The Punch Brothers Concert Preview

Grammy-award winning, genre-bending, folk band Punch Brothers is performing for a rolicking two nights at Washington D.C. 's Lincoln Theater on Saturday Feb. 26 and Sunday Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., celebrating their recent release of their newest album, Hell on Church Street. The Brooklyn-based band is known for their effortless combination of traditional bluegrass, folk, and classical music, however, Hell on Church Street elevates their sound to another level . The album pays homage to the late Tim Rice’s Church Street Blues, an album which all band members (including Rice’s mentee Chris Eldridge) cite as vital inspiration for their current work.

While the album contains songs that are direct reimaginings of tracks off of Church Street Blues, Punch Brothers put their own classic spin on each one. The songs on Rice’s album were themselves interpretations of many folk and bluegrass standards, making Punch Brothers’ homage even more deep rooted and meaningful. The songs were recorded in November of 2020, just before Rice’s death in the following December. Although Rice could no longer receive his gift of gratitude in person, the album’s release to the world seems like a gift itself.

With their bluegrass rooted sound combined with elements of classical music and more modern folk, Punch Brothers has an extremely unique sound that is instantly recognizable. The classical elements create a larger and more full sound that elevates the folksy lyrics to new heights. The layered vocaling the Punch Brothers are especially known for makes their songs absolutely gorgeous, and adds immensely to the ambiance of their music.

The Hell on Church Street tour is supported by indie-rock darling Haley Hendrickx, whose debut album I Need to Start a Garden has received critical praise and recent TikTok adoration. Her music utilizes complicated yet beautiful guitar techniques to produce songs that feel both warm and dreamy. Hendrickx’s music draws clear inspiration from the Laurel Canyon folk-rock of the 1960s and 70s, but pushes its boundaries to keep up with the modern era. Her songs “Oom Sha La La” and “The Bug Collector” have gained some viral popularity in recent years, making her an act to watch.

Although the first night sold out, you can still grab tickets for their second show on the 27th here. You will not want to miss this emotional and foot-stomping performance.