Chip
02-21-2002, 02:23 AM
Just got back from the Chris Thile/Mike Marshall show at Espresso Garden Cafe (2nd show).
What a wonderful, amazing show! For those who don't know the venue, it's a tiny place that seats maybe a hundred people. It felt like we were all participants in a large and special birthday celebration for Chris :)
Someone who is apparently a good friend of Chris' had a HUGE birthday cake made (enough for everyone at the show to have a piece) ... then, after the first set, Mike announced that there was another surprise... the same friend had also arranged to fly in an *amazing* juggler/comedian from Boulder, I think, who did a special show for Chris (which, of course, all of the rest of us got to watch), and he had Chris play the extended dance mix version of Ode to a Butterfly while he did a choreographed juggling/physical comedy routine.
And there were special, very limited edition (like maybe 30) golf shirts with Chris Thile/Mike Marshall 21st Birthday Concert
The performance itself was an absolute delight... everything from Bach to Charlie Parker to the Espresso Garden Jam/Subterrainian Homesick Blues, to a bunch of new stuff, some of which Mike and Chris had just written the day before. Amazingly tight playing between the two of them, and there were some incredible grooves they got into as well.
Mike Marshall is an amazing player -- I don't honestly know whether one could say that Chris is better than Mike or vice versa, because they're both amazing -- and his laid-back, relaxed stage presence worked extremely well with Chris. It's obvious these guys get along really well and have a really powerful synergy together.
Also, Mike said that the Chris/Mike Marshall record is finished. They also recorded the Espresso Garden show in the hopes of catching a little something extra that might show up on the CD.
If you have a chance to see Chris and Mike, don't miss it!!
What a wonderful, amazing show! For those who don't know the venue, it's a tiny place that seats maybe a hundred people. It felt like we were all participants in a large and special birthday celebration for Chris :)
Someone who is apparently a good friend of Chris' had a HUGE birthday cake made (enough for everyone at the show to have a piece) ... then, after the first set, Mike announced that there was another surprise... the same friend had also arranged to fly in an *amazing* juggler/comedian from Boulder, I think, who did a special show for Chris (which, of course, all of the rest of us got to watch), and he had Chris play the extended dance mix version of Ode to a Butterfly while he did a choreographed juggling/physical comedy routine.
And there were special, very limited edition (like maybe 30) golf shirts with Chris Thile/Mike Marshall 21st Birthday Concert
The performance itself was an absolute delight... everything from Bach to Charlie Parker to the Espresso Garden Jam/Subterrainian Homesick Blues, to a bunch of new stuff, some of which Mike and Chris had just written the day before. Amazingly tight playing between the two of them, and there were some incredible grooves they got into as well.
Mike Marshall is an amazing player -- I don't honestly know whether one could say that Chris is better than Mike or vice versa, because they're both amazing -- and his laid-back, relaxed stage presence worked extremely well with Chris. It's obvious these guys get along really well and have a really powerful synergy together.
Also, Mike said that the Chris/Mike Marshall record is finished. They also recorded the Espresso Garden show in the hopes of catching a little something extra that might show up on the CD.
If you have a chance to see Chris and Mike, don't miss it!!