Yonder Mountain String Band has always played music by its own set of rules. Bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences that the band cites, Yonder has pioneered a sound of their own. With their traditional lineup of instruments, the band may look like a traditional bluegrass band at first glance but they’ve created their own music that transcends any genre. Dave Johnston points out “What could be more pure than making your own music.” Yonder’s sound cannot be classified purely as “bluegrass” or “string music” but rather it’s an original sound created from “looking at music from [their] own experiences and doing the best job possible.” The band continues to play by their own rules on their new record The Show.
The Colorado-based foursome has crisscrossed the country over the past eleven years playing such varied settings as festivals, rock clubs, Red Rocks Amphitheater in the band’s home state, and recently the Democratic National Convention in Denver at Mile High Stadium opening for Barack Obama. Their loyal fanbase has been built from this diverse setting of music venues as fans latched on to their genre-defying original sound.
In between tours the band spent time this last year working on its fifth studio album. Set for a September 1 release on the band’s own label, The Show is the second album with rock producer Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliott Smith, Foo Fighters). While some might scratch their heads as to why a string band would want a rock producer, this decision was a natural choice for the band. “We don’t have a lot of nostalgia for the past,” says banjo player Dave Johnston. “You shouldn’t try to recreate the 1940s. I like to think of us as informed by the past and all the great performers before us. But we also want to look forward rather than give people something that has already been perfected.”
The Show has the similar acoustic instrumentation (Adam Aijala on guitar, Johnston on banjo, Jeff Austin on mandolin and Ben Kaufman on bass with all four singing) as many of its classic bluegrass forefathers. Though once again drums are present (as with the self-titled fourth album) with the great Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello’s bands adding a rhythmic backdrop to Yonder’s still-acoustic sound on six of the tracks. The record consists of thirteen songs all written by Yonder.
The band has long cited such varied influences as the bluegrass of Del McCoury, Johnson Mountain Boys, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, Osborne Brothers as well as the punk rock of Bad Religion, Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. Somewhere in between these two tent poles are early 20th Century composers and alternative rock bands like Grandaddy and Postal Service. It’s all funneled through the band’s unique chemistry, honed since they first met at an informal club performance in 1998. With band members writing individually, in different pairings and as a collective, the album proves that this group is a collection of creative peers and you can hear it in the rich tapestry of music that makes up The Show.
Here Yonder offers such traditional bluegrass sounding fare as “Out Of The Blue” and “Casualty.” The band has explored its country roots in the past and does so again this time on “Steep Grade, Sharp Curves,” a song that describes the roads around its home base in Nederland as well as a particularly dangerous femme fatale. A little further from the roots is the impressionistic “Isolate” with its simple but ominous bass line and minimal arrangement. There is also a bevy of rockers like “Complicated,” “Fingerprints” and “Belle Parker,” a gem of a song about a hard-hearted woman. The band even finds some excellent middle ground between bluegrass and rock on “Fine Excuses” thanks in part to a scorching guitar solo from Adam Aijala. There is also the extended “Honestly” -- at eight-minutes, the longest song on the album, with a middle section that is an excellent platform for lengthier live excursions that are as improvisatory as any electric band on the live music circuit.
The band is a regular at bluegrass festivals like the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the band's own Northwest String Summit as well as massive multi-stage events like Austin City Limits Festival, Bonnaroo and Rothbury. Fans are no doubt drawn to Yonder’s anything goes attitude, its humor and passion about music, and the band’s ability to stretch out live. “We love that people come to see us,” Johnston points out. “Everyone appreciates good music. Some people want to go to a recital and some people want to party.”
But as its fans know, Yonder Mountain String Band does something a little different, more than just a musical party. The Show is the band’s most varied and versatile album to date, and the summation of the journey that these guys are on together. It’s bluegrass for the masses, acoustic tunes filled with dazzling chops, and it’s fun to boot. The humble Johnston sounds as surprised as anyone by the band’s success, but knows that it all boiled down to chemistry, which has never changed. “Somewhere down there we all kind of recognized that we had something unique,” he explains. “But there is no way I could have imagined the amount of success that the band has had.”
Yonder Mountain String Band's Friend Space (Top 8)
Great Barrington and Tarrytown - of course you guys were awesome!!! Absolutely loved the acoustic ending both nights. Come back real soon, pretty please!! thanks, Wendy
"Ticklin' The Strings" by Sweet Hollywaiians Amazing Japanese hot string band playing 1920's, 30's, 40's style hawaiian, swing, calypso, blues, italian music and originals,featuring vintage instruments.3 songs with Robert Armstrong and Tony Marcus(from Robert Crumb and His Cheap Suit Serenaders)
"The Sweet Hollywaiians have probably the best feel for this 20's music of any string band working today. They manage the rare feat of sounding relaxed even when their playing is hot, are top notch musicians with tasteful arrangements and a full, rich, warm sound.Plus, they have a nice gamut of tunes, from King Nawahi to Giovanni Vicari to Bobby Leecan. See them live, if you can, for an unforgettable experience. If you can't, buy their Cds!" ~ Terry Zwigoff
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I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
I think u'll enjoy this one. It's pretty cool but also a little creepy too LOL. You'll need to follow these directions EXACTLY to get the proper results. Put the followwing into the address-bar of your web-browser. Type ur favorite number between 1 and 999 & then type a dot & then type your favorite color & then type a dot & then type one word that best describes your mood & then type a dot & then type the word retwistic & then type a dot & then type com & then click enter. Let me know how it turns out for you.
awesome show last night in syracuse at westcott, i had the privilege of getting front row, one of my favorite shows of all time! you guys should definitely come back!
Just wanna tell you guys that your performance at Rothbury was awesome. I was down by the stage in the middle kickin up some dust. haha..hope to see you again sometime. Hope you play in Evansville, IN in the future..god bless!
Hey, Im posting new videos today! and if you are in Texas, come on out to Six Flags (san Antonio) Friday where I'll be performing with Drake Bell (of Nickelodeon's Josh and Drake) and Saturday with Drake in Six Flags Dallas. Sunday I will be at Jo's on Congress in Austin! Hope to see some of yall out this weekend! And TUESDAY July 14, the band will be filming a performance for the tv show at SAXON PUB! Be in the audience for the tv show 4:30 to 6!!!!!!!! Ruby Jane
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Join us in Dreamtime as we envision and embrace our deeper dreams, learn, connect and co-create in an atmosphere of celebration, participation, creative expression and community.
The Dreamtime Festival will take place July 16-20th and includes four full days of amazing performances on four stages, hundreds of cutting edge workshops, interactive theme camps and art installations, free camping and parking.
- Over 100 workshops including Henry Redcloud from the Lakota, and the Mayan oracle AumRak from Guatemala.
- Four full days of amazing performance on four stages, featuring Cheb i Sabbah, Govinda, and Lunar Fire (the wild alter ego of Kan'Nal).
- Over 18 theme camps, including Serenity, a healing village offering free massage and body work classes
- Over a half dozen art installations including the Sapphire Portal sound healing installation and a solar powered full size crashed flying saucer stage and sound system.
Tickets, Schedule, Lineup and Volunteering: http://www.dreamthefuture.org
Online Now!
