The Triangle

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Courtesy Michael Wilson

Bluegrass is not a genre I am familiar with, but one must always be willing to try new things. After seeing Chris Thile and Edgar Meyer's premiere performance at the Kimmel Center Oct. 23, I am proud to have taken my own advice. It is now very clear as to why Thile, former mandolinist of Nickel Creek, and Meyer, double-bassist, are identified as masters of their instruments. Together, they generate music more powerful than an entire orchestra of musicians.

The comfortable size of the Pearlman Theatre suited the duo's musical sound as well as their personalities. After ten minutes of continuous music immediately following their entrance, Thile joked, "I envy you." The teasing seemed to pile up throughout the night, as both Thile and Meyer demonstrated their keen sense of humors in addition to their musical talents.

The duo exhibits a type of chemistry that is just as much fun to listen to as to watch. Thile claims to have known Meyer since he was sixteen years old and calls Meyer his hero. They have performed together twice before this tour, once on Thile's CD, "Not All Who Wander Are Lost," and a duo concert three years later.

Sitting among what I know to have been an audience of bluegrass lovers, the room ignited with thunderous applause at the end of every song. The duo performed music from their self-entitled album released in September of 2008, which includes music written by Thile and Meyer in addition to a few of Bach's compositions.

The highlight of the evening appeared at a very peculiar time in the performance-the audience participation part. This consisted of random topics, such as the Phillies and cheesesteaks, to be belted out by the audience. In turn, Thile and Meyer would compose spontaneous melodies to these topics, which resulted in heartfelt laughter and applause.

The splendid evening of bluegrass ended with a standing ovation and an anchor.

Both Thile and Meyer are Grammy Award winning artists, recognized for their bluegrass beat with country and classical influences. Before one of his rehearsals for the Wednesday night show, Chris Thile was kind enough to take some time and chat with a Drexel reporter.

"Grammys are not important in the grand scheme of things," Thile said. "Good music is a lifelong endeavor and you'll never be in a place to evaluate your own music. I can't even say how hot the fire inside me burns to write music and share it with people."

Thile, 27, has yet to find true satisfaction in his work in terms of being content.

"To be satisfied is to be unproductive," Thile said. "In pursuit of musical excellence, you'll never know you've done it. We need to be living ambiguous, nuanced lives that don't have beginnings and endings. I think that we're so obsessed with accomplishments and intangible progress that it makes the process of making music very difficult."

Though Thile is still quite young, his child stardom has not altered his passion for the music.

"There's no danger of losing the interest to make music. Even if I never elicit any reaction, it just gives me so much joy."

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