The first time that I clearly remember seeing & hearing the band Nickel Creek was in August 1997 at the Four Corners Folk Festival in Pagosa Springs, CO. That was a great event, for many reasons. I was living in Boulder, CO at the time, working at a technology company where I met 4 guys who also loved bluegrass music; they would become great lifelong friends. We started a band together called No Handle. (The handle of my cardboard guitar case had broken off, so I carried it around under my arm, like an oversized football.) The five of us loaded up in Thom A's big rig and drove down from Boulder to Pagosa Springs for the Labor Day weekend. It was a small festival with onsite camping, and a great lineup of acts including Tim O'Brien, Peter Rowan and Tony Furtado! Mighty fine!
Anyway, there was a fair amount of buzz at the festival regarding Nickel Creek because they were these 3 young kids playing like veteran bluegrass musicians. Everyone was talking about this mandolin prodigy named Chris Thile, and he certainly lived up to the hype. However, many of us were smitten by the fiddle player. She would have been only 16 at the time. I clearly remember thinking, and commenting to my buddies, "I'll be glad when she gets older, so I won't have to feel as guilty about thinking she's so hot!" Now, I don't want to incriminate my pals, but I'm pretty sure they all agreed with me on this point.
The band developed and gained notoriety and popularity over the years. (I'm talking about Nickel Creek, of course. The No Handle band had some great times, but faded into oblivion back in the 90's.) Sara Watkins also developed beyond just her great fiddling, becoming one of the best singers around as well. In April 2009, I saw an ad on Facebook for a solo album from Sara. I bought it immediately. I've probably listened to it eighty or a hundred times. (This is not unusual or obsessive behavior for me. I've listened to plenty of Hot Rize and Tim O'Brien and Tony Rice albums that much, or more. But I would only give it that much play if it were good. And it is very good.)
I live in Charleston, SC now and play in a band called River Boy. Like most bluegrass musicians, I need a day job if I am to put food on the table. I have a very good day job. I sell software to nonprofits all over the U.S. The software helps them track information on supporters, build websites, do their accounting, etc. It's good stuff. And the job allows me to travel around a bit, meeting all kinds of great people. This week, I flew out to Los Angeles to meet with a couple of clients. At the close of my Wednesday afternoon meeting, my client suggested that I have dinner in Culver City at one of the many nice restaurants in/around Washington & Culver Blvd. So I did. And after dinner, my colleague (David) and I stopped off at Starbucks. We sat down for just a couple of minutes. And in walks Sara Watkins.
I'm not easily star-struck, but if I see an artist that I really like, I am prone to walk up and introduce myself. I mainly want to let them know how much I appreciate what they do, and how they've enriched my life. I did so on this occasion. I've seen Sara's pictures and seen her on stage many times, but this was definitely the closest of encounters. I confess, I was giddy.
She is no longer 16. She is hot. (I'm just saying.) I summonsed my buddy David to come over and take my picture with this girl. He did a good job, don't you think?
We chatted for about 80 seconds. I suppose I stumbled all over myself about having seen her perform here & there. She was on her way to perform for a play at a theater next door, so off she went. That 80 seconds has had me on cloud 9 ever since.
Now, for those of you thinking, "settle down Beavis, you're married, and she is too." I know, I know. But even my wife understands this thing. When I left Starbucks, I called Debra (my wife) and told her with great excitement that I'd just met Sara Watkins and got a picture of us together, and that we kissed. I was just kidding about the kiss, but Debra's response was perfect. She said "Seriously?" Her tone said "Seriously? I'm bummed, as your wife, that you've kissed another woman, but I understand. For goodness sakes, we're talking about Sara Watkins!"
Well, I guess this is the end of today's rambling. Truthfully, my thoughts of Sara are pure, in honor of her husband and my wife. She's even prettier and sweeter up close than from afar. And she's such a talented musician. Go buy her CD. And go see her play.
