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Ron (Al) Oikari and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas performed musically in the area over the last couple of weeks. While most people know Al because he grew up here and then played with the Big Wuu in the Twin Cities, many wanted to know who Caitlin was, so we decided to find out. Staff photo Brian Larsen
Caitlin Nicol-Thomas and Ron (Al) Oikari have been playing music in Cook County for the last couple of weeks. Al said they try to match their schedules so they can play a few gigs while Caitlin is in the county. This is something they have done for the last six, seven years.
Recently they played at WTIP Radio Waves, the Gunflint Tavern and two gigs at Birch Terrace.
Each year Caitlin comes to Cook County from Nashville to vacation with her parents. Normally they canoe and camp in the BWCAW or off the Gunflint Trail, but because of recent fires they stayed in Grand Marais this year. That afforded her more time to get together and play music with Oikari, a (mostly) local musician who graduated from CCHS in 1974. Occasionally the two have other artists join them on stage.
Who is Caitlin Nicol-Thomas?
Caitlin was born in Indianola, Iowa. She is married to Travis A. Jones and the couple live in Nashville. Travis is an art, film, TV, and video director. The couple have two miniature Australian Shepard’s, Angus and Angela.
Music was an early passion. “I taught myself piano at age seven,” Caitlin said. “At ten I was playing violin. I graduated high school early and moved to LA for acting and modeling and I sang in the Los Angeles Youth Philharmonic Orchestra.”
Catlin was in LA for almost three years before moving to Chicago. It was there that she discovered jazz and blues, “and it changed my life,” she said. “I would go to Blues clubs and learn from these musicians who were always willing to share what they knew with me. It was a great learning experience.”
Following three years in the Windy City she enrolled and was accepted at the Berklee School of Music in Boston. She majored in violin performance and song writing, graduating with a four-year degree in two- and one-half years. Then it was off to Nashville, where she has lived the last 14 years. “Nashville wasn’t on my radar originally, but it was the place I needed to be.”
In May of 2007 she began playing music in Honkey Tonks in downtown Nashville. “Sometimes I would play three times a day in three different clubs. I would play for tips and pay, although the pay wasn’t very much. It was grueling but I think I can say that I earned a PhD in Honky Tonk music,” she laughed. Additionally, she has toured the world and opened for country music stars Miranda Lambert, Don Williams, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton, and recently she performed in Dolly Parton’s latest musical. When asked about Dolly Parton, Caitlin’s response was quick and effusive. “She’s nicer than she appears to be on TV or on stage. She’s humble and kind and sweet. She’s an international star but she has no ego. None. I hope to model myself after her.”
Caitlin’s band, The Thread, released their debut album, House on Fire in 2020 and Caitlin will release a solo album called Derecho at the end of 2021. “Derecho is a strong wind that knocks you over. We had one come through Iowa a year ago that caused a lot of damage. This album’s theme is based around that storm.”
As an actress Caitlin has appeared in the TV series Nashville where she portrayed the role of Jessie in 2012. Since then, she was in three TV episodes, four feature films, three TV series, and a short film. Her feature films include The Song in 2014; in 2015 Rose from the Dead; in 2016 Crazy All These Years and in 2018 Beautifully Broken.
Meanwhile Caitlin has just signed with a new acting agent in New York and will pursue more jobs on the big and little screen. “Some people have told me I can’t be successful in both singing and acting, that I need to pick one, but I have elected to pursue a life of art and creativity,” she said with a soft smile and shrug of her shoulders.
Caitlin has one sister who is back in Iowa who is a fitness instructor. She is not musical. “We’re complete opposites,” Catlin said with a laugh, adding, “But we’re best friends.”
Currently Caitlin and her dad are both learning bass guitar. Dad said he is a little further along on the instrument than his daughter, but he said that with a chuckle and a gleam in his eye as Caitlin broadly grinned at his reply.
Going forward Caitlin said she is revamping some of her goals after coming off a long period interrupted by COVID-19. Someday she said she may go into musical therapy to help others, but for now she is busy making music, even playing in places like Grand Marais for fun.
As for playing with Al Oikari, Caitlin’s response was immediate and her eyes shown bright, “He’s one of the best musicians I have ever played with. We are kindred spirits musically. I love playing music with Al.”
When Caitlin was very young, she has memories of her mother playing music and singing. “I used to love hearing my mother sing,” she said with a faraway look in er eyes. If all goes well, we will all be hearing more from Caitlin, both on the radio and on the big and little screen.
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