shocked the first time I heard a packed audience yell it back to the band, that I had considered a favorite, but also a fringe-chamber-cult band. It's on Chris's shoulders to keep promoting P-Bros, while keeping all those other balls in the air.

**Doug Brock** · Nov-08-2019, 12:04pm

It's funny the things you can pick up in a video. I was admiring the musicianship, of course, but was intrigued by the tablet holders - relatively discrete when compared to a music stand. I ordered one that seems very similar if perhaps not the exact model.

**Dillon** · Nov-09-2019, 8:44am

Is there another music show ANYWHERE?

Was looking for Soul Train but couldn't find it

**Bob Visentin** · Nov-09-2019, 9:08am

Originally Posted by Caleb

I wish this show was available via podcast.

I stream it every week. You can listen to old shows with or with out the video feed. Just google Live From Here.

**ccravens** · Nov-09-2019, 9:32am

Originally Posted by DevanBennett

I really love the music but I have such a hard time with Chris Thile. I've tried time and again but he's such a smug little showoff.

Trolling perhaps?

It takes a certain amount of smugness to trust your abilities to judge someone you've never met and gotten to know in person.

**JAK** · Nov-09-2019, 1:30pm

"Be yourself, and be yourself the best you can. Everybody else is taken."

**Jeff Mando** · Nov-10-2019, 8:20pm

Originally Posted by Doug Brock

It's funny the things you can pick up in a video. I was admiring the musicianship, of course, but was intrigued by the tablet holders - relatively discrete when compared to a music stand. I ordered one that seems very similar if perhaps not the exact model.

What!? Thile uses a tablet holder? Music stand? That's cheating! I thought the man had talent!

No wonder it is on the radio! Curses!, foiled again by the video camera........