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.”
Wind
Yonder Mountain String Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A wild goose chase, the morning star
Any old light that shine to me
Let a little light in your heart
Burn away the fog of fear
that brings your eyes forever near
Look-why, look-why, look-why here
Burn away the fog of fear
Chorus:
Days and days on end
Ain't the wind on fire, don't it call to you
Restless, restless friend,
Ain't you higher than you've ever been
Look at the size of your skin
Where it ends and it begins
Keep on tearin' your world apart
Look at the size of your soul
Hang that ol' hangin' judge
The highest tree, it ain't enough
Keep on tearin' your soul apart
Look at the size of the world
Days and days on end
The machines will love you to bring you down
Restless, restless friend,
Ain't you higher than you've ever been
Let a little light in your heart
A wild goose chase, the morning star
Any old light that shine to me
Let a little light in your heart
[ Chorus ]
The lyrics of Yonder Mountain String Band's song "Wind's On Fire" seem to be urging the listener to let go of their fears and embrace the wonder of the world around them. The first two verses use the metaphor of light to represent positive energy and hope, encouraging the listener to "let a little light in your heart" and "burn away the fog of fear." The chorus acknowledges the restlessness that comes with being alive, but also highlights the beauty and power of the natural world. The final verses contrast the smallness of our physical bodies with the vastness of our souls and the universe, ultimately suggesting that only by tearing ourselves apart and pushing our limits can we hope to find true understanding and connection.
Overall, the song seems to be a call to action for anyone feeling lost or disconnected. It urges the listener to embrace the unknown, seek out new experiences and perspectives, and find strength in the natural world. It also acknowledges the challenges and struggles that come with this pursuit, noting that it can be both exhilarating and exhausting, but ultimately worth it.
Line by Line Meaning
Let a little light in your heart
Open yourself up to positivity and hope.
A wild goose chase, the morning star
Life is full of adventure and new opportunities.
Any old light that shine to me
Take light and positivity wherever it comes from.
Burn away the fog of fear
Face your fears and push through them.
That brings your eyes forever near
Fear can cloud your perception and keep you from seeing the truth.
Look-why, look-why, look-why here
Keep searching for the truth and don't give up.
Chorus:
Refrain that is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing its main themes.
Days and days on end
Time can feel unending and overwhelming.
Ain't the wind on fire, don't it call to you
Nature and its beauty can inspire us and lift us up.
Restless, restless friend,
Always searching for more, never truly content.
Ain't you higher than you've ever been
You have the potential to reach new heights and achieve great things.
Look at the size of your skin
Your physical body is just a small part of who you are.
Where it ends and it begins
Boundaries and definitions are fluid and constantly changing.
Keep on tearin' your world apart
Challenge yourself and your beliefs to continue growing.
Look at the size of your soul
Your spirit and inner self are limitless and expansive.
Hang that ol' hangin' judge
Reject negative influences and judgments that hold you back.
The highest tree, it ain't enough
No matter how high you climb, there is always more to strive for.
Keep on tearin' your soul apart
Continually question and re-examine your inner self and beliefs.
Look at the size of the world
The world is vast and full of possibilities and wonder.
The machines will love you to bring you down
Technology and society can create stress and pressure that weigh us down.
Let a little light in your heart
End the song with a repetition of its hopeful opening message.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind