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.”
River
Yonder Mountain String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And it seems to do something for my peace of mind
Though I didn't know it, I came here looking to find
A place to forget about my troubles for awhile
I saw a mother with her little baby when I was walking here
There's something 'bout a little baby that makes me laugh
They don't seem to have a care
Until then, I'll find some time to spend down by the river
I spend a lot of time looking forward
Looking back and looking down at my feet upon the ground
I fell backwards and when I opened my eyes
I found myself staring straight up in the sky
And it seemed like there was something there to learn
When I realized I had nowhere else to be
And the only sound that mattered was the wind that blowed so gentle through the trees
Such a harmony down by the river
Well I heard music, it was soft and clear
And I sang out for the first time, I didn't care who would hear
Because I found my answers in the wind and waves
And the magic in the little things that happen every day
And I played that tune on my old mandolin
And I didn't hurt at all for company
Because the river likes to sing along and knows the words to every song I play
Such a lovely day down by the river
Such a lovely day...
The song "River" by Yonder Mountain String Band is a contemplative tune about finding peace and solace in nature. The lyrics speak of the singer's journey to the river in search of a place to forget about their troubles for a while. They observe a mother with her baby and feel a sense of childlike wonder about the carefree nature of infants. The river seems to have a calming effect on the singer, and they find themselves looking forward to spending time by the water.
The second verse speaks of the singer's tendency to constantly look forward or backward, but finds themselves living in the present moment when they fall backwards and look up at the sky. It is in this moment they realize there is something to be learned and that the only sound that matters is the gentle wind blowing through the trees. The singer hears music and feels inspired to sing and play their mandolin, finding company in the river that sings along to every song they play.
Overall, the song is about finding peace and harmony in nature, and the power of music to heal and uplift the soul.
Line by Line Meaning
The river rolls and the river winds
The river flows and bends through the landscape.
And it seems to do something for my peace of mind
Spending time by the river is calming, making me feel at ease.
Though I didn't know it, I came here looking to find
I was seeking a place to forget my problems.
A place to forget about my troubles for awhile
I needed a spot to escape from the weight of my worries.
I saw a mother with her little baby when I was walking here
During my walk, I glimpsed a mother and her infant.
There's something 'bout a little baby that makes me laugh
The innocence of a baby is amusing to me.
They don't seem to have a care
Infants don't appear to carry any concerns or worries.
And I wonder if I'm ever gonna feel that way again
I contemplated whether I could ever be as carefree as a baby.
Until then, I'll find some time to spend down by the river
Until I find peace, I'll take moments to relax by the river.
I spend a lot of time looking forward
I frequently focus on the future.
Looking back and looking down at my feet upon the ground
I also look back and down at the present.
I fell backwards and when I opened my eyes
I stumbled and fell, ending up on my back.
I found myself staring straight up in the sky
As I looked up from the ground, I saw the sky.
And it seemed like there was something there to learn
I felt like there was a lesson to be gained from the experience.
When I realized I had nowhere else to be
I came to the understanding that I had nowhere to go.
And the only sound that mattered was the wind that blowed so gentle through the trees
The only noise I cared about was the soft rustling of the wind in the trees.
Well I heard music, it was soft and clear
I heard a sweet, clear melody playing.
And I sang out for the first time, I didn't care who would hear
I sang aloud without worrying about others hearing me.
Because I found my answers in the wind and waves
I obtained some of the solutions I was seeking from nature's elements.
And the magic in the little things that happen every day
I recognized the enchantment that exists in life's small moments.
And I played that tune on my old mandolin
I strummed that melody on my aged mandolin.
And I didn't hurt at all for company
I didn't mind being alone as I played music by the river.
Because the river likes to sing along and knows the words to every song I play
The river harmonizes with my playing, making it seem as though it is singing along.
Such a lovely day down by the river
It was a beautiful day to be by the river enjoying nature.
Such a lovely day...
Truly, the day was gorgeous.
Contributed by Nora N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.