Modern bluegrass supergroup Mighty Poplar stopped by NPR‘s World Cafe for an in-depth interview and performance in front of a live audience.
Greg Garrison (Leftover Salmon), Chris Eldridge (Punch Brothers), Noam Pikelny (Punch Brothers), Andrew Marlin (Watchhouse), and Alex Hargreaves (Billy Strings) sat down with host Stephen Kallao for a discussion covering the origins of and inspiration behind the band, how the group’s debut album came together, and the role of tradition in modern bluegrass.
During the interview, Pikelny draws a distinction how covers are treated in bluegrass versus in other styles of music. “I think using the word ‘covers’ always feels funny within folk music because by definition folk music is often times an opportunity to share and reinterpret songs that have been played and sung by many people for many years,” he says. “Nobody goes to a classical music concert and hears Beethoven and Mahler being like, ‘You know, it was good [but] they played only covers.'”
The band also stopped to pick a few tunes throughout the interview, including “Up On the Divide”, “Story of Isaac”, “Kicking Up the Devil on a Holiday”, and “Little Joe”.
Watch Mighty Poplar perform “Up on the Divide” and “Little Joe” on World Cafe and stream the full program below.
Mighty Poplar – “Up On The Divide” Live On World Cafe
Video: World Cafe
Mighty Poplar – “Up On The Divide” Live On World Cafe
Video: World Cafe