Yonder Mountain String Band

*fenderbass* · #1 09-07-2007, 02:30 PM

I'm going to check out the Wood Brothers in October. The're opening for Yonder Mountain String Band.

I'm a big fan of the Wood Brothers first album "Ways Not to Lose". I haven't been a huge Bluegrass fan in the past but I'm warming to it.

Is anyone out there a Yonder Mountain String Band fan? Have you seen them live?

They have a cool website and their bassist, Ben Kaufmann plays an Eminence EUB. The tracks they have for download are nice but didn't blow me away. I hear they are best live.

Just wondering what people think of Yonder Mountain Sting Band and what I should expect from the show.

**Damon Rondeau** · #2 09-07-2007, 02:52 PM

I saw them at Telluride -- 2002, I think? I dug it.

Moreno_IV · #3 09-07-2007, 02:54 PM

It's been a while, but they have a good show. IIRC, it's more of a jamband/bluegrass blend. Cool stuff!

MT Spaces · #4 09-07-2007, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *fenderbass*

... Is anyone out there a Yonder Mountain String Band fan? Have you seen them live? ... Just wondering what people think of Yonder Mountain Sting Band and what I should expect from the show.

Well fender ... be prepared .... you are about to enter the realm of highly-electrified, high-energy, long-drawn-out JAMGRASS

. I saw 'em at River City Bluegrass Festival in Portland, Oregon a couple years ago. They didn't do much for me since I am more of a fan of "traditional" bluegrass with more of an acoustic sound. But Wow ... the jamgrass "earth muffins" sure came out of the woodwork for some hot dancin' when they started playing

. (Don't pick on me .... I'm an old hippie .... my ears and brain just can't handle that stuff like I could in the late '60's

) The picked-up / electric mando was just a bit too much for me in the moment. But ...... they have a HUGE following and have many shows available for digital downloading at http://www.livedownloads.com/stash.asp?artist=1 .

*fenderbass* · #5 09-07-2007, 08:30 PM

I'll give it a shot. Jamband stuff can be really good or REALLY bad in my experience.

I'm going to the show to see the Chris and Oliver Wood so no matter what I won't be disappointed. If YMSB is good then that will just make it better.

Mmmmmm "earth muffins"

alanbarnosky · #6 09-07-2007, 10:41 PM

Yonder Mountain is awesome. It is true - they are a live band. You can hear their studio stuff, but it does not compare. I saw them for the first time when I was 17 and it blew me away. I was listening to a little bluegrass before, but not a heck of a lot. These guys drew me in -- I was big into prog rock and jazz fusion, and Yonder Mountain provided a great transition from rock music to acoustic stuff.

You will love them, I'm sure. I saw them again this past summer and it was just as great. Now that I am coming from a perspective more familiar with bluegrass music, I realize how bluegrass they really aren't. But its still great. Expect long jams and instrumentals, noodle dancers, and the smell of some mind altering substances... but you will have a ball. I will be seeing them in Detroit.

Alan

alanbarnosky · #7 10-08-2007, 06:22 PM

Fenderbass,
Did you see the show yet? I just saw them lastnight and it was awesome. Got there a little late, so I didn't make the wood brothers. They were awesome as always though. Got the whole place moving.

learning_towalk · #8 10-28-2007, 12:14 AM

I've seen YMSB five times and they never fail to put on a fun show...here's a basic break down

Adam Ajalhari (or however you spell it)- great flat picker, very creative

Jeff Austin- he's the front man...proficient on mandolin (no Chris
Thile, but he can hold his own), has lots of energy and
obviously loves what he does

Dave Johnson- good banjo player, not a fan of his voice but he normally only gets one or two songs a show

Ben Kaufman- the star of the show for me... he is my favorite bluegrass bassist currently (although I love the bassist from OCMS...i know they aren't technically bluegrass but hey, gimmie a break), he's incredibley clean, has creative lines, and has an amazing voice (phenomenal songwritter taboot)

hope you enjoy YMSB...

wbcohen · #9 11-30-2007, 03:42 PM

Pretty good band with a good groove. Their banjo player however has such horribly bad timing that I wonder if he has some neurological problem. Completely drags the band. Otherwide good grooving jamgrass.