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Plot Summary
This intimate documentary follows mandolin virtuoso (and MacArthur Foundation “Genius”) Chris Thile through a turning point in his life and musical career. By age 26, Thile had already reached some significant career highs, winning a couple of Grammys for both his solo records and his work with the platinum-selling, pop-bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. But, in a move that stunned fans, Thile and Nickel Creek went on “indefinite hiatus” while Thile paused to re-asses and, in many ways, start over. HOW TO GROW A BAND is about what happened next.
Rotten Tomatoes Movie Reviews
TOMATOMETER
56%- Reviews Counted: 9
- Fresh: 5
- Rotten: 4
- Average Rating: 5.8/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: Mr. Meatto's framing tends to catch the musicians' give-and-take, merging and dueling notes onstage, especially at a Manhattan concert that is the film's highlight.
Fresh: How to Grow a Band is most fascinating as it tactfully charts the sort of artistic and philosophical differences that can eventually undermine any group endeavor, even among seemingly like-minded collaborators.
Rotten: How To Grow A Band maintains a respectable distance from its subject that ultimately doesn't work in its favor.
Rotten: The movie is unsurprisingly devoted to peddling up-and-comer Chris Thiele as something daring, something new.
Customer Reviews
Genius meets Audience
This is the story of Punch Brothers' tour of their first album "Punch", a ground-breaking work that includes a 40+ minute "string quintet" in 4 movements called "The Blind Leaving the Blind". In my opinion, this is one of the greatest compositions in the history of American music and the opportunity to see it unveiled to the public is a treasure. The film centers on Chris Thile, a mandolin child prodigy now come into his own as a composer and band leader, as he struggles with how the piece will be received. It also focuses on the challenges of forming and nurturing a band comprised of fellow prodigies turned virtuosos in their own rights. Each member of the band is arguably the greatest player of their instrument in their generation. But Punch Brothers is no all-star jam session, nor is it "Chris Thile and Friends"- it is a band with a voice and life of its own. If you are a music lover, this film is not to be missed, as it offers something that history rarely affords--the opportunity to follow along like a fly on the wall as truly epoch-making art is unveiled to the public.
I first saw Punch Brothers in Chicago in 2007. As they began playing "The Blind Leaving the Blind", my jaw dropped at the sheer brilliance of the piece and the audacity of what ostensibly appears to be a bluegrass band performing music that may very well be studied in conservatories 200 years from now. More than half a decade later, I am still amazed by the piece and the album, and I'm grateful for the insights that this film affords to fans of this truly great band.
Finally original music in a world of mediocrity.
Brilliant. Period.,
Truly Rare Gems . . .
. . . are the 5 top-notch musicians (or rather 6, of course, not to discount their former bassist) that are the band, Punch Brothers. Considering the "outer-worldly" & extraordinary level of expertise each of these individual musicians possess, the story of how they came to be, as a band (their struggles, their accomplishments, their earnest desire for their sought message to be understood/taken seriously), – is quite endearingly "human" (especially being, imo, THE most innovative band I've seen in my generation, thus far). It's a truly fascinating, as well as, moving story – that's also very relatable to any young artist out there that has a voice or an unconventional idea they want to be heard. Illustrating that any unique, unconventional venture isn't gained without struggle or criticism, & if one sticks to their initial intuition, without wavering at the thought of the public's initial rejection – simply due to ANY kind of change from what they know (which should be anticipated, but not entirely expected), it'll be, ultimately, worth the risk. It could certainly pay off in the end, & hopefully, assist to pave a more accessible path for young, abstract artists in the future. There are no rules where the creation of art is concerned. Definitely a 5-star documentary & a 5-star band!!!
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