Two-part Tuesday Wrap-Up

Part One: Tumble Bugs

Gracie and a dozen other 3- to 5-year-olds performed their tumbling exercises in 100-degree heat yesterday at the Ross County Fair. Of course, she was wonderful (the best there, if you ask me). Here are some pics of the cutie's first public performance.



Part Two: Nickel Creek and Fiona Apple

So, most of you know that Nick and I went to see Fiona Apple in concert last night. We were intrigued as to how the show would be set up, because it was billed as, "Nickel Creek with Fiona Apple." We assumed she was opening for them, although we didn't agree with the order of things.

Our expectations of the show were very wrong. I had read previously that Fiona would be singing with the "newgrass" band, but we were in for a surprise. ALL of Fiona's songs were sung with Nickel Creek performing the instrumentals and providing back-up vocals. And Nick and I both agree that we would have preferred to see more of Fiona. Fiona with a piano and no Nickel Creek, preferably. But Fiona had no piano last night. She didn't really perform many songs. We heard "Extraordinary Machine," "Paper Bag," "Limp," and a few others, but the only song off of the first album was a bluegrass rendition of "Criminal." Not my cup of tea.

The concert was very heavy with the Nickel Creek. I definitely enjoyed seeing who our good friend Tim calls the world's best mandolin player. Man, that boy could jam. And the girl on the fiddle was amazing, as well.

But, Fiona was beautiful.

All in all, it was more than worth the trip to Columbus. We had a very pleasant drive up, even though we took the car with no air conditioning. We slept like babies last night after suffering through the heat wave.

Next on our concert list...Arcade Fire!