Went to see both the Thorns and Nickel Creek last Friday- Outdoor concert, the sound was a bit challenging but both put on a good show.
The trio of the Thorns (Sweet, Mullins and Droge) must have brought 67+ guitars and various other stringed things, and all changed instruments after each tune. The harmonies were great to hear, see who's singing where. Shawn Mullins is the anchor voice. Matthew Sweet had a serious early Peter Fonda look going. All tunes and firmly stuck in my head. As they were closing their set, they heaped lots of praise on the upcoming Nickel Creek.
Nickel Creek was the headliner, (The night was beautiful and clear) and they seemed to be having a blast. There was a core of followers, but most there, like me, had never really heard them. They tore it up. They are all major scary players that can really sing. And the tunes were wonderfully all over the map, bluegrass, celtic, jazz, folk, rock. Sarah the fiddle player really reminded me of Rickie Lee Jones when she sang. And Chris on mandolin was explosive- (had his own screaming teen girl section of the crowd) They did originals, instrumentals, and some souped up covers that drew the skeptics in- Beatles, Dylan, Cold Play, Mozart.
Very very fun. Thanks for the tip Griff!
