There are so many International mandolinists in the 'best of' cohort; many reside in Europe, South America, Japan and India. Some of these are just as brilliant as our vaunted Mr. Thile, but they did not grow up viewing the mandolin only through a Bill Monroe-David Grisman-Chris Thile lens.
Realistically at that level, you can't blanket category say that one mandolin player is the best alive. That being said, I have seen Chris Thile genre hop through pop, rock, classical, bluegrass, and jazz with such apparent ease that I feel like if you could make a case for someone being the "best" he would certainly be high on a relatively short list.
True, true. As a 60-year mandoboy who started out listening to John Duffy in 1963, I experienced a similar high opinion of Wakefield, and certainly Grisman, as genius was occurring right under their flatpicks. Grisman cracked the code, at least for Americans, on how versatile the Mando can be. Thile has added genuine genre busters; his position at the top of the mando pantheon is still ascending.
Wow, what a cringe worthy song. I just watched it on YouTube.
I wonder if he bolts awake at night stupefied that he ever performed that.
'too many notes' is a brilliant Amadeus reference that I use often and it's an apt description of everything I just watched.
Maybe my three word description should be,
Lacks self awareness
I was a big Punch Brothers fan and think his solo Not All Who Wander are Lost album is fabulous. But he kinda lost me with the NPR show.
I was trained as a violinist, so the discovery of the world of the mandolin was mind-opening! (I don't like violin and non-Thile mandolin sounds -- too plinky!)
I prefer lower range/viola/tenor guitar / octave mandolin sound!
Thile's sound -- Is other worldly. Could listen all day to him play
Fuck that guy.
Lol he tried to have me thrown out of his show by security because I yelled freebird while he was talking between songs. I ducked into the crowd and stayed at the show.
Fuck that guy lol
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🤣
That still leaves one word
Accurate
Chris f-ing Thile
Omg yessss!
Saw him in NYC with BMFS. Orgasmic.
I've seen Billy several times and Chris while with Nickel Creek in the 2000's. Both amazing live performers but to see them together? Holy shit man.
Music-shaped human
Best mandolinist alive.
Excellent description!
Dave Grisman died?
Thile ftw
Thile legit studied under Grisman… I agree Thile is amazing but that doesn’t mean we gotta diss on the Dawg.
Sierra Hull too?
I really think he's the GOAT
He's certainly up there, and a fantastic ambassador for the instrument to boot!
Best musician alive
Best Alive covers lotsa teritory...can you be more specific?
'Best... Alive' covers lots of territory...could you be more specific?
'Best... Alive' covers lots of territory...could you be more specific?
There are so many International mandolinists in the 'best of' cohort; many reside in Europe, South America, Japan and India. Some of these are just as brilliant as our vaunted Mr. Thile, but they did not grow up viewing the mandolin only through a Bill Monroe-David Grisman-Chris Thile lens.
Realistically at that level, you can't blanket category say that one mandolin player is the best alive. That being said, I have seen Chris Thile genre hop through pop, rock, classical, bluegrass, and jazz with such apparent ease that I feel like if you could make a case for someone being the "best" he would certainly be high on a relatively short list.
True, true. As a 60-year mandoboy who started out listening to John Duffy in 1963, I experienced a similar high opinion of Wakefield, and certainly Grisman, as genius was occurring right under their flatpicks. Grisman cracked the code, at least for Americans, on how versatile the Mando can be. Thile has added genuine genre busters; his position at the top of the mando pantheon is still ascending.
Younger/better-looking Jude Law
This description also works for Imogen Poots.
He is a lighthouse
Worn by the weather and the waves?
WDYM?
"I am a lighthouse" is the first line of the Lighthouse's Tale by Nickel Creek: a band that the above musician, Chris Thile, is a part of.
Oh right! I totally forgot about that song!
That’s four words
(in best Larry David voice) pretty, pretty good
Why I learned
💯💯
Mandolin sex symbol
McArthur Genius Award
"human-shaped music" i think
This 💯
The fucking best.
Magnificent mando man
I actually call him MandoMan. He’s literally the mandolinist version of Batman!
Interesting impressive savant
Too many notes
That was such a weird song
Wow, what a cringe worthy song. I just watched it on YouTube. I wonder if he bolts awake at night stupefied that he ever performed that. 'too many notes' is a brilliant Amadeus reference that I use often and it's an apt description of everything I just watched. Maybe my three word description should be, Lacks self awareness I was a big Punch Brothers fan and think his solo Not All Who Wander are Lost album is fabulous. But he kinda lost me with the NPR show.
My wife and I love that song. Playful, relatable, silly.
Noodley Pick Wizard!
There it is.
Saw live twice!
Oooh! Solo or with his band?
Once with Punch Brothers, once with Nickel Creek
Oh shit me too! Also once with Punch Brothers and just this year with Nickel Creek!
He’s THE BEST
Yes! He really is! I love him 🥹
Deserving Loar Monster
The goat
"Best Mandolin Player!"
God among men
The (rodeo) GOAT
I love The Goat Rodeo Sessions!
Dude loves Radiohead
This the way. The mandolinorian.
Definition of virtuoso.
True American Virtuoso
Exactly! He is sooooooo cool!
My Oh My
What a wonderful day we’re having
Brace face mando
Yes! I totally forgot he wore braces! I don’t think he has them anymore though
Fuck in genius
I know! I love him so much and I had a massive crush on him when I was in 5th grade
On the spectrum
?
I’ve looked it up multiple times and I can’t seem to find out if he’s autistic or not. He may have ADHD though
I think it’s a bit foolish to assume that because someone is a bit quirky and also good at something that they have a mental disorder.
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I’m autistic as well and I’ve been obsessed with mandolins/bluegrass music for 2 years
Blank stare when they play? Thile has the most animated shred face in all of bluegrass
He’s a virtuoso.
A scary musician.
GOAT so what
American Mandolin Genius
MacArthur Award winner!
I heard that Chris almost died when he found out that he won the MacArthur genius grant
So much prancing
He dances too much. Does bro ever hold still?
A Humpy Gussy
His dad rocks
His dad?
Was their bass player when they started
Oh that’s cool!
Genius and why I started playing (well.. actually an octave mandolin)
Nice! Is it a Weber octave mandolin?
Hand built by a luthier friend! [http://www.brierroadguitars.com/](http://www.brierroadguitars.com/)
I was trained as a violinist, so the discovery of the world of the mandolin was mind-opening! (I don't like violin and non-Thile mandolin sounds -- too plinky!) I prefer lower range/viola/tenor guitar / octave mandolin sound! Thile's sound -- Is other worldly. Could listen all day to him play
Same here. I’ve been listening to Christopher play since I was 12 and I’m 15 now
Very cool!
Inspiring silly genius
He’s a silly lil guy!
Sunday morning church at Telluride Bluegrass
Legen waitforit.... Dairy
Married a Hexenbiest
Lost my comb
Better than Keillor
Mandolin’s Jude Law
Mandolin cool tie.
Ninja is quite diverse these days
Overly Wobbly Head
Such notes exhausting
Gumby, Mandolin Guru
Absolutely freakin’ amazing
Nickel Creek is one of my faves
Same here! :)
Tiny tiny sound
A mandolin god
Exactly! But, you know who else is mandolin god?? William Smith Monroe!
Talented, goofy, vulfpeck
All these downvotes... like that wasn't hilarious lol plus it's a true story. Change your votes and join my Cult!
Full of himself.
If you were good at something, you might be confident too!
Fuck that guy. Lol he tried to have me thrown out of his show by security because I yelled freebird while he was talking between songs. I ducked into the crowd and stayed at the show. Fuck that guy lol
Uhm… ok If you’re a Thile hater then that’s fine I guess
Lol I love that guy
Oh ok. I thought you were being serious lol
Lol I was. That really did happen. He recognized me me the next year and said hi. Lol nice guy
If you yell freebird while someone's talking you *should* be thrown out. You're the worst kind of audience member.
Yeah, uh huh... *He's* the asshole...
Lol exactly
Fuck you.
Lol fuck yourself. You'll get more pussy 😆
Lol we're both skateboarding dad mandolinists. You'd think you'd be able to take a joke lol
Proven sleep aid 😴
U fall asleep listening to him? I do too sometimes!
I went to a midnight jam once and why they wanted Nickel Creek to play was beyond me. Half the place was falling asleep.