The Stringdusters

[Hot Sugar]

I'll always love Yonder, good group of fellas that put on a fun show.  However, when we're talking about being blown away and/or just PURE level of talent, the Dusters are vastly superior to Yonder.  This may sound sacrilegious, but I'd like Yonder's annual TBF spot to go to the Dusters from here on out.  For me, Yonder's at the point where they need to start earning an annual spot, instead of just accepting it as an inevitability.  No disrespect intended, but they seem too comfortable and need to step up their game.  Too many great bluegrass acts out there these days to just hand a spot to Yonder.  Just an opinion.  Either way, the festy looks like a blast!

I agree with you on much of what you just said. I think Yonder is a great band with two outstanding musicians, one above average musician and one guy who hasn't improved since they started all those years ago. They write some great songs that make you think and some great songs that make you party and I always enjoy seeing them, but if they were closing the main stage on any given night and The Dusters, Salmon, Greensky or Head for the Hills were playing a nightgrass, I'd go to the nightgrass 9 times out of 10. I love Yonder, but they're not breaking any new ground anymore. I'll be seeing them in a few weeks up here in Missoula and I can't wait, but I'm more excited for The Dusters playing Missoula less than a week later.

I think as long as Yonder is around, they've earned a spot at Telluride. More than anyone today, they're doing what guys like New Grass, Old and in the Way and Salmon all did. They're showing people that bluegrass isn't just that high lonesome sound Bill Monroe played. They're turning more and more people on to bluegrass, and I think that can't be understated. They're not the best band out there, but they are a great gateway to bands like The Dusters who I consider to be superior in every way.

 Listening to: The Dusters

[mountainjam]

I'll always love Yonder, good group of fellas that put on a fun show.  However, when we're talking about being blown away and/or just PURE level of talent, the Dusters are vastly superior to Yonder.  This may sound sacrilegious, but I'd like Yonder's annual TBF spot to go to the Dusters from here on out.  For me, Yonder's at the point where they need to start earning an annual spot, instead of just accepting it as an inevitability.  No disrespect intended, but they seem too comfortable and need to step up their game.  Too many great bluegrass acts out there these days to just hand a spot to Yonder.  Just an opinion.  Either way, the festy looks like a blast!

Thank you, very well said. I have been thinking this exact same thing for a while. Yonder just doesn't do it for me anymore and every time I see the Dusters I'm blown away. Really looking forward to their upcoming shows at the Ogden in Denver. Wishing they were at TBF but thankfully they come to CO often.

[nfire]

any of you guys remember when the yonder guys got drunk on bloodies or something on Sundays a few years back.  one of them stumbled up on stage with an important announcement at like 1pm that if anyone had located their missing couch it would be well appreciated.  LOL!

[landshark]

any of you guys remember when the yonder guys got drunk on bloodies or something on Sundays a few years back.  one of them stumbled up on stage with an important announcement at like 1pm that if anyone had located their missing couch it would be well appreciated.  LOL!

  I do and it was funny!

[BillyBeru]

I sure hope this TBF that Yonder covers Sam's song "They're Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone".

Stick it to them, boys!

[armmon]

 
 love yonder and the dusters, and many bands on this year's line-up ... looking forward to seeing new bands as much as bands we've grown to love over the years ...
 
 who cares who any given band is "better" than ... better at being better ?
 
 we're lucky we'll be there for an amazing week of incredible music with great friends
 
.

[dayton]

http://thefesty.com/

 Listening to: XM Radio - Julian Marley

[BillyBeru]

[
http://thefesty.com/

Dayton, will you and Lalagay be making it out to Telluride this year? 

[englishmartin]

I don't think I would know about TBF if it wasn't for Yonder, so in my mind I hope they always play. I noticed that several of my favorite Yonder recordings were from some place called 'The Sheridan Opera House' and some other place called 'The Telluride Conference Center'. Since discovering that these are both part of the same festival it has been a dream of mine to make it out one year. This year I'm finally going to make it! I can definitely understand how Yonder has gotten a little stale for some, as although they clearly love what they do, love their fans and put on a great show for them I do question if maybe they are a little less hungry than they once were. In recent years I feel as though they tend to take less risks with their playing and just concentrate on having fun with the show and the crowd. Personally I still love their shows and have a hell of a good time, and the more relaxed approach to playing seems to help them find a certain groove that can most definitely 'achieve liftoff' when the time is right. They're still my favorite, I love 'em.

As far as the Dusters go, they crush it, no doubt. Wish they would get a new mandolin player though (I am assuming they haven't?).

[pettyeck]

 love yonder and the dusters, and many bands on this year's line-up ... looking forward to seeing new bands as much as bands we've grown to love over the years ...
 
 who cares who any given band is "better" than ... better at being better ?
 
 we're lucky we'll be there for an amazing week of incredible music with great friends
 
.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Different strokes, right?

[dayton]

[
http://thefesty.com/

Dayton, will you and Lalagay be making it out to Telluride this year? 

We wish!  Time is coming for our return...alas, summer school this year is happening and gets in the way  2015 may be the time for us to come back...

 Listening to: npr -  morning edition

[armmon]

 may be off-topic, but a friend has an extra ticket to the Dusters show in boston this wednesday march 26 ...
 
  http://crossroadspresents.com/paradise-rock-club/
 
 anyone up for the show ?
 
.

[FaceOnMars]

Not sure what to say about ISD vs. YMSB ... both are very solid and do their own unique thing well, but I guess both are "hit or miss" for me in terms of really hitting the spot.  Then again, I prefer a drummer & electrified instruments in the mix more often than not.  Saw Yonder in Boulder on Dec. 30th (day off of the SCI NYE run) and was blown away by their overall sound.   Didn't hurt that Sam & Jerry sat in for most of the show too.   Saw ISD last month at the SOH for the first night and thought it was a very solid show & had excellent moments, but I declined on going the second night ... not that it wouldn't have been good/fun, but I may have hit my "frequency tolerance" for them ... which is not all that far off from Yonder.  Some bands I can see day in day out, others I need time in between.  As to whether Yonder should be considered "made" @ TBF, I guess it's kind of tradition at this point - say what you want one way or the other, but I think they carry that torch well ... in the same light as does Sam.

[BradyCooling]

I'll be at the Festy also! Last year was a ton of fun!! But also extremely wet, very Jamily feel, and super small and intimate, I tell everyone about it how it is an up and coming fest!

http://thefesty.com/

[BradyCooling]

Not sure what to say about ISD vs. YMSB ... both are very solid and do their own unique thing well, but I guess both are "hit or miss" for me in terms of really hitting the spot.  Then again, I prefer a drummer & electrified instruments in the mix more often than not.  Saw Yonder in Boulder on Dec. 30th (day off of the SCI NYE run) and was blown away by their overall sound.   Didn't hurt that Sam & Jerry sat in for most of the show too.   Saw ISD last month at the SOH for the first night and thought it was a very solid show & had excellent moments, but I declined on going the second night ... not that it wouldn't have been good/fun, but I may have hit my "frequency tolerance" for them ... which is not all that far off from Yonder.  Some bands I can see day in day out, others I need time in between.  As to whether Yonder should be considered "made" @ TBF, I guess it's kind of tradition at this point - say what you want one way or the other, but I think they carry that torch well ... in the same light as does Sam.

I have to agree with you on this too. Both are tremendous bands, with one being more up and coming, and the other still consistently amazing. I loved the YMSB on the 30th, it is up there with one of the best shows I've ever seen. Bands like Yonder and String Cheese are bands I listen to every single day, and will continue to do so; ISD blew me away last year at The Festy and Delfest, but both were not as good as the times I saw YMSB last year. Both will be around a longggg time