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.

As for the Grey Fox performance; well, it’s a pretty safe bet that there will be collaboration with other festival pickers. It IS a bluegrass festival after all, and folks are inclined to do that sort of thing. Nickel Creek is still very much a part of the grand tradition of bluegrass, though they have certainly evolved into something much more, similarly to the way that Hendrix evolved from the blues. From the Best Contemporary Folk Grammy-winning This Side (2002), to the bigger and farther sounding Why Should the Fire Die? (2005), Nickel Creek has showcased all of the possibilities of four virtuoso acoustic artists (longtime bassist and 4th “unofficial” member Mark Schatz has been with the group since 2003,) who show an uncanny ability to sound like one complete unit. Sean Watkin’s acoustic guitar provides a strong, yet almost transparent foundation, while Sara Watkins and Chris Thile, on fiddle and mandolin respectively, alternate between rrhythmic and melodic phrases effortlessly, with a telepathy that can only come from experience and familiarity. And, although they are constantly pushing musical boundaries, as songwriters, performers, and improvisors, they still keep it simple and acoustic, well-teth-ered to the tradition. No overdubs, synthesizers, or drums to be found here.

Nickel Creek fans need not feel abandoned by the band, however. All three musicians are continuing their musical journeys, albeit not necessarily together. Chris Thile seems to be everywhere at once; as the most prolific solo artist, with now 5 solo releases under his belt, has a new bluegrass album, How To Grow A Woman From the Ground, to promote, as well a new project with super-bassman Edgar Meyer. Sean Watkins is still promoting his solo release, Blinders On, while currently working on a bluegrass EP, and collaborating with Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman, while he and Sara Watkins still have their popular “Watkins Family Hour” at the Largo Club in LA. With little left to win, and many years of great music ahead of them, Nickel Creek can be forgiven if they want to change things up a bit. But since there’s no rancor or acrimony behind this transistion, it’s a good possibility that this hiatus tour is only an “auf weidersehen,” as opposed to a “farewell.” Still, you can’t be too careful; better get on up to Ancramdale an catch their Grey Fox set. It might be your last chance.