#andrew marlin

[thebowerypresents]

Watchhouse – Webster Hall– October 17, 2025

North Carolina folk duo Watchhouse have gone with a dreamier sound on their eighth studio album, Rituals, and the new music did not disappoint live on Friday night at Webster Hall.

Photos courtesy of Elissa Mentesana | elissarosephotography.com

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Tim O’Brien & Friends - “Maggie’s Farm” (Live)

Fairly shouting, Tim O’Brien had just a touch of Bob Dylan in his voice as he led his Friends through “Maggie’s Farm” at the 2024 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival.

It was a big band, steered by the twin fiddles of Brittany Haas and Shad Cobb, anchored by Mike Bub’s bass and leaving room for solos on Andrew Marlin’s mandolin, O’Brien’s guitar and Justin Moses’ banjo.

O’Brien delivered Dylan’s words expertly as Jan Fabricius added harmonies with help from a lyrics sheet. She wasn’t the only one winging it, as O’Brien called solos and extra measures from the fiddlers and tossed in a line about not workin’ on the railroad either.

Such looseness would flummox lesser musicians. Tim O’Brien & Friends thrived on it.

Grade card: Tim O’Brien & Friends - “Maggie’s Farm” (Live) - A

10/31/24

[nofatclips-home]

Better Way by Watchhouse (formerly Mandolin Orange) - Video Directed by: Lachlan Turczan

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Mighty Poplar - “Chico River” (Live, 2023)

Mighty Poplar summoned the power of quietude to deliver a devastating performance of “Chico River” at the 2023 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots festival.

Now out on professional video, the bluegrass supergroup’s rendering of Mapache’s number is astonishing in its finesse as mandolinist Andrew Marlin, guitarist Chris Eldridge and bassist Greg Garrison climb to the top of their ranges on the chorus:

Abigail/Abigail

The mic into which they sing also serves as the band’s amp, to which fiddler Alex Hargreaves, then Marlin, then banjoist Noam Pikelny move closer so their respective, pre-chorus solos can be dispersed to the audience.

It ends with Marlin and Eldridge weaving a soft, delicate tapestry that flirts with silence. It leaves the audience hushed and the band smiling in quiet, hard-earned, self-satisfaction.

Grade card: Mighty Poplar - “Chico River” (Live, 2023) - A+

3/18/24

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Mighty Poplar - “Grey Eagle” (Live)

“Content to only steal the show,” as his bandmates put it, fiddler Shad Cobb proves himself much more than a standin for Alex Hargreaves on Mighty Poplar’s live rendering of “Grey Eagle.”

Captured on professional video during the bluegrass supergroup’s appearance at the 2023 FreshGrass festival in Massachusetts, the clip may feature Cobb’s sawin’ prominently. But Noam Pikelny’s banjo pickin’, Avdrew Marlin’s mandolin fannin’ and Chris Eldridge’s guitar stylin’ are not inessential ingredients, as evidenced by the explosion of applause that follows each musician’s turn in the spotlight.

Grade card: Mighty Poplar - “Grey Eagle” (Live) - A+

11/22/23

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Mighty Poplar - “Little Sadie”

As murder ballads go, “Little Sadie” is among the most famous. But the song’s notoriety didn’t deter Mighty Poplar from taking liberties with the arrangement and killing the number at the 2023 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots festival.

Chris Eldridge begins it as a solo dirge. And once the evil deed is done, the band kicks in and the song picks up with Andrew Marlin, Noam Pikelny and Alex Hargreaves turning in solos on mandolin, banjo and fiddle, respectively, while guitarist Eldridge, eyes closed and mouth open, throws his head back in musical ecstasy.

Listeners will be there, too, when Pikelny and Hargreaves link up for a little riff that demonstrates the utility of listening and reacting to your bandmates.

“Little Sadie” has never sounded quite like this before. And it’s unlikely any other band could pull it off like this in the future.

Grade card: Mighty Poplar - “Little Sadie” - A

12/29/23

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Mighty Poplar - “Tipper” (Live 2022)

Before announcing its self-titled debut, Mighty Poplar was gigging and no doubt blowing minds with its lineup and prowess.

The bluegrass supergroup - Watchhouse’s Andrew Marlin on mandolin; Billy Strings’ fiddler Alex Hargreaves; Punch Brothers Chris Eldridge and Noam Pikelny on guitar and banjo, respectively; and Leftover Salmon bassist Greg Garrison - played Tony Rice’s “Tipper” at the 2022 Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots festival in Vermont.

The resulting video shows a piecemeal band as tight as a full-timer as solos pass around the stage like a moonshine jug. But everyone retains his wits, even as the Punches on stage look jarring in jeans and caps as opposed to the formalwear of their main band.

The instrumental “Tipper” does not appear on the quintet’s forthcoming (March 31) LP, though the case can be made. Perhaps a live followup is planned.

Here’s hoping.

Grade card: Mighty Poplar - “Tipper” (Live 2022) - A-

3/9/23

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Watchhouse - “Harvest Moon”

Employing a broom for texture and swapping mandolin for acoustic guitar and Emily Frantz for Neil Young, the band formerly known as Mandolin Orange does the nearly impossible in covering “Harvest Moon.”

Namely, Watchhouse makes a credible recording of the already-perfect song.

Frantz sings lead and plays rhythm acoustic guitar. Andrew Marlin recreates the tune’s signature descending riffs on mandolin. And Nat Smith chimes in with a perfectly melancholy cello solo to prove tackling “Harvest Moon” isn’t always folly.

Just usually.

Tender, close harmonies; brushed drums; and the aforementioned broom add to the ambiance. There’s virtually no chance anyone will ever improve on the original, but Mando … er, Watchhouse’s “Harvest Moon” casts an enchanting light.

Grade card: Watchhouse - “Harvest Moon” - B+

11/11/21