CMT Blog: Archive

I could feel the excitement in the air as I walked toward the Ryman for the last show of Nickel Creek’s Farewell (For Now) Tour. As the lights faded, the crowd erupted with an eager anticipation that announced this was going to be a very special evening.

I’ve seen this band play before many times, but this was without a doubt, the most relaxed and self-assured I have ever seen them. They began with their trademark instrumental, “Ode to a Butterfly,” and seamlessly moved to the awesome single, “When in Rome.” The set list wasn’t chosen in order to promote one particular record, but instead seemed to provide an all-around view of the band’s history and the music they have recorded beginning with their 2000 self-titled debut (produced by Alison Krauss). Sean Watkins has commented that this leads to “no expectations” – and there certainly seemed to be a wonderful freedom in the way the band performed. They soon launched into a fantastic version of “House Carpenter” that gave Chris Thile his first real attempt to redefine mandolin playing – and he did so with a cracking solo that led the whole audience to react.

The performances in general were excellent and Chris, Sean and Sara have come an awful long way since the early days of traditional bluegrass. Nowadays, the band prefers to be known as “progressive acoustic,” and most of the set fell into that category. They brought up Benmont Tench, Fleck, Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings, who all visibly loved the experience. It was more than poetic that they finished their second encore with “I’ll Fly Away,” after all their statements on being progressive. The band plus special guests Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Fleck and Tim O’Brien ended the final show of Nickel Creek (for now…) with a mass chorus coming from the audience.

As they took their final bow after their third encore, it was touching to see Chris, Sean and Sara simply looking around the theatre and take it all in. This band changed the face of acoustic music and set new levels for the rest of us to aspire to. Congratulations are in order for everyone involved in this outfit, and let us all tip our hat as Chris strikes up the opening chords for “The Fox”! As one door closes, so others will open. Here’s to the past, and here’s to the future.