MSM 90s: Creep, Carla Russell
9/20/26
By Monica Collier
Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s really tapped into all the feels of a decade that holds a lot of benchmark/milestone memories for me. For a whole bunch of us, we became parents in the 1990s. That means, a whole bunch of y'all became grandparents for the first time, too. Good times.
Listen, in every generation there is a chosen one. IYKYK, BTW. This fifth performance of the second set of the MSM 90s main show captured the "chosen one" zeitgeist in so many ways. Carla Russell is absolutely anointed, period. Chosen. Irrefutable. Radiohead's "Creep" also firmly resides in that "chosen one" category. This was a beautifully perfect/divine pairing, friends. Allison Mefford? Is this your handiwork? Thank you.
I'm just going to say it, if "Creep" doesn't destroy you, we can't be friends. If you can't sing all the words to "Creep," I think less of you. If "Creep" doesn't hit you in your soul of souls, we are not the same. Truth. Not up for discussion.
Here's another truth of life: No two ways about it, Carla was born chosen, y'all. Carla was born to sing "Creep" and we were all born to melt in her presence. Agreed?
Carla got me goosey with this one that day in rehearsal at the Nutthouse but boy oh boy, I thought I was gonna shiver right out of my skin that August night during the main Muscle Shoals Meets the 90s show. We all felt it, right?? Lord help me, I was savoring every single syllable Carla gave us from her soul. I swear, my heart and soul ached when Carla told me to run ...
I love how the Fiddleworms have added the Shoals Strings to these MSM concerts. Ahh, those fabulous Shoals Strings -- Carleigh Pickard, Cade Garcia, Christina Volz Stomachin, Kate Francis, Rachel Gregory, and Kate Tayler, who wrote of the arrangements. The Shoals Strings lift these songs and give them warmth, drama, and depth. Good stuff, y'all.
How cool is it experiencing live music together, friends? How cool has it been growing up and growing old(er) together, friends?
Thank you, Lord, for our precious hometown, our world-famous Fiddleworms, and all the talented musicians willing to share their gifts with us for the greater good.
Amen.
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
Photo by Devona Hawkins
