At 25 years old, Yonder Mountain String Band continues to exist at the forefront of the progressive bluegrass scene as undeniable innovators and pioneers of the modern jamgrass movement. Blending bluegrass with elements of rock, alternative, psychedelic and improvisational music, Yonder Mountain String Band brought their high-energy acoustic sound and light show into rock n’ roll settings with tremendous success, proving it was possible for a bluegrass band to not only exist but excel in a rock world, without drums. The inroads they made created opportunities for like-minded acoustic bands to perform at festivals, rock clubs, theaters and stadiums previously considered off-limits for string bands. Yonder Mountain's high-energy sound, compelling original music and anything goes attitude cultivated a spirit of collaborative improvisation that continues to fuel today’s progressive bluegrass and jamgrass scenes.
It is a testament to the legacy of Yonder Mountain String Band that their original songs and unique interpretations of covers are regularly performed by next generation bands in the scene.
Yonder Mountain String Band celebrates their quarter century mark with a Grammy Nomination for their 2022 release Get Yourself Outside. Band members Adam Aijala (guitar, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals) and Nick Piccininni (mandolin, banjo, fiddle, vocals) co-wrote all tracks on the album over zoom sessions when Covid shut down the music touring industry. Yonder Mountain was recently honored with an induction into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame alongside friends and legends Leftover Salmon, Hot Rize, The String Cheese Incident and The Fox Theater (where they played their very first show as a band in 1998). Yonder Mountain was officially inducted during a long-awaited, but meaningful ceremony that took place on stage after their set at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival’s 50th anniversary in June 2023.
You may wonder where the appeal lies of seeing five musicians onstage with a small selection of string instruments. Anybody with scepticism I urge to go and see the Yonder Mountain String Band as they have an entrancing, almost hypnotising effect when onstage. There is a strange curiosity when watching somebody with clear talent performing before you and that is what these five artists have. The speed in which they pluck their instruments is baffling and there does not seem to be a note dropped all evening.
As there are five musicians all performing together too it must have taken countless hours of practice in order to harmonise to this level. The Colorado musicians also have great stage presence as they venture from within their zones of concentration and delight the crowd with great interaction and a humble manner. After a fifteen song set comprising of tracks from all the albums and a couple of brilliant covers, the crowd does not want the night to be over.
sean-ward
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