Announced today, Nickel Creek is putting out a new album and going on tour. They went on hiatus a little over 6 years ago. There's a new track on their website, and they will be announcing more details (release date, more tour dates) in the next few days. I'm very excited.
This is a band I had always hoped Gary would mention, but I guess he's not really familiar with them. Sara and Sean Watkins from the group have a good connection with LA comedy, doing a monthly show where PFTompkins takes part, and they do his shows as well.
The other member of the band is the quite prolific Chris Thile. He's in his mid-30s and one of the best mandolin players in the world. He leads an amazing quintet called Punch Brothers, does duet albums with other musicians on a pretty regular basis, released a solo album of Bach pieces on the mandolin, and now returning to Nickel Creek. He's one of my favorite songwriters/musician ever, so I can't help but praise him profusely.
I guess I'll put in another new album. Coming out in late March is a posthumous Johnny Cash album called Out Among the Stars that comes from some lost 1980s sessions. Definitely looking forward to that.
