Nickel Creek has the critical acclaim, the looks and a mentor that practically guarantees the group success. Wednesday night at Red Butte Garden, the band will prove whether it has the chops to ensure lasting success in a burgeoning bluegrass scene.
With its sophomore album, "This Side," barely a week old, the trio has yet to find out whether it will continue to rise as the next generation of the bluegrass scene.
Strangely enough, the band's late summer tour moves it from bar stages to larger music halls just as Chris Thile (mandolin, lead vocals) and Sara Watkins (fiddle, lead vocals) have both become old enough to patronize the bars they play. The band is rounded out by the "elderly" Sean Watkins (guitar, lead vocals), Sara's 25-year-old brother.
Despite critical and commercial success, Nickel Creek has not yet won over more traditional bluegrass fans, who see too many cute faces and no banjo player. In many ways, however, that lack of initial acceptance is similar to the initial complaints about producer/friend/mentor Alison Krauss, as well as newgrass players like Sam Bush.
Nickel Creek's Salt Lake stop has the band attempting to fill the role of headliner in front of the notoriously picky Red Butte audience. If it can repeat a recent Zephyr Club performance (where Nickel Creek opened for former Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips), this show could be one of the summer highlights and a regrettable miss for those who doubt the band.
The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are still available through all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 325-SEAT.
E-MAIL: jloftin@desnews.com