For the inaugural episode of the new Live Concerts podcast from NPR's All Songs Considered, Nickel Creek performed at Washington, DC's 9:30 Club last week. It was part of the group's "Farewell (For Now)" tour, as each band member goes on to pursue new projects. Chris Thile has formed Punch Brothers, whose debut album is due out on Nonesuch early next year. All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen said: "I've seen many musicians in my day, but my jaw dropped listening to and watching mandolinist Chris Thile play with Nickel Creek ... The command he had of his instrument, from frenetically fast strumming to tasty quiet fills, it was just first-rate."

All Songs Considered has announced the next show in NPR's Live Concert Series: bluegrass masters Nickel Creek—Sean Watkins, Sara Watkins, and Chris Thile—live from their farewell tour, November 2, at the 9:30 Club in Washington. Boilen calls Thile, whose band Punch Brothers recently signed to Nonesuch, "one of the most amazing mandolin players I've ever heard."

Lincoln Center has announced the 2008 season of its popular American Songbook series, with tickets on sale to the public Thursday, October 25. Highlights of the season include three nights with k.d. lang, February 26–28, and an evening with Punch Brothers on February 20. Also featured are two shows on January 26 with Broadway star Kelli O'Hara, who earned a Tony nomination for her performance in Adam Guettel's Light in the Piazza .

Mandolinist and member of Punch Brothers Chris Thile, Nonesuch President Bob Hurwitz, and Senior Vice President David Bither talk baseball.

The guys of Punch Brothers celebrate the end of a successful day's photo shoot for their upcoming Nonesuch Records debut. The shoot took place in and around Nashville with photographer Autumn de Wilde, who took this one last pic over dinner at East Nashville's Margot Cafe and Bar.

Newly signed Nonesuch artists Punch Brothers—from left to right: Noam Pikelny (banjo), Chris Eldridge (guitar), Greg Garrison (bass), and Gabe Witcher (fiddle); not pictured: Chris Thile (mandolin)—dropped by the Nonesuch offices. Their trip included a very productive tour of the Nonesuch CD closet. Here's a snapshot of the guys getting ready to do some "research" on their new label mates.