NICKEL CREEK
AS LONG AS THE GRASS IS BLUE
Distinguished by their youth and eclectic taste, Nickel Creek became a word-of-mouth sensation on the progressive bluegrass scene and soon found their appeal spreading beyond the genre's core audience. Guitarist Sean Watkins, fiddler Sara Watkins (his younger sister), and mandolin/banjo/bouzouki player Chris Thile first started performing together in 1989, when all three were preteens and taking music lessons in their native San Diego. They met while watching the local band Bluegrass Etc., which put on weekly performances in a pizza parlor. A bluegrass promoter liked the idea of such a young band, and thus Nickel Creek was formed, with Thile's father Scott joining them on bass.
In 1998, with help from Alison Krauss, Nickel Creek landed a record deal with the roots music label Sugar Hill. Krauss produced their self-titled debut album, which was released in 2000; with the kids apparently all right, Scott subsequently retired from the band.
In 2002, the band released This Side. The album was a major transition from their previous release. Although the core influence of bluegrass remained throughout the album, many other genres were present, such as indie rock and folk rock (the band covered Spit on a Stranger by Pavement, and Should've Known Better by Carrie Newcomer).
Three years after the release of This Side, Nickel Creek released their fifth album Why Should the Fire Die?. The album brought even more rock and pop influences to Nickel Creek, than This Side did.
In mid-2006, Nickel Creek announced it would be taking an indefinite hiatus following a scheduled tour the next year, so its members could concentrate on solo work.
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