I think the characterization of Thile as smug is way off base. He's extremely confident, sure. Fittingly. He likes to show off; who wouldn't? But in my experience of watching him perform w/ Punch Brothers at several shows (though not this one) he seems to need the crowd in a way that a smug person would not; he feeds off the energy of the audience, he responds to them, he loves them back. And he's incredibly gracious to fans when he's not performing. I never feel empty after watching the Punch Brothers play--quite the opposite.
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