Folk and Bluegrass music has the ability of conveying a message in simplistic terms. While todays music requires synthesizers, complex layering, and intense studio work, folk music only requires a voice and a guitar. It was this simplicity that made last night one of my favorites of the summer. Josh Ritter is a folk singer who got his start in the late 90's with the release of his first album. After its release, he moved to Ireland and began building a steady following in that country that eventually translated to success in America. While his records of late are a little more layered than traditional folk and have some electric guitar and drums, his performance last night was as simple as can be. Backed with his acoustic guitar and a an occasional soft electric guitar accompaniment, Josh gave a fantastic performances that highlights his strong songwriting. His voice is very unique and he seemed very comfortable on the stage, singing both old and new songs. Nickel Creek also relied on a straightforward stage presence but were still over to command an audience of over 6000. The trio of siblings Sarah and Sean Watkins and mandolinist Chris Thile are all expert musicians and singers and their blend of traditional bluegrass with more contemporary country and pop sounded refreshing. Since releasing their first record in 1999, they have become one of the most popular bluegrass groups and have successfully crossed over into a more mainstream audience. While I've always been a fan of the more upbeat bluegrass, their slow songs sounded just as good because it allowed them to solo on top each other. Chris Thile especially is incredibly talented and has released quite a few solo albums of his own. Overall, both artists sounded great and were truly unique among the acts we've had for their simplicity and direct approach to performing.
This show was busy and the lawn was almost sold out. In the end, over 1300 people walked on to the show due to the terrific weather and most of these people went to the lawn. Even then, the audience wasn't troublesome at all. While there was a security breach during the performance, it was dealt with and the rest of the show was uneventful. I honest can't believe that this is my second to last show but I'm glad it was one of the all season and I'll definitely include it in my final top 10 of the year. As always, looking forward to ONE MORE SHOW in the future!
My favorite part of the night was the songs performed by Nickel Creek during their encore. They all blended perfectly and featured everything that makes them such a unique group. I was having a great time and was reminded the variability of bluegrass as a genre. Great night!
DC
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| Josh Ritter |
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| Nickel Creek |
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