Dismiss labels, forget trying to fit into a scene, be true and play your songs; that encompasses the prevailing spirit of Let It Go, the fifth studio album from Grammy-nominated bluegrass expansionists The Infamous Stringdusters. The album, released on the band’s own High Country Recordings, finds the band on firm footing, at ease with an evolving sound that defies categorization. It’s acoustic music, sure, but not the kind you’ll hear from any other band. Roots can be traced but boundaries don’t exist.
The Infamous Stringdusters have proven they can both mine the past and look forward to the unknown, and their new album is a touchstone for a group of tightly bonded musicians completely comfortable with each other and their collective identity.
Perhaps the sentiment is best summarized through five joined voices in the mountaintop gospel-hued title track: “If it’s worry you’ve been feeling over things you can’t control, it’s time to let it go.”
The Evolution
When The Infamous Stringdusters first emerged some years ago, the band was immediately branded fast-picking Nashville wunderkinds, a new-generation super group built to revive the high lonesome sound. Then came immediate accolades—IBMA awards, a chart-topping self-titled album for Sugar Hill Records and a Grammy nomination for “Best Country Instrumental” (for "Magic No. 9" from the 2010 album Things That Fly). Incendiary chops, complete with undeniable instrumental virtuosity and heartfelt harmonies, immediately positioned the band to be longstanding bluegrass torchbearers.
But for the five members of The Stringdusters—Andy Hall (Dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (upright bass)—reverence for traditionalism has always been only part of the equation. The group has always remained intent on fostering something bigger, more original. It’s this desire—and the combined efforts of uniquely creative minds—that has brought the quintet to its current place as multi-dimensional string explorers, mixing tight song craft from a variety of musical styles with a flare for improvisation. Armed with an exhilarating, often-unpredictable live show, the open-minded approach has certainly resonated and allowed the band to easily fit on a diverse set of stages—from Telluride and Grey Fox to Bonnaroo and High Sierra—building crowds along the way that fill some of the country's best rock clubs.
The Lifestyle Experience
2014 was particularly transformative, as the band members realized there was no need to go through the formulaic motions in a shaky music industry. Bolstered by the support of a loyal and dedicated grassroots fan base, The Infamous Stringdusters are constantly looking for opportunities to create new experiences. Oftentimes it happens on stage, like the recent sit-ins from Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh or jazz guitar legend John Scofield. Other times it’s through accompanying adventures, like the band’s August 2013 trip on the Middle Fork of Idaho’s Salmon River.
Following the group’s 2013 summer American Rivers Tour, which doubled as an awareness campaign for water sustainability issues in partnership with prominent outdoor industry companies including Patagonia, Klean Kanteen and Osprey Packs, the band members and select fans and friends embarked on a six-day float trip through an unspoiled wilderness area. With instruments in tow, the band played music daily, standing on the banks of the river or sitting together in campsite circles. The inspiration of natural surroundings yielded fresh songs that landed on the new album. “Middlefork” is a newgrass instrumental that conveys the mood of being free in pristine open spaces. “Where The Rivers Run Cold” features a fast progression and introspective lyrics that peak with a bold chorus about enjoying the beauty that surrounds.
In The Studio
When it was time to record Let It Go, the band came together in the fall at White Star Sound, a secluded studio with rustic, close-knit accommodations and state-of-the-art equipment, located on a vast, historic farm outside of Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s a quiet place, accessed by a dirt road, where chickens wander freely and long pastoral views can be enjoyed in every direction. With no distractions, it was the perfect place to distill an overflowing well of ideas that had been filling since the band’s last release, 2012’s Silver Sky.
The result is easily the band’s most cohesive musical statement to date. It’s a record that respects the studio process. Dynamic picking is delivered with restrained grace, in service to song. There’s stylistic range within the context of a unified vision, as melodic reflective tunes wander between nuanced expansive folk (“I’ll Get Away”), anthemic country jams (“Colorado”), freewheelin’ acoustic rock (“Peace of Mind” and “Light & Love”) and dusty balladry (“Rainbows”).
The members of The Infamous Stringdusters now all reside in different locations. Hall and Pandolfi recently felt the calling of the mountains and both moved to Colorado. Guitar ace Falco returned to his roots in Long Island to be near family, while Garrett remains in Nashville, where he’s known as a prolific songwriter. Book dwells quietly in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, near the site of the band’s annual October festival The Festy Experience.
Occasional separation has proven to be a good thing. It’s important to remember these are five musicians with unique individual talents, but they all realize they have an undeniably special chemistry when they come together. That was apparent from day one. But now after years of growth—both personal and professional—the band has cast off labels and found an existence where music is about a greater connection. Through friendship, democracy, skill, passion and open minds, it’s a broader lifestyle filled with community and plenty of celebration.
Rockets
The Infamous Stringdusters Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eyes of desire, close to the flame
Nothing can be done, to change their minds
Out in the dark, far beyond the light.
Home is with the stars, out of sight.
Nothing can be done, to make them stay.
How long until they go
How long until they know
All they need to fly
Rockets to the silver sky
If I had the chance to do it all again
I'd follow every stream, fearless like them
Let everything be done, in it's own time
Don't worry if it's wrong
How long until I go
How long until I know
All I need to fly
Rocket to the silver sky
The song "Rockets" by The Infamous Stringdusters is about the desire to explore and the unknown, and how sometimes it's hard to keep someone around when they have that pull towards adventure. The opening lines "Holding the fire, standing in the rain. Eyes of desire, close to the flame" evoke the image of someone who is drawn towards something bigger than themselves, something exciting and new. They can't help but be pulled towards this adventure, even if it means stepping into the unknown.
The line "Home is with the stars, out of sight" refers to the sense of belonging someone might experience when exploring new territory. It's easy to feel like you've found your place when you're out in the world, seeing things for the first time. But as the chorus suggests, the desire to explore can also be fleeting. "Here and then they're gone. How long until they go" speaks to the idea that some people are meant for more than just one place. They will always be moving on to the next adventure, leaving behind the people that care about them.
The final verses are about the singer's own desire to chase adventure. They wish they could do it all again, to be as fearless as those that have already ventured out. The final lines "Rocket to the silver sky" suggest that flying towards the stars is the ultimate goal, even if it means leaving everything else behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Holding the fire, standing in the rain
Despite being in the midst of adverse situations such as standing in the rain, they remain steadfast and determined like someone who is holding fire.
Eyes of desire, close to the flame
Despite knowing the risks involved, they are still drawn to the flame like moths. Their eyes reflect their strong desire to get closer to the fire.
Nothing can be done, to change their minds
No external force can deter them from their chosen path. They have made up their minds, come what may.
Out in the dark, far beyond the light.
Venturing into the unknown, beyond the realm of familiarity and comfort, into the more obscure parts of the world, and away from the light of civilization.
Home is with the stars, out of sight.
Their true home is among the stars, in the limitless expanse of the universe, away from the mundane existence on Earth and out of sight from ordinary lives.
Nothing can be done, to make them stay.
No amount of inducement or hindrance can prolong their stay on Earth. Once they've embarked on this journey, they move forward unfazed and determined.
Here and then they're gone
They are here for an unpredictable amount of time, but their sudden departure is inevitable.
How long until they go
It's not certain when they'll leave, but they will.
How long until they know
It's unclear what specific knowledge they seek, but they'll eventually acquire it before taking off.
All they need to fly
They've got everything needed to soar, whether it's physical materials or intangible qualities like courage and determination.
Rockets to the silver sky
Their goal is to travel through the vastness of space in rockets and reach the silver sky.
If I had the chance to do it all again
If given the opportunity, the artist would do things differently, taking more risks and trying more new things.
I'd follow every stream, fearless like them
The singer would follow every stream, as the stars travel a path of their own choosing, and do so without fear or hesitation.
Let everything be done, in its own time
Patience is advised in any pursuit, as things happen in their own time and need to take their natural course.
Don't worry if it's wrong
Don't be overly concerned about making mistakes. They're bound to happen during the process of making new discoveries.
How long until I go
The artist contemplates how long it will take to leave Earth and embark on the adventure of the unknown.
How long until I know
The artist wonders when they'll gain enough knowledge to make that giant leap forward to the next phase of their journey.
All I need to fly
The singer has all the essentials to launch into their adventure. Physical materials, emotional strength, and courage abound.
Rocket to the silver sky
The singer's goal is to soar away in a rocket and reach the silver sky in the outer reaches of space.
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.