I saw a pigeon go in that hole

[Rob]

One thing that absolutely leaps out of Nickel Creek's interviews is that they -- more than most bands, I think -- thrive on the freedom to experiment with sound and to take their music where they want it to go, even when it goes there accidentally. [See, e.g., my earlier post on why I'm glad Chris cast _Sweet Afton_ in E major, instead of D minor like he might have on second thought.] So much of what makes their music great to me is the fact, obvious in their sound, that they still enjoy doing this.

It's hardly a surprising proposition that bands fear pigeon-holing of their creativity. In NC's case, I'm glad that -- after being together this long -- starting young has worked out to their (our?!) advantage: unlike bands that started later, they're still just kids and full of everything good about youth, while also all seasoned and confident, but not jaded, professionals.

What can we as fans do to make sure they can stay that way as long as they want? How much feedback is too much? Have you ever thought (or said) that NC doesn't do enough bluegrass? Too much bluegrass? Not enough gospel? Too much gospel? (And how many of you lady Chris fans secretly sighed when you found out about HER a coupla weeks ago? ;^) I'm not sure direct pressure from fans, so much as record labels, has been what has stagnated other bands or pushed them in directions they didn't want to go. But I for one will mourn the day that Chris, Sean, and Sara stop enjoying this. It will be a rose crushed too soon.

[jaceyhomen]

Rob I don't know how much pressure from fans influences any band to go in any direction. Fans show their support or lack of it by buying or not buying cds, attending or not attending concerts. It's a marketplace.

The label has a very big influence, however. Like....NC is under contract. I've seen some very interesting interviews with Big Stars in the country music field who have said they left a label because they were being forced to change their music. And others who regretted not doing so earlier, who felt truly pigeon-holed, their careers stalled, their talents frustrated.

Labels really don't give a you know what for the artists. They are business people and what sells is what counts. They have stock holders and employees. Sometimes they make good decisions for their artists, but often they don't.

I feel confident, saying all of that, that NC is smart enough and mature enough and certainly confident enough in their own tremendous abilities to resist being pressured into trying to be something they're not. If their music travels down different roads it's because they want it to...because that's simply where their talent is leading them.

When you're as good as they are, you can afford to change labels and listen, not to fans, but to your heart. Your collecive three hearts...

Jacey

[Rob]

I hope you're right. Much of what I've read over the years (about other bands) focuses on the strife between bands and labels, like the Floyd being pushed into releasing Not Now John, which the band really hated, just because the label thought it would satisfy some commercial goals (like getting radio play in America!).

What worries me is that something is driving that kind of decisions. Hopefully it's just misperception, but in at least some of the cases, the label correctly perceived a market demand, and blaming the label entirely just for divining what the fans were screaming for might not be entirely helpful.

The fact that the band seems to feel so strongly about it now should have a protective force: Not only can we feel safe that they are aware of the value of creative freedom and will fight for it, having spoken about it so much should have also put Sugar Hill on notice that NC likes to roam where they want to!

Don't worry, kids: we'll follow you.

...R

[jaceyhomen]

Rob What drives decisions made by labels is money. What drives artists is sometimes money and success, sometimes artistic fulfillment, often a combination.

I have complete faith in NC! And you're right, we'll follow them anywhere they want to go. Our family looks forward with great anticipaton to changes we'll see in their music over the years. And the changes will be NC's, not a label's. We don't think they'll let a label stunt their growth or detour their talents down a wrong path.

Off-topic....I just bought a two disk best of Floyd cd and am wearing it to a nub. My daughter wonders how I can be so fanatic about NC's music and Floyd's. Because they're all geniuses!

Jacey

[Chip]

NC is lucky enough to have complete artistic freedom as part of their agreement with the label, ... so I don't think we'll need to worry about pressure from the label changing their sound. For that matter, I really wouldn't worry about much of anything putting pressure on them with regard to their music :)

[arob71]

NC is very lucky to be on Sugar Hill. There is a BIG difference between independent and major labels. The majors are so money hungry because they sink literally millions of dollars into marketing and promotion, so to get that money back, they want a very commercially appealing product. They want to appeal to as many people as possible, and that's when you get all the clones and all the terribly unoriginal and uninteresting music. You could play me 50 songs from 50 different popular modern rock bands (like Default, Nickelback, etc.) and they would all sound like the same band (Same with all the J. Lo's, Anastacia's, etc.) Majors are afraid to take chances because they're afraid they'll lose millions of dollars, whereas independent labels like Sugar Hill, Rounder, etc., thrive on originality. They make great music for very little money and don't have to sell 5,000,000 copies of an album to break even. Nickel Creek selling 500,000 copies of an album would be grounds for dismissal at a major label, but for Sugar Hill, it surpassed their wildest dreams, I'm sure. You will see (and hear) Sugar Hill's appreciation and support by letting NC push the boundaries even farther on the new CD. I actually saw the word psychedelic used in a review of This Side. A major label would want them to repeat the same formula that made their debut such a success (If it ain't broke, don't fix it), whereas Sugar Hill, from what I read, has done pretty much the opposite. That's what keeps music vibrant and alive. NC, I believe, is in very good hands.

Aaron


By the way, Hollywood works the same way. That's why so many of the big budget, big name movies are crap, and many small, independent films are wildly original and enjoyable. OK, I'm through with my rant.

[southernyankee]

I don't think we have to worry about NC. If someone stopped listening to them because Chris is engaged, they have problems anyway. NC is not a boyband-they actually have talent and that sells them enough-they don't need to keep their love life a secret or have 50 billion 12 year olds stalking them.

The best bands are those that don't sell the 5,000,000.

April

[mandoBob]

ok enough with the gross generalizations already.
for example, U2 is an amazing band according to many different ways to measure greatness, and they've outsold nearly everyone out there. and I think that's awesome.
not that I disagree with the feeling that the big money making commericalized bands usually arent so great, but come on people...everything in moderation. including moderation.

[southernyankee]

You're right, madobob, I didn't even think about groups like U2-I was only thinking of such artists as Britney Spears, J-Lo, Nsync-because I was thinking along the lines of selling image.

April