Chris Thile and Michael Daves: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

Thile and Daves play the traditional bluegrass music of icons Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs with a New York City intensity. Watch the dexterous duo perform songs from their album Sleep With One Eye Open at the NPR Music offices.
Set List:
"Sleep With One Eye Open"
"Rabbit In The Log"
"Bury Me Beneath The Willow"
"Billy In The Lowground"
"It Takes One To Know One"
"Roll In My Sweet Baby's Arms"
For more videos and to subscribe to the Tiny Desk Concert podcast, visit npr.org/tinydeskconcerts

[@adisharr]

My guitar heard this and listed itself on Ebay.

[@DanRush1979]

HAHAHAHAHA !!

[@loridove1948]

That's hilarious!

[@robertovalle3690]

HAHAHAHAHAHA

[@gautexrex]

My mandolin did the same.

[@kellmerWF52]

Really? your guitar never heard Doc Watson, Tony Rice,, or Bryan Sutton?

[@CorrosiveColin]

That guy plays the shit out of a mandolin.

[@dontplayleague]

Chris Thile has to be the best mandolin player alive...

[@austenrobinson2747]

@@dontplayleague ever

[@quentinarrants2776]

I wish people understood how insane this is

[@lordpizza4391]

I started playing mandolin five years ago after watching Chris thile play, I have more and more respect the more I learn the instrument. It's honestly impossible the stuff he does on mandolin, literal god.

[@alphahorn6163]

I understand how insane it is.

[@timstaffell]

Oh, They Do - they Do.....

[@evanwallacewilson6701]

IYKYK

[@adrock1011]

The camera man doesnt seem to understand the exquisiteness of michael daves

[@GiuseppeSan]

Being able to play this fast with perfect rhythm while singing harmony is downright superhuman

[@kellmerWF52]

It would seem that way if you didn't grow up in the south

[@wizardpickle]

@@kellmerWF52I grew up in in the south with family spread across FL / AL / GA / NC and I reckon these guys are very impressive

[@janrom4153]

No it's not. It's just practice.

[@WGBHMusic]

I don't think I've ever seen someone as happy as Chris Thile to play a Tiny Desk concert! That dude sure can rip it up on the mandolin.

[@penandpaper6552]

Old thread but he’s seemed this jacked and happy to be there all 7-8 times I’ve had the privilege of seeing him and his groups 👌🏻

[@amandafeliciano542]

@@penandpaper6552 right, he's always like that! When I saw punch brothers in concert a few years ago he was just as happy then too, lol. Part of what makes him so great!

[@mapagano]

0:20 Sleep with one eye open 4:41 Rabbit in a log 7:45 Bury me beneath the willow 11:50 Billy in the lowground 15:18 It takes one to know one 20:10 Roll in my sweet baby's arms

[@mikemcginn4232]

Chris plays the craziest stuff when he's playing with Michael, love the chemistry and understanding they have together!

[@1039sflem]

Incredible, as an old man who has picked bluegrass all my life, I'm thankful there are young Americans keeping our music alive and well at such a high level of musicianship as is displayed here!!! This is the real deal.

[@jc333jc]

Isn't it great to see to wonderfully talented musicians just have fun?

[@grarglejobber4263]

jc333jc I like you.

[@AlfredHugecokk]

+Johnmac They're not talented ... they are fuuuuuuucking talented !!! So great to hear them !

[@colemileafplaysfighters6080]

+Johnmac no but it is great to see two wonderfully talented musicians. Feel free to hate me forever.

[@MichaelS-pq1ep]

+Cole Mileaf No, but it is great to hear two wonderfully talented musicians.

[@billnu]

Internet is weird sometimes

[@cartershilts1738]

I'm sure the 600,000 views this video has accumilated has been my the same 1000 people watching over.. And over.. And over.. And.. Well you get the point, they are underrated, I met Michael Daves nonchalantly meandering around the concessions at a punch brothers show in Chicago a few months ago. Completely unbothered and just leaning against a wall with nobody near him and all I could think is "OH MY GOD HOW DO THESE PEOPLE NOT KNOW WHO MICHAEL DAVES IS?!?!" And I talked to him for a good 15 minutes, super awesome guy to say the least.

[@kleenx73]

I think you're right. I watch the same few Chris Thile/Punch Brothers Videos a few times a month. Their Boston House of Blues set is a true desert island recording for me.

[@kleenx73]

Actually I'm gonna watch that next

[@plathimus]

Yeah I watch it like at least once a month now lol

[@stevenhodgen2048]

What a fantastic pairing! I love Michael's shy sincerity, amazing voice, and stunning playing. Chris? Well, he's is a freakin' wizard minstrel. 'nuf said.

[@JoJaDaRu]

Michael has one of the best voices for this kind of music I've ever heard. There is strong tradition in how he sings with some kind of punk/progressive sensibility hanging around underneath. Love it... and then with the pickin' that perfectly matches it too!

[@garycoen6943]

+Jacob Russell Michael Daves is channeling Ralph Stanley AND Buddy Holly. Really.

[@VeeDubR32]

He has a lot of Del McCoury in his voice

[@evapainted]

+VeeDubR32 yes.

[@ericharmon9025]

They don't call it high lonesome fir nutin'

[@jordanchiaruttiniREALTOR]

He really is amazing, the voice, the picking. Right at home in the tradition but just a little different

[@owenprice4072]

Annnnnd I'm back at this video again.

[@brianholcombe3722]

I played at a jam in NYC a few years ago and Michael sang tenor on a tune I sang. I was floored by how powerfully he sings those harmony vocals.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Chris Thile owns "Bury Me Beneath The Willow". Just owns it.

[@tarrakis]

Ditto that!

[@maugustson]

Check out Tony Rice and Ricky Skaggs version from 1981 album Skaggs & Rice. Also great.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Mark Augustson That one was great, but Chris Thile still owns it. Now if there were any way for Tony Rice in his prime and Chris Thile in his current prime to do a duet of that song, that would just be everything.

[@billleger1936]

Chris's second break on Billy In The Lowground is so good I laugh every time I watch it, and I've watched a couple dozen times. Absurd!!

[@HotRodSixString]

They could start a fire with playing that hot . Michael Daves is my new guitar hero .

[@massimo52185]

wowwwwww my compliments from iTaly.I listen music serious.Virtuosism and talent.Genius of music.perfect in all points.The american musician has the best of world.I love the country music with only mandolino or banjo duo trio band.I love this musica of long time.I was a children and listen this music in sardegna from italy.but this music was impossible to buy LP.Today thanks you I have the possibiltà to listen this beautiful music.This music is my life.thanks

[@willricewillsweep]

So many shots of Chris Thile while Daves is soloing. Come on, cameraman.

[@natals06]

I don't want this to end. Ever.

[@DHstrings15]

I love seeing people legitimately having fun with their music

[@hobowalker1]

I love musicians that have energy and feeling in their performances. These two are insanely talented and entertaining and that's why I love them.

[@Sam22music]

Yeah, that's what I like about bluegrass musicians -they are true live performers and don't really need to have a studio with tons of dubbing or editing.

[@tomvgeddes]

HOLY SHIT! I nearly had a panic attack for them in that last song. That was immense. Holy goddamn balls that was good.

[@TheOpinionatedGuitarist]

There are so many great things to say about this, but at the top is the fact that Chris Thile may very well go down in history as one of the all time great mandolin players. He's already phenomenal and still quite young.

[@Sam22music]

I would consider it to be string players, not just mandolinists! :D

[@cmmiller711]

Sam 22 Todd Hooper Id honestly go as far as to say that he's one of, if not THE greatest instrumentalist of my generation on any instrument.

[@eashton42]

Todd Hooper cmmiller711 I would absolutely call him the best instrumentalist of our generation that I have ever laid ears on, as it were. I mean look, the man essentially composes music on the fly, and often at 120 bpm, which is just completely insane. His solos almost always sound as if they were written ahead of time, to the point that it's hard to believe they're improvised, and they are by nature impossible to replicate. I would go so far as to say the following: if there is a better mandolinist who has ever lived-at any time, in any place-I have never heard him, and I would be skeptical of his existence until I saw him for myself. As a mandolin player myself, I find a lot of what he does to seem physically impossible. I can show you some sheet music of his original compositions that are just terrifying to look at. He's the sort of player who both makes one want to lay down one's mandolin forever, and to never put it down, in the hopes that one might play like that some day. Anyway, this is the height of fawning, I'm afraid, but if anyone has examples that would disprove what I've said, I'd be fascinated to see them. I mean, only Chris Thile does Flatt and Monroe one day and a full album of Bach sonatas and partitas the next. It absolutely boggles the mind.

[@paul29671]

John Hartford said that Bill Monroe was one of the greatest fiddlers of all time, but he just did it on the mandolin. I'm thinking Chris Thile is taking over that spot now.

[@daveswaymusic]

Oh My God.... that is true music, one condensor Mic. These guys are God's of their instruments.

[@petegomez5133]

Amazing music with pure of soul and bleeding hearts. This is how American music is supposed to sound.

[@scottjackson4142]

Chris has completed the Mandolin on legendary difficulty.

[@29subhra]

conqueror status

[@11starlight11]

Golden armor

[@jameslloyd949]

I didn't know what I was looking for until I found this. Makes me want to be a better musician and enjoy it as much as them.

[@SoulLove-mu3sf]

Love love all your music. There needs to be more. And buck dancing

[@TheJordaddy35]

How many people can say they are unequivocally the greatest in the world at something. Chris Thile can.

[@BluegrassBanter]

amen

[@tydouglas3013]

100% the greatest who ever lived. Very few can, and he plays with all of them. Haven't seen him with bel fleck yet? This comment will be followed by a search of just that.

[@iavv334]

Anha adavrasanazak astok lekhi Dothraki mra jin rhaesheser

[@jillesoom3305]

joe dart on the fender bass?

[@MrEdUrAt]

@@jillesoom3305 He's great but not the greatest

[@shannondudley3757]

Mr Thile never fails to melt my face. I can't even.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Does "Sleep with One Eye Open" trick anyone else into singing "When I Saw Her Standing There" by the Beatles?

[@rafay88]

HAHAHA! I am so glad I read this comment; If I hadn't, I might have gone to bed feeling rather agitated at not realising what it was that I was missing.

[@kennbutler1234]

Me too!!

[@Hannes87]

Chris's solo in Bury Me is absolutely redonculous. Even for him, that's some crazy structuring.

[@nwtrumpet]

Good grief. I've never seen such ferocious music-making! This is amazing.

[@JimFisherDIYPortableSolarPower]

Chris Thile's fretboard will one day to burst into flames...and that right soon.

[@Illneverremember1]

this may very well be the best bluegrass music I've ever heard in my life.

[@tydouglas3013]

Few could argue.

[@tydouglas3013]

Sep tony rice.

[@professorplates5689]

Ty Douglas Imagine if Tony was still in good enough health to jam with these two. Can you imagine?

[@willaspencer12]

Just let the man enjoy his music. They're both incredible regardless of what face they make while playing.

[@ascotia]

I have watched and listened to this at least 5 times since discovering it yesterday. Simply great stuff.

[@lucilelg7929]

Can't get enough of this music!!

[@mackenziestanley9733]

Ooooh my, I could listen to this all dang day. beautiful

[@bigred1222]

Simply flawless.

[@petelloyd1221]

These boys are working hard on each and every song. Love it.

[@kuues]

Simply an enchanting performance. Thanks for the upload!

[@tonyeads9142]

Both guys are amazing, Chris seems to be from another planet at times! It is almost laughable, what He does out of boredom to "mess" with a song, make it His own, and fun for him to play. The rest of us mere mortals can barely comprehend! I agree that the camera should have been on Michael during His cool guitar solo! I still thoroughly enjoyed the show! Thanks for the post!

[@MaurizioBalestrino]

Fantastic !!! Great performers like no one !

[@morganhoward2017]

These two are unbelievable.

[@BrianTheoret]

I'm always blown away when I see Chris play and now I'll be looking out for Michael Daves as well. Truly amazing.

[@ireneruthfox]

Chris & Michael are from another planet. That's good pick'n & singing.

[@TyldaRower]

Watching this is contributing hugely to my musical education... AND Chris Thile is an angel.

[@AnaBikicArtReviewMiami]

Just wonderful , saved in our favorites, shared with our friends, music to live with.

[@EmilyJaneUnavailable]

Also, it always brightens my mood to watch him hop around.

[@timbruer7318]

Glorious stuff, particularly Chris's solos.

[@catamaraner]

This album I am buying. How wonderful!

[@shaynegreen]

These guys are amazing. Yes, please share this.

[@jaburchfield7194]

Real music by REAL musicians! AWESOME!!

[@partycountry743]

one of my favourite mandolin players so talented!

[@kmunson007]

Unbelievably good! Can't stop watching this video.

[@gennypearl3632]

Chris has the best energy. He gets so into the music and it makes my heart dance along with him!

[@sgbsammy]

It just doesn't get any better than this.Incredible skills

[@ascotia]

This is one of my favorite KZbin videos of all time.

[@mandograssable]

Of course they are making it up as they go. That is what good music is all about.

[@linobarba781]

Very very good sound!!!! I am always very happy when I hear this big musicians!!!! congratulations Chris and Michael!!!! :-)

[@blueseruser]

They are having way too much fun.......!!!!Just Great!

[@alixmorris5953]

Chris Thile always has the most fun!

[@catalot]

The facial expressions show passion for the music. You aren't playing it, you're in it. I could listen to these guys forever.

[@groundhogs3990]

this man dave, ..i think his voice is absolute perfection.

[@dtoddboemler]

This is freaking incredible. Long time fan of Thile, but dang the guy can perform. He's got such great swagger. Daves rips it open as well. His solo during Sleep With One Eye Open just shreds.

[@bestworldmine]

Chris Thile talent is limitles WOW. Also Michael Daves in such an amazing guitar player

[@theoneforu69]

This music just beautiful to the ears and the eyes:)

[@SoulLove-mu3sf]

You guys are the greatest

[@LETSharmonize]

SO much talent. Amazing.

[@juliechristianson8009]

I just adore these guys

[@valentinesandghosts]

chris is always so into it. i love watching him.

[@ducklordbolemole992]

Chris Thile is too amazing! JUST TOO MUCH!! *_*

[@VanillaBryce5]

I wish I could get these per song... man I love these two

[@tonykidd6131]

This is just incredible.

[@smanater]

love love love it. Can't get enough.

[@KKuf277]

I could live in this video. Brilliant.

[@4BeeP]

Wow, these guys are rocking!

[@taperededge]

I love the energy these two have. I think my mandolin playing has a long way to go...

[@olmmbill]

These guys aren't human! Incredible!

[@TheTrumpetSection]

Both these guys are awesome. I wanna be able to play bluegrass like this

[@Summerlandtopcat]

Best Tiny Desk concert we've seen so far - stunning.

[@Stickykeys2010]

goddamn. weeping willow solo by thile is beautiful. every fucking time.

[@scottfleming6166]

In the mandolin universe, Chris is a 'singularity'

[@gangelone999]

best live performance ever!

[@pschittos]

So good to hear and see this "energizers".

[@bobleroe3859]

Chris has the record for being on Tiny Desk the most times, and now works for NPR! Great music.

[@29subhra]

Chris Thile just makes me happy when I see him.

[@escapin259]

I would watch both

[@BorninMornin]

That made me smile. Damn, wish I could pick like that!

[@jillspears6331]

My granddaddy used to sing us Rabbit in a Log when we were kids. Love this version.

[@jbwsp4158]

Chris thile is a madman

[@megaphono79]

I love EVERYTHING about this! :)

[@olmmbill]

Awesome! No other word for it.

[@SarahGracie]

absolutely perfect

[@jimsherlock9627]

Chris and Michael are incredible together!!! Hope they do another album soon!! Amazing talent!!!!

[@Movielunatic]

Awesome music!

[@MelbaNatalia]

love this guys..TOTALLY!

[@goatlovesllama]

Man.. I am so psyched to see these two in concert next month. This just made me even more excited :3