ACL Preview – Sara Watkins

For the next artist in our ACL Preview series, I have chosen a very lovely and talented musician that I have seen perform twice before.  Both times, she played more of a supporting role.  Once with her former band Nickel Creek (it’s kind of hard for anyone to be in the spotlight for long with Chris Thile sharing the stage with you.)  The second time was actually at ACL in 2oo6.  She joined Ray Lamontagne on stage for several songs during what turned out to be my favorite performances of the weekend.

The 27 year old singer-songwriter and fiddle player has just recently released her first solo album.  Although there isn’t hardly anything “solo” about this record.  This album was just as much, if not more of a collaborative effort than any of the albums she released with Nickel Creek. Produced by former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, this self-titled debut finds Sara surrounded by an array alt-country friends and stars such as Gilian Welch and David Rawlings, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers keyboardist Benmont Tench,  and Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas, as well as both of her Nickel Creek bandmates.

The album has a nice combination of original pieces along with several covers and traditional pieces.  I really love her rendition of the traditional hymn “Give Me Jesus.”  It has long been a favorite of mine, and I think her and Thile’s instrumentation definitely does the song justice.  But the standout track for me was the closing track “Where Will You Be,” an original by Watkins.   It is a very honest and lovely song that that asks a simple question that anyone can relate to. Overall the album is very enjoyable.

She is likely to find herself surrounded by a group of talented musicians this year at ACL.  I would definitely put her on my list of artists to see.  She has a lots of charisma and a great stage presence. She will put on a great bluegrass show that will be a grand ole time.

Sara Watkins – Long Hot Summer Days

Sara Watkins – Freidrick

Sara Watkins – Where Will You Be

3 Song Thursday: Anti-Valentines Songs

Well it’s time to combine my love of lists with my love of music, but that’s about all the loving you’re gonna squeeze out of me today.

Saturday is V-Day.

I’m going to be frank here, I don’t like the day. And if you feel like joining me, well here are some songs to help with the misery of things.

She Wants Revenge – I Don’t Want To Fall In Love

This song couldn’t be more clear with it’s message.I adore the way it says “better run cause…”, is there really any wiser advice for avoiding love?

Art Brut – People In Love

Spoken word euro-rockers Art Brut just start trashing people in love. The way they explain love, who would want to be in it?

Fiction Family – Please Don’t Call it Love

This song sounds like a case of “I thought maybe we were more than just friends” if I ever heard one. Classic overstepping of boundaries, and now the singer just doesn’t know how to classify things with this person, but he is adamant in that he does not want it to be called love. I love how the sound of Fiction Family is so far gone from both Switchfoot and Nickel Creek, as well as even the solo works of Jon Foreman.

When Saturday approaches and the clock won’t fly by, these songs should keep you occupied for a good, ten minutes. May I recommend burning old depressing pictures, and snapping old mix cd’s in half. If it doesn’t make the emotional pain go away, at least you have something physical to show for you frustrations.

But as for me, I’ll be enjoying Valentine’s Day with my girlfriend.

anyways…

I hope you ears don’t get their feelings hurt, and spend the rest of the valentines dance crying in a corner where nobody can see you, except for the 7th grade history teacher who awkwardly approaches you to calm you down and help, but instead calls attention to your sad pathetic self.

Oh wait, that only happens to me . Ω