Original image by There Stands the Glass.
Nickel Creek didn’t make much of an impression when I heard the progressive bluegrass band perform in 2001. Twenty-two years later, I witnessed Nickel Creek for just the second time at Muriel Kauffman Theatre on June 13. I was astounded.
While I’d taken in individual appearances by Chris Thile, Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins in various configurations during the intervening years, discovering the band had matured into a live powerhouse was a wonderful surprise.
Following Gaby Moreno’s engaging solo set, Nickel Creek offered a thorough career survey. Supplemented by bassist Jeff Picker, Thile and the Watkins siblings showcased their innovations.
The technical mastery of the quartet was underscored by the best sound field I’ve encountered in the occasionally tinny opera hall. More significantly, the skepticism I had for Nickel Creek’s increasingly knotty songcraft evaporated.
Seated amid a cluster of superfans in a comped seat amid the capacity audience of 1,800 prior to the show, I tried not to roll my eyes at the anticipatory euphoria. It turns out the devotion was deserved. I’m looking forward to my third Nickel Creek concert in 2045.