Ok. Forget the overly poetic descriptions that I usually offer after seeing most live performances. The fact that I am not offering one today on Nickel Creek does not in any way, shape, or form relate to the quality of their performance on Saturday night. I simply do not feel like writing in that way today. On to Nickel Creek.
We drove a little under 1200 miles in 48 hours. Of course, this is an uncommonly common thing for me in the last 6 months. However, I don't believe it that common for some of those along for the ride. Their gusto was admirable, as was their enthusiasm and appreciation of the merriment that is, Nickel Creek.
The show was in Tulsa. A place I had never been. A friend of mine from high school lives their currently and helped us out in the ticket dept. and with getting to the actual show. He didn't go with us. His loss. Cain's Ballroom is "The Home of Bob Wills." Check out Bob for more information on him and the venue. In my humble opinion, Cain's Ballroom was a near perfect setting for a band the likes of Nickel Creek. Immediately in front of the stage is a large wood dance floor big enough for...oh...I would say 70 dancers or so, maybe more. Depends on the type of dance really. We ended up about 5 feet from the front of the stage. Most of the group at center stage. Matt and myself stage left in front of Sean Watkins and his guitar. By the by, Sean seems to me to be a bit on the darker side of personality lighting if you catch my drift. It was very curious to watch him play. He only smirked to the crowd about 4 times total in the 2 hours that Nickel Creek played.
Yes, you read that right. The Creek played for 2 hours non-stop. Ok, they stopped in between songs to swap out instruments, tune up, and take a swig of water every now and again. They blistered through the fast songs and wallowed up and around during the slow ones. It was great. Every second of it was stupendous. Chris naturally draws alot of your attention because his fingers never slow down. The man is the energizer bunny. It's almost like he has electricity in his blood. The way his hands fly around the fret board at every opportunity. Sara wasn't afraid to get after it on the fiddle either. You could tell she was hard at it when her head started whipping back and forth to the same rhythmn of her bow. The sullen character of Sean Watkins made his presence felt as well. Stepping forward at times to rip off his own amazing fretboard work. One of my favorite moments in the show had Chris centerstage crooning in low blue lights while Sean squatted down stage left with his guitar resting on his right thigh and his chin resting squarely on the upper bend of his guitar where the neck meets the body. It looked and felt right with the song. And it was great!!
To tell of all the greatness that was this show would take more time than I have so I will speak on one more wonderful thing. Encore. The four of them (Chris, Sara, Sean, & the bass player) ran back out on stage when the crowd would not stop clapping, pounding the stage, and stamping their feet. They walk out in front of the microphones, unplug their instruments and tell every one to squish up close as they can. They are going to do a couple more unplugged, old-school style. Amazing. Quite possibly, the coolest thing I have seen. They took their turns soloing and singing, involving the crowd with one old song about Tulsa. To end the evening, Miss Watkins somberly sang "Be Thou My Vision." With the accompaniment of the 200 or so jammed up as close as they could get.
I don't know if it was the best live performance I have witnessed in my short life or not. I don't care. It was amazing and worth the lack of sleep and tired mind that I have experienced all day. I would do it again tomorrow if I could.
And there you have it.
We drove a little under 1200 miles in 48 hours. Of course, this is an uncommonly common thing for me in the last 6 months. However, I don't believe it that common for some of those along for the ride. Their gusto was admirable, as was their enthusiasm and appreciation of the merriment that is, Nickel Creek.
The show was in Tulsa. A place I had never been. A friend of mine from high school lives their currently and helped us out in the ticket dept. and with getting to the actual show. He didn't go with us. His loss. Cain's Ballroom is "The Home of Bob Wills." Check out Bob for more information on him and the venue. In my humble opinion, Cain's Ballroom was a near perfect setting for a band the likes of Nickel Creek. Immediately in front of the stage is a large wood dance floor big enough for...oh...I would say 70 dancers or so, maybe more. Depends on the type of dance really. We ended up about 5 feet from the front of the stage. Most of the group at center stage. Matt and myself stage left in front of Sean Watkins and his guitar. By the by, Sean seems to me to be a bit on the darker side of personality lighting if you catch my drift. It was very curious to watch him play. He only smirked to the crowd about 4 times total in the 2 hours that Nickel Creek played.
Yes, you read that right. The Creek played for 2 hours non-stop. Ok, they stopped in between songs to swap out instruments, tune up, and take a swig of water every now and again. They blistered through the fast songs and wallowed up and around during the slow ones. It was great. Every second of it was stupendous. Chris naturally draws alot of your attention because his fingers never slow down. The man is the energizer bunny. It's almost like he has electricity in his blood. The way his hands fly around the fret board at every opportunity. Sara wasn't afraid to get after it on the fiddle either. You could tell she was hard at it when her head started whipping back and forth to the same rhythmn of her bow. The sullen character of Sean Watkins made his presence felt as well. Stepping forward at times to rip off his own amazing fretboard work. One of my favorite moments in the show had Chris centerstage crooning in low blue lights while Sean squatted down stage left with his guitar resting on his right thigh and his chin resting squarely on the upper bend of his guitar where the neck meets the body. It looked and felt right with the song. And it was great!!
To tell of all the greatness that was this show would take more time than I have so I will speak on one more wonderful thing. Encore. The four of them (Chris, Sara, Sean, & the bass player) ran back out on stage when the crowd would not stop clapping, pounding the stage, and stamping their feet. They walk out in front of the microphones, unplug their instruments and tell every one to squish up close as they can. They are going to do a couple more unplugged, old-school style. Amazing. Quite possibly, the coolest thing I have seen. They took their turns soloing and singing, involving the crowd with one old song about Tulsa. To end the evening, Miss Watkins somberly sang "Be Thou My Vision." With the accompaniment of the 200 or so jammed up as close as they could get.
I don't know if it was the best live performance I have witnessed in my short life or not. I don't care. It was amazing and worth the lack of sleep and tired mind that I have experienced all day. I would do it again tomorrow if I could.
And there you have it.
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