The band has always played music by its own set of rules. Bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences that the band cites, Yonder has pioneered a sound of their own. With their traditional lineup of instruments, the band may look like a traditional bluegrass band at first glance but they’ve created their own music that transcends any genre. Dave Johnston points out “What could be more pure than making your own music.” Yonder’s sound cannot be classified purely as “bluegrass” or “string music” but rather it’s an original sound created from “looking at music from [their] own experiences and doing the best job possible.” The band continues to play by their own rules on their new record The Show.
The Colorado-based foursome has crisscrossed the country over the past eleven years playing such varied settings as festivals, rock clubs, Red Rocks Amphitheater in the band’s home state, and recently the Democratic National Convention in Denver at Mile High Stadium opening for Barack Obama. Their loyal fanbase has been built from this diverse setting of music venues as fans latched on to their genre-defying original sound.
In between tours the band spent time this last year working on its fifth studio album. Set for a September 1 release on the band’s own label, The Show is the second album with rock producer Tom Rothrock (Beck, Elliott Smith, Foo Fighters). While some might scratch their heads as to why a string band would want a rock producer, this decision was a natural choice for the band. “We don’t have a lot of nostalgia for the past,” says banjo player Dave Johnston. “You shouldn’t try to recreate the 1940s. I like to think of us as informed by the past and all the great performers before us. But we also want to look forward rather than give people something that has already been perfected.”
The Show has the similar acoustic instrumentation (Adam Aijala on guitar, Johnston on banjo, Jeff Austin on mandolin and Ben Kaufman on bass with all four singing) as many of its classic bluegrass forefathers. Though once again drums are present (as with the self-titled fourth album) with the great Pete Thomas of Elvis Costello’s bands adding a rhythmic backdrop to Yonder’s still-acoustic sound on six of the tracks. The record consists of thirteen songs all written by Yonder.
The band has long cited such varied influences as the bluegrass of Del McCoury, Johnson Mountain Boys, Jimmy Martin, Bill Monroe, Osborne Brothers as well as the punk rock of Bad Religion, Black Flag and the Dead Kennedys. Somewhere in between these two tent poles are early 20th Century composers and alternative rock bands like Grandaddy and Postal Service. It’s all funneled through the band’s unique chemistry, honed since they first met at an informal club performance in 1998. With band members writing individually, in different pairings and as a collective, the album proves that this group is a collection of creative peers and you can hear it in the rich tapestry of music that makes up The Show.
Here Yonder offers such traditional bluegrass sounding fare as “Out Of The Blue” and “Casualty.” The band has explored its country roots in the past and does so again this time on “Steep Grade, Sharp Curves,” a song that describes the roads around its home base in Nederland as well as a particularly dangerous femme fatale. A little further from the roots is the impressionistic “Isolate” with its simple but ominous bass line and minimal arrangement. There is also a bevy of rockers like “Complicated,” “Fingerprints” and “Belle Parker,” a gem of a song about a hard-hearted woman. The band even finds some excellent middle ground between bluegrass and rock on “Fine Excuses” thanks in part to a scorching guitar solo from Adam Aijala. There is also the extended “Honestly” -- at eight-minutes, the longest song on the album, with a middle section that is an excellent platform for lengthier live excursions that are as improvisatory as any electric band on the live music circuit.
The band is a regular at bluegrass festivals like the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and the band's own Northwest String Summit as well as massive multi-stage events like Austin City Limits Festival, Bonnaroo and Rothbury. Fans are no doubt drawn to Yonder’s anything goes attitude, its humor and passion about music, and the band’s ability to stretch out live. “We love that people come to see us,” Johnston points out. “Everyone appreciates good music. Some people want to go to a recital and some people want to party.”
But as its fans know, Yonder Mountain String Band does something a little different, more than just a musical party. The Show is the band’s most varied and versatile album to date, and the summation of the journey that these guys are on together. It’s bluegrass for the masses, acoustic tunes filled with dazzling chops, and it’s fun to boot. The humble Johnston sounds as surprised as anyone by the band’s success, but knows that it all boiled down to chemistry, which has never changed. “Somewhere down there we all kind of recognized that we had something unique,” he explains. “But there is no way I could have imagined the amount of success that the band has had.”
Crazy Train
Yonder Mountain String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aye, aye, aye
Crazy, but that's how it goes
Millions of people living as foes
Maybe it's not too late
To learn how to love and forget how to hate
Mental wounds not healing
Life's a bitter shame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I've listened to preachers, I've listened to fools
I've watched all the dropouts who make their own rules
One person conditioned to rule and control
The media sells it and you live the role
Mental wounds still screaming
Driving me insane
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I know that things are going wrong for me
You gotta listen to my words
Yeah
Heirs of a cold war, that's what we've become
Inheriting troubles, I'm mentally numb
Crazy, I just cannot bear
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
Mental wounds not healing
Who and what's to blame
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
Yonder Mountain String Band’s song “Crazy Train” is a cover of Ozzy Osbourne’s hit song, but this bluegrass version carries its own unique interpretation of the lyrics. The song starts by acknowledging the craziness of the world we live in, with millions of people constantly living in conflict. The lyrics suggest that perhaps it’s not too late to learn how to love and forget how to hate, indicating a desire for peace and harmony in the world.
The song then shifts to delve into the mental and emotional turmoil that the singer is experiencing, with mental wounds not healing and life feeling like a bitter shame. Throughout the lyrics, there is an underlying tone of frustration and exhaustion with the world and the role that society plays in shaping people’s lives. The media is criticized for selling a certain narrative and conditioning people to “rule and control”.
Ultimately, the song captures a feeling of rebellion against a system that feels unjust and oppressive, with the singer going “off the rails on a crazy train”. The lyrics suggest that there are larger forces at play, and that it’s hard to pinpoint exactly who or what is to blame. This is a powerful interpretation of a song that originally dealt with the mental state of Ozzy Osbourne himself, but Yonder Mountain String Band has given it a new meaning by infusing it with their own brand of bluegrass energy.
Line by Line Meaning
All aboard, hah hah
Let's get ready to embark on a wild ride.
Crazy, but that's how it goes
The world is unpredictable and often nonsensical.
Millions of people living as foes
People are too quick to turn against each other.
Maybe it's not too late
There is still hope for a better future.
To learn how to love and forget how to hate
We should focus on compassion and understanding instead of anger and resentment.
Mental wounds not healing
Emotional pain can be hard to overcome.
Life's a bitter shame
Sometimes life is unfair and discouraging.
I'm going off the rails on a crazy train
I feel like I'm losing control of my life and it's terrifying.
I've listened to preachers, I've listened to fools
I've sought guidance from a variety of sources, some more trustworthy than others.
I've watched all the dropouts who make their own rules
I've observed people who reject societal norms and live their lives on their own terms.
One person conditioned to rule and control
Certain individuals are groomed to be in positions of power and influence over others.
The media sells it and you live the role
The media perpetuates these power dynamics and encourages people to accept their assigned roles.
Driving me insane
These stressors are taking a toll on my mental health.
I know that things are going wrong for me
I'm aware that my life isn't going according to plan.
You gotta listen to my words
I need someone to hear me out and understand my struggles.
Heirs of a cold war, that's what we've become
Our society is still shaped by the legacy of past conflicts and tensions.
Inheriting troubles, I'm mentally numb
I'm overwhelmed and desensitized by the problems I've inherited.
Crazy, I just cannot bear
The situation is making me feel like I'm losing my grip on reality.
I'm living with something that just isn't fair
I'm struggling with an injustice that feels impossible to overcome.
Who and what's to blame
I'm searching for answers to help me make sense of my situation.
Contributed by Colin L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
JR Foreman
I love it when the music transends the genre
Bret Cantwell
I feel lucky to have found this video. This is an awesome cover.
IAM SHEPowerful
I love this incredible music 😬😬
Will Schoenstein
What a Great cover 👍
Jason Ritchey
old school metal head.......wicked! lots of soul!
Bokescreek
Incredible stuff. Can't think of another band working who could do what these folks are doing. Certainly not Hayseed, not anybody.
ben210907
Hayseed Dixie do this so much better.
viceRoy
Not at the same caliber of insensity, but check out Iron Horse (the bluegrass group). Great covers of Metallica, Modest Mouse, and Sabbath.
Aaron Thompsom
Yonder is great
Russ Hillman
Good stuff