The Watkins Family Hour

I cannot remember where I first heard Nickel Creek's debut record....but I remember that I felt like my life had changed.  I was absolutely blown away by their sound that married standard bluegrass techniques with a folky, hook-ey, addicting, almost pop-like sound that I couldn't get enough of.  I spent hours upon hours listening and transcribing (because I was too poor to buy the songbook) and practicing to try to sound like Sara Watkins. (I mean seriously, people....if ONLY......) Years later I would all but force my dear friend Adam to learn their tunes and "Cuckoo's Nest" even ended up on my record.

When the band announced their "Farewell (For Now)" tour in 2007....I bought tickets to see them at the Ryman Auditorium with lightning speed even though in those days it probably meant forfeiting meals for approximately a week.  I sat spell-bound through the entire show and when they broke out in a cover of Britney Spears' "Toxic" as an encore I'm pretty sure the folks next to me had to bust out the smelling salts to bring me back to life.
Keith and I got to see them again at the Ryman when they toured their "A Dotted Line" reunion album as well as seeing mandolinist Chris Thile play his Bach sonatas and partitas at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.  So when I found out that The Watkins Family Hour...the long time side project of brother/sister duo Sara and Sean Watkins was headed out on tour and Nashville-bound, Keith and I decided it was a not-to-be-missed event.  The show was beyond phenomenal musically and seeing Fiona Apple live was a bonus!

Living in Nashville and being in and around the music industry, I've had the opportunity to meet some fun folks from local acts all the way up to, well, there-was-that-one-time-I-was-in-a-music-video-with-Taylor-Swift.  And normally I don't get starstruck.  But for whatever reason, when I was suddenly face-to-face with Sara, my ability to create coherent sentences went out the window.  I mumbled something about how I'd liked her music since Nickel Creek and my darling husband had to step in and speak for me.  "She's a fiddle player" he helpfully explained.  "You've had a huge influence on her."   Sara, to her credit, acted as though painfully awkward violinists were a dime a dozen and graciously agreed to a photo while I inwardly kicked myself for being "that girl" while grinning casually for the camera.

Me w/ Sara Watkins. 8.2.15 Her butter-smooth notes & clever bowings have greatly inspired me.

I'll leave you with a few videos I took (pardon the not so awesome videography skills and the giant heads in the way) at the show for your viewing pleasure.  And if you ever have the opportunity to hear The Watkins Family Hour in person.....do it.  They are equally lovely on-stage and off.