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.”
Night Out
Yonder Mountain String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Give it up
I'm going home
Where the lamps are always burning
And I'm forever falling
Last one undone
Hanging out
I'm hanging on
Where someone's always yelling
Way back in the corner
And I'm forever dreaming
Chorus:
There's more to a dream, anyway
Shadows grow long on our face
There's more to a dream, anyway
And I won't know what's left in its place
Strange games, new names
Rearrange
Where I'm from
Wherever I am going
You know I'm always guessing
And I'm forever standing
Wait awhile and see
Nothing seems right to me
Hide me from this town
Fill me up when I'm down
[ Chorus ]
The lyrics of "Night Out" by Yonder Mountain String Band confront the notion of home and belonging. The singer reflects on the fleeting nature of a night out with friends - the joys and troubles, the moments of levity and the discomfort of social interactions. As they make their way home, they long for the comfort of their own house where the lights are always on and someone is waiting for them. The song delves into the complex emotions surrounding the concept of home - the feeling of safety and comfort, the burden of expectation, and the pressure to fit in.
As the night goes on, the singer describes the strange games and new names that come with socializing. They feel like an outsider in their own community and are forever standing and guessing. They long to be hidden away from the town and filled up when they're down. The chorus speaks to the idea that dreams offer an escape from the discomfort of reality, but ultimately they remain elusive and leave us unsure of what's left in their place.
Overall, "Night Out" captures the bittersweet feeling of returning home after a night of fun and socializing. It acknowledges the desire for comfort and familiarity, but also the difficulties of navigating social situations and fitting in.
Line by Line Meaning
Midnight, streetlights
It's the middle of the night and the only illumination is from the streetlights.
Give it up
Surrender yourself to the circumstances.
I'm going home
I'm returning to a familiar and comforting place.
Where the lamps are always burning
At home, the lights are always on.
And you're always waiting
The person at home is eagerly anticipating my return.
And I'm forever falling
I feel like I'm constantly slipping or losing my footing.
Last one undone
I'm the last one to finish something, leaving me feeling behind.
Hanging out
Casually spending time with friends.
I'm hanging on
I'm just barely holding on or surviving.
Where someone's always yelling
In this social setting, someone is always raising their voice.
Way back in the corner
This person is hidden or secluded within the space we're in.
And I'm forever dreaming
I'm always caught up in my own thoughts and fantasies.
Chorus:
The main theme or idea of the song is reiterated.
There's more to a dream, anyway
Dreams have deeper meanings and can be interpreted in different ways.
Shadows grow long on our face
As the night goes on, our faces become more shadowed by the streetlights.
And I won't know what's left in its place
I'm not sure what I'll have after this situation is over and done with.
Strange games, new names
Things are unfamiliar and there is a sense of change.
Rearrange
Things are being rearranged or altered.
Where I'm from
A reference to my hometown and place of origin.
Wherever I am going
A reference to the unknown destination I'm headed towards.
You know I'm always guessing
I'm always uncertain and unsure of myself.
And I'm forever standing
I feel stuck or unable to move on from a situation.
Wait awhile and see
I need to be patient and see how things unfold.
Nothing seems right to me
I'm experiencing a sense of discomfort or unease about everything.
Hide me from this town
I want to escape the town or situation I'm in.
Fill me up when I'm down
I need someone or something to lift me up when I'm feeling low.
[ Chorus ]
The chorus is repeated again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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