Sara Watkins

Some Wednesdays ago down at Cafe 9 Thomas, Julie and I sat drinking Pabst and waiting. We came to see Sara Watkins. And she didn't disappoint. She is shorter than I would have guessed.

She struggled in the front door carrying boxes of discs, shirts and other mechanizable items. If I had recognized her, I would have jumped up, offered to help, and otherwise smoozed. Just another reason to always jump up I suppose.

The opening act was fine. The two guys played well though they played with little originality. Their jokes were terrible. Thankfully they didn't play too long.

Sara's size may be diminutive but her stage presence is not. She sings with such life. When her songs turn sad you can feel, see and hear the heartbreak. when the songs are boisterous and glad the joy can't be missed. Her Body follows her voice all the way though even to her stomping boots.

At the center is her voice, clear and beautiful and free: at a moment sweet and plaintive another bright and dancing and yet again soulful and illusive. Her brother accompanied on the guitar while another two men played bass and drums.

Driving back from Mary's wedding a few weeks ago I caught Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion. I actually caught it about 5 or 6 times over the 14 hour trip. I kept listening for it because I heard a most hauntingly beautiful song and I wanted to find out who the artist was. When I finally heard her name I repeated "sara watkins, sara watkins, sara watkins" a few thousand times in the car so as not to forget. I also repeated the name of her song "cross over."

The next day I looked her up. I found her website, listened to some songs, and looked at her schedule. She was coming to New Haven! I bought a ticket. Sadly I could not find her song "Cross Over." Apparently it was new, too new to be on her only album.

As the evening at Cafe 9 wore on She announced that this would be her last song. I hadn't heard my favorite yet! So I yelled out "Cross Over." She heard me but replied saying she couldn't play it now, though it was a good request. I shrugged my shoulders at Thomas and Julie.

Of course they came back out for a few more songs -after much clapping and cheering- and she started with my request. She said it was a good request as she had only played the song four times. She asked me where I heard it. I felt so in the know.

After the show the crowd thinned and I was able to speak with Sara and her brother Sean. They are wonderful people. We talked about music, violin, Suzuki book 4 (we agreed that book really sucked) and life on the road. I bought her LP and she signed it for me "thanks for the request."