Tonight marks the start of Punch Brothers' US tour, leading up to the release of their debut album, Punch. They'll kick things off with a concert at the Higher Ground in South Burlington, Vermont. Brent Hallenbeck of the Burlington Free Press recently spoke with Chris Thile and guitarist Chris Eldridge about tackling the technically difficult pieces they play on the new record and in their live set. Given the virtuosic playing on Punch, which includes the four-movement Thile-penned piece The Blind Leaving the Blind, and going back to the mandolinist's earliest work with Nickel Creek, Hallenback exclaims, "It might be a stretch to call Thile the Mozart of bluegrass, but it's not a big stretch."

"This music is by no means a technical walk in the park," Thile tells Hallenback. He credits the band members' "unity of vision" as the key to making it all work. Chris Eldridge adds that, despite the music's technical challenges, Punch Brothers have worked hard "to make the music diplomatic and approachable" for music lovers across the board.

To read the article, visit burlingtonfreepress.com. For tickets to tonight's show, visit highergroundmusic.com. To pre-order your copy of Punch Brothers' Nonesuch debut, Punch, with an exclusive bonus track, visit the Nonesuch Store today.