Nickel
Creek: Why Should the Fire Die?
By Ross Rice
It
really doesn’t seem that long ago that a (very) young band
burst onto the bluegrass scene with their eponymous Alison Krauss-produced
debut in 2000, bringing a much-needed youth injection to an aging,
but still very viable musical tradition, while garnering 2 Grammy
and CMA nominations in the process. Nickel Creek (Sean Watkins,
Chris Thile, and Sara Watkins) has started with that venerable fabric,
and over the next seven years of almost constant touring, and two
progressively creative recordings (not to mention multiple solo
and collaborative works,) woven it into a fresh and flexible musical
garment that suits them well; the bluegrass part seems to provide
a solid background for the forays into avant-garde pop and neo-folk
territory. Great CD’s, amazing shows, bright future. One small
detail: these guys have actually been playing together for almost
20 years, since two of them were 8 years old. And, well, it’s
time for a little break.
So, yes, this may be it for Nickel Creek for awhile you better get
it while you can.
And
the getting proves to be pretty good. Good friend Glen Phillips
(from their collaboration Mutual Admiration Society) joins them
for their first week of dates, then after the Grey Fox Bluegrass
Festival (7/18-21, see adjoining piece,) they join forces with Fiona
Apple, as co-headliner and backing group. This alliance happened
as a result of Apple sitting in at LA’s Largo club, where
Sean and Sara’s regular “Watkins Family Hour”
gig attracts unusual and loose musical exchanges. Word has it that
that unpredicable vibe will be brought forth on the road, where
unexpected cover choices will mingle with both groups’ considerable
catalogs.
CONTINUE....
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