Thoughts on Yonder Mountain String Band

[Hot Sugar]

After seeing Yonder over the weekend, I had an epiphany. For years, I have been unfairly holding Yonder to a standard that simply doesn't apply to them. My frequent comments of "They're not as good as the Dusters" are completely unfounded for one very large reason. I've been trying to compare Yonder to the best bluegrass bands in the world which isn't fair to them. Yonder isn't a bluegrass band; nor do they try to be. They are a jam band with bluegrass influences. So for me to judge them harshly by stating they're not a great bluegrass band is ridiculous. For me to go to their shows and leave disappointed because it wasn't a good bluegrass show would be like going to a Black Sabbath show and being upset that they're not a good blues band.

The show I saw last weekend was fantastic and I enjoyed every minute of it. Jeff is playing better than he has in years and Adam and Ben have always been outstanding. In fact, when I entered the nightgrass lottery just now, I put in for two tickets to see them at the Sheridan and I really hope I get a chance to see them tear it up in such an intimate venue this year.

 Listening to: Yonder 3/12/14 in Missoula

[BillyBeru]

Hi Patrick  ,

Welcome to step 1- look forward to your progression through all the steps. 

I assume you also put in for Tim and Darrell.

[Hot Sugar]

Of course. And Salmon.

[Rob_from_Ohio]

Welcome to step 1- look forward to your progression through all the steps. 

 

The thing is, Hot Sugar is 100% right.  I love YMSB for what they are, which in my opinion is a group of pretty good musicians that put on a damn fine live show.  They're nowhere near the musicians that the Stringdusters are and they don't write songs like RRE.  But they're still fun and they always make me smile.

I hope you get those Nightgrass tickets H.S.  I'm sure you'll have a blast.

[englishmartin]

HS gets it. Seen purely as a bluegrass band I can see how people might find yonder a tad lacking compared to the string dusters who have much cleaner, tighter bluegrass sound. Fact is they are a jam band that is influenced by bluegrass and plays some bluegrass standards in a jam band style. That's their jam and it's most certainly my jam too which is why they have been my favorite live act since I first saw them 6 years ago. Just caught them for the 24th time last week in PDX and they crushed it as usual. Hoping to make it 27 shows by the end of Telluride and 30 by the end of string summit. Just can't get enough!

[MrEdyoulis]

In 2000 give or take, my friend held a pool party with a singer/songwriter named Shelley Doty.  During load in, she mentioned that a banjer player would be sitting in.  I think you know where this is going. 

The four of them soon showed up.  May have been their first time on the left coast.  I handed them a plate of food and said "So, you guys going to pick later on?"  They nodded and a few hours later they played to about ten of us.  I think this was the year they first played High Sierra and broke on the west coast.  Lads are doing quite well these days!

[Bevin]

...would be like going to a Black Sabbath show and being upset that they're not a good blues band.

^^ This happens to me all the time.   

Couldn't agree with you more, HS.  Tellulride Bluegrass Festival wouldn't be the same without Yonder.

Finger crossed for NightGrass success!!!

[Pirate Looks at --]

Sugar, I think you are overthinking again..........must not be drinking enough! Trying to put bands in a box and define them is pretty hard. Just enjoy the music like you did and all will be well. Annette and I will miss everybody again this year.........but maybe next year!

[Hot Sugar]

Sugar, I think you are overthinking again..........must not be drinking enough! Trying to put bands in a box and define them is pretty hard. Just enjoy the music like you did and all will be well. Annette and I will miss everybody again this year.........but maybe next year!

I over-think a lot of things. For instance, I should be drinking more, but what do I drink!?! There are so many choices!

[Beaker]

I love YMSB and I love this conversation.  YMSB bluegrass or not?  If bluegrass, then where do they rank amongst the genre? 

I am a huge YMSB fan.  In my humble opinion, there's nothing better than a good buzz combined with the energy of a live YMSB show.  I began to see YMSB very early on in 1998 (when one could argue they we're closer to traditional bluegrass then they are today).  Saw a ton of shows from '98-'02, but moved (from Carbondale, IL) to Denali National Park, Alaska in 2002 and my attendance at shows has since dramatically declined.   This year will be my 4th Festival and third in a row.  59 days until I fly out of Anchorage! 

I think one of the challenges of comparing Yonder to other bands or genres is that they just don't seem to completely fit into one category.   For example, traditional bluegrass.  Let's play fantasy bluegrass for a second.  Let's say you had to fill a "roster" of band members consisting of a mando, banjo, bass, and guitar players.  In the fantasy bluegrass game scoring would depend on IBMA awards and other Nashville type accolades.  Under this hypothetical I think it's safe to say that not a single YMSB member makes the top 10 rankings in any respective instrument.  Agreed?  I do.

Now let's call them a jam band.  Fantasy scoring categories change as does the list of comparable bands.  It is here that I think YMSB excels.  Stage presence, crowd energy, commitment to fans, relation to fans.  I'll take Jeff Austin in the first round, with Dave and Ben right behind.  I love you Adam, but you're a later round pick (in my humble opinion). 

I've only seen the Infamous Stringdusters once on the main stage last year.  I was blown away.  They're awesome.  That said, I'm not sure if the Dusters are a YMSB comparable or not.  The Dusters certainly have jam band elements, great stage presence and energy.  On a sliding scale from 1-10 (10 is Bill Monroe traditional bluegrass), perhaps YMSB is a 4 while the Dusters a 7?  Obviously I need more Duster.

If anyone would like to divulge into the subject during the festival, I camp in TP with the Herd.  Come by and say hello.  Ask for Beaker.  I would love to chat about it. 

Good luck to all in the Nightgrass lotto!  The anticipation is killing me!








     






 

 Listening to: YMSB Theatre of Living Arts, Philadelphia, PA 2-20-03

[Matt]

Under this hypothetical I think it's safe to say that not a single YMSB member makes the top 10 rankings in any respective instrument.  Agreed?  I do.

I would disagree with that.  While true of Jeff and Dave (and probably Ben), I'd take Adam over pretty much every flatpicker out there not named Tony Rice or Bryan Sutton, and it'd be a toss up between Adam, Tyler Grant and Andy Falco (Dusters).

[Hot Sugar]

Under this hypothetical I think it's safe to say that not a single YMSB member makes the top 10 rankings in any respective instrument.  Agreed?  I do.

Now let's call them a jam band.  Fantasy scoring categories change as does the list of comparable bands.  It is here that I think YMSB excels.  Stage presence, crowd energy, commitment to fans, relation to fans.  I'll take Jeff Austin in the first round, with Dave and Ben right behind.  I love you Adam, but you're a later round pick (in my humble opinion). 

I've only seen the Infamous Stringdusters once on the main stage last year.  I was blown away.  They're awesome.  That said, I'm not sure if the Dusters are a YMSB comparable or not.  The Dusters certainly have jam band elements, great stage presence and energy.  On a sliding scale from 1-10 (10 is Bill Monroe traditional bluegrass), perhaps YMSB is a 4 while the Dusters a 7?  Obviously I need more Duster.

I have to agree with Matt. Adam is an incredible picker. I also think Ben is a wonderful base player. Those two could potentially make it onto an all-star bluegrass band.

Jeff has been playing better since he started taking better care of himself, but his energy seems to have gone down a slight amount. Maybe that was simply because I saw them most recently on the last night of their Spring Tour and he was simply tired. They still put  on a wonderful show that I found on archive as soon as I could.

As for The Dusters, I highly recommend you check out the show hive on their website. They upload the soundboards from just about every show to their website for streaming. You can't download them, which is unfortunate because there are several shows I'd pay to have, but you can listen to them for free. I'd recommend checking out the Palm Theater show from last year. Friday June 21st. Drew Emmit sits in with them in the second set.

 Listening to: Infamous Stringdusters

[BazookaGrass]

Here's my problem with Yonder. I used to love them and go to a show every chance I could. Now, I selected them as my third choice on Nightgrass when they are performing for one main reason: I rarely know any of the music they play. Bluegrass or jam band, I have one desire when I go to shows: I want to know most of the music. Most of my other favorite bands, this happens. I know that jam bands go off the beaten track quite often, but I can go to a Greensky show and leave satisfied in this regard. With Yonder, I'm not. I own almost all of their albums, live ones included. I just can't go to a concert, pay that kind of money, and hope I know a song or two at a Yonder show. It frustrates me way more than them not being able to play the same quality of music as the Dusters.

 Listening to: Infamous Stringdusters

[HuckinFappy]

Younder is like Flank Steak a Fest tradition.

Confession.  I'm a meat-eater, and I find the Flank Steaks to be completely vile.

What's wrong with me?

[sdmjake]

You're ok, Fappy. {Festi-food can do that.}

Might I suggest the Asian Dumplings followed by a big scoop of caramel/seasalt icecream...they go great with a pint of New Belgium beer! 


 Listening to: Tony Rice Unit - High Noon