Sara Watkins Has Way More Than A Nickel's Worth Of Musical Virtues

[Refugee 7]

Patience is a virtue.

I once politely shared this sentiment with a very fetching young woman who was directly in front of me in line at a North Park bank. Although no one was ahead of her, she seemed intent on setting a new world's record for nonstop, hyperactive fidgeting. Upon hearing my words of wisdom, she turned around, gave me an exceptionally lewd look, and said: “I don't have many virtues.”

This woman was certifiably not Sara Watkins, who seems to exemplify patience and an array of other virtues. Best known for her tenure in the now sadly dormant Nickel Creek, the North County-based Watkins is a gifted violinist and singer whose songwriting skills appear ready to blossom.

At 26, she is also the only former member of Nickel Creek who has yet to make a solo album (ex-NC mandolinist-songer Chris Thile has done five, while Sean Watkins, Sara's guitar-playing older brother, has three to his credit). Happily, this summer should see the release of Sara Watkins' long-overdue solo debut, which means that – just maybe – she might preview a song or two from it when she performs tomorrow night as the opening act for Tift Merritt at Anthology in Little Italy.

“It's great,” said Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' keyboardist Benmont Tench of Sara Watkins' album. He should know, since he's featured on it and has often performed with Sean and Sara at Largo in Los Angeles as part of the Watkins Family Hour, an all-star band that also features pedal-steel wiz Greg Leisz and violinist Gabe Witcher.

A consistently inspired performer, Watkins very rarely appears to have even a hint of an off-night. She has held her own as a session musician on albums by artists as varied as Richard Thompson, Mandy Moore, Switchfoot, Ray LaMontagne, Jonny Lang, The Chieftains, Béla Fleck, Hank Williams Jr. and, um, “American Idol” star Randy Jackson.

Her solo album is being produced by Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, who toured a few years back as part of a short-lived group that also included all three Nickel Creek members and Toad the Wet Sprockets' Glen Phillips. So, if expectations are sky-high for Watkins' first album, well, why wouldn't they be?

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20080417-9999-1w17varga.html

[agirl 0]

Thanks, Ref. I'm looking forward to buying it.

[Echosoftom 3]

I'm looking forward to hearing this cd. Sara Watkins is an amazing vocalist and perfomer. I don't think I've EVER heard such a beautiful voice.

[HeartbreakerFan 27]

Sara is working with a lot of talent--Benmont and John Paul Jones. I also look forward to hearing this album.

[Echosoftom 3]

It just dawned on me that John Paul Jones produced "The Road Home" by Heart. One of my all time favorite albums EVER. If he's doing anything for Sara Watkins cd like he did for The Wilson Sisters, we're really in for a treat.