Nickel Creek "Love Of Mine"

In the same journal that was mostly a month filled with angst, I went to my first Merlefest.

While much of what I wrote about for the Merlefest trip, had to do with the girl I had gone with (we had, in effect, a 2 day first date!), here's the big musical takeaway:

"Chris Thile will be the name to remember . . ."

That was April 2000.  And here I am 14 years later, thrilled to have seen Chris Thile, Sean Watkins and Sara Watkins, together and in other configurations another half-dozen times, with the promise of seeing them together again this summer when they come to Newport Folk. 


Hear the song on Youtube.

Nickel Creek "Destination"

It was notable that at Newport Folk 2012, the 3 members of Nickel Creek were all on campus, but did not play together.  Chris Thile was performing with Punch Brothers; Sara Watkins was there as a solo act, with her brother Sean as part of her band.

At the time I said to myself, they'll probably play together, but not until the time is right, and now is not the time.

18 months later, now IS the time.

In the 9 years since their last record, collectively the 3 members of Nickel Creek have put out records under their individual names, and worked on projects as part of Fiction Family, Goat Rodeo, The Decemberists and WPA, as well as making guest appearances on many, many other projects.

All of this musical exploration can only mean great things, as the already talented and progressive members of Nickel Creek can return to the band with fresh ideas, perspective and confidence.


Hear the song on Youtube.

W.P.A. "Always Have My Love"

One of the cool things about doing an interview with an artist, is that even though you are recording it, or broadcasting it for all to hear, there is a part of you that is just a fan, who's getting a little concert-for-one.

Glen Phillips was on the road a couple of years ago, with his old band Toad The Wet Sprocket. But he also had a solo album out at the time, so I headed over to The Cape Cod Melody Tent to chat with him. They gave us some space in a "dressing room" which was basically a large walk-in closet with a mirror. And there we sat. He played some songs, and talked brightly about his new record.

As often happens, the conversation continued after the tape stopped rolling. We talked current events for a few minutes, and some trouble in the Middle East prompted him to offer to cover Randy Newman's "Political Science."

And we talked about Pete Thomas.

Pete Thomas has been part of Elvis Costello's Attractions and Imposters. And Pete had worked on a side project with Glen a few years previous. I'd been to the Melody Tent a few weeks earlier, and had seen Pete play with Elvis. And just the mention of how good he was, sparked Glen's excitement. We talked with great enthusiasm about how incredible Pete is.

So it wasn't a huge surprise to get the W.P.A. record in, and find out that it's Glen, and Pete Thomas, and some other folks Glen talks about in the interview, Sean and Sara Watkins from Nickel Creek.

Hear a sample of W.P.A. "Always Have My Love"

Hear the interview, here

See Glen Phillips perform the song solo, here

Buy the album, here

Sara Watkins “Long Hot Summer Days”

Sara Watkins was one-third of the band Nickel Creek, and this is from her 2009 solo album.

It’s a funny thing, going from a democratic band, to being the solo force.

In the band, you are part of the sound, part of the chemistry. Your contribution is balanced or buoyed or offset by the contributions of the other players.

So when you are on your own, the dynamic that was evident as an ingredient in the group, is suddenly the only flavor there. It’s like eating chicken soup, chicken soup, chicken soup, and then you’re served a steaming bowl of just carrots in broth. It’s not that the carrots taste bad, but you immediately, naturally, miss the other flavors.

It’s kind of unfair. This is a really cool song, with an effective arrangement and some great playing, but the initial reaction is that it sounds like an incomplete Nickel Creek song.

Prejudice is just no good.

Hear Sara Watkins “Long Hot Summer Days”

See her perform it live, here