Classics: Nickel Creek

Nickel Creek is the real damn deal.

I assume that you have heard of them.  If not, then a little bit of backstory is necessary.  They started up in the early nineties as precocious teenagers who could play bluegrass music like (well, better than) 50 year vets.  The guitarist (Sean Watkins) and violin player (Sara Watkins) are brother and sister, with Chris Thile (mandolin and a little more vocals than the others) rounding out the group.

Alison Krauss found them and apparently helped them sign a label deal, which led to 2000's Krauss-produced Nickel Creek.  This whole disc is a really excellent style of fun bluegrass music, both with new-sounding elements and classic sound.  Violin, Mandolin, Guitar, some bass thumping in the background.  The big hit off of the album was "Reasons Why"

Those harmonies are spot on beautiful.  Three part harmonies are not all that normal these days, but it makes a song that sounds like Krauss for the first third turn into a soaring chorus. The actual music on this tune is relatively tame, but one of the things that makes their music so great is the ridiculously awesome technical prowess they'll flash on some of their songs.

Another song from that first album, that comes in first or second for me for favorite Nickel Creek song, is the Lighthouse's Tale.

Sad, but beautiful little ditty about a lighthouse watching his keeper kill himself for love.  

I won't say this album took the whole world by storm or anything, but it did get them a Grammy nomination for Best Bluegrass Album.  I think it is great from start to finish, with a couple great instrumental ho-downs and a few other great songs like When You Come Back Down, The Hand Song, and The Fox.

Their next album was called This Side, from 2002, and it was more of the same, but they move away some from the straight-forward classic bluegrass, with a more alternative, offbeat flavor on some songs like Spit on a Stranger.  My favorite song on this one is the title track.

They're not winning any points for super well-made music videos, but I just think this one just feels like a powerful declaration of bluegrass truth.  Or something.  I dig it.  They scored a Grammy for that disc.  The next album was called Why Should the Fire Die?, and it was also a damn fine disc. A little bit darker, and less bluegrass-y, while still keeping the same general style as their other music.  The hit from that one was When in Rome, but I like Somebody More Like You and Scotch & Chocolate better.

Sadly, in 2007, the band split.  We got to go see one of their final shows at Stubbs in Austin, which was an awesome show.  Loads of people there, high energy from the band, it was great.  Well, except for the fact that Amy was pregnant and Stubbs has no seats.  She spent at least half of the show sitting in a stairwell near the back of the venue.  

Coming out of the split band, Chris Thile formed a new, freaking amazing band called the Punch Brothers.  We got to see their ACL taping and while I couldn't play an instrument to save my life these days (well, maybe the recorder  HOT CROSS BUNZZZ!!!) I was blown away by all of the dudes in that group.  They were all amazing with their respective instruments.  Check this one out:

Their album Who's Feeling Young Now is money.  You should go check it out.  After a few years of doing their own thing (we also saw Sean Watkins play as part of Lyle Lovett's band at the Moody Theatre), they have reunited!  I won the lottery the other day by scoring tickets to the Austin City Limits taping for the reunited Nickel Creek and it was awesome.  Chris Thile is an amazing player and has a really top notch voice.  He can solidly hit notes through multiple registers, all while picking the living hell out of that mandolin.  No voice in this next video, but pretty dang cool.

I could link you to loads and loads of other videos of them playing live or in the studio, but I'd just advise you to get out and see them if they come to your town.  I found myself laughing out loud at Thile's dexterity with that tiny little thing.  And go listen to Nickel Creek while you wait for them to come to you on tour.