Wow!
http://www.jambands.com/news/2014/04/23/jeff-austin-leaving-yonder-mountain-string-band/
wow is right I just saw this on Facebook… so who is sitting in with them at Telluride? Crazy no JA at Telluride… nuts.
Sam and Ronnie trading off won’t be the worst…
I can’t believe they couldn’t wait until after Telluride to do this.
That being said, I sure hope they consider adding Allie Kral to the band - I’ve seen her play with them a few times and man, she is one hell of a fiddle player!
Their set with her and Darrell Anger at the Harvest Mountain fest a couple years ago - just blew me away and she kicked Darrell’s ass all over that stage that night . . .
Maybe Jerry Douglas will be in . . . I don’t think AKUS is doing much these days and if you read the Relix stuff, Adam from Yonder was just talking about how great it was to have Jerry sit in at the Dec. 28th show at the Boulder theater . . .
AKUS is touring with Willie Nelson this summer. Telluride was fortunate to be able to get Jerry Douglas and Alison to join the House Band this year, the 22nd is the only day they are not touring.
It’s Yoko’s fault.
When I say AKUS isn’t doing much these days, I mean not so much in terms of this summer, but over the last few years . . . with Alison’s voice issues, I wasn’t sure they’d be doing much going forward, and they still just cancelled some dates just recently with Willie Nelson. I hope it all goes well going forward.
But in terms of the Yonder situation, I wouldn’t be surprised if Jerry Douglas isn’t getting a bit restless and he’s a good fit with the Yonder guys . . . but, Jerry is also a bit of free agent, not ‘really’ a part of AKUS, it’s always billed as “featuring Jerry Douglas” I don’t think he’d join the band outright, but I’d like to see more of Jerry sitting in . . . ‘featuring Jerry Douglas’ . . .
This article wasn’t from Relix like I thought, but from the Bluegrass Situation . . . published yesterday, gotta admit the timing is certainly a coincidence
They have already stated that all future dates will be with Adam Aijala on gutair and vocals.
Erndog, I agree with your point about AKUS not doing much these days, and that JD would be a good fit with them. One thing about this festival, is that there’s never a dull moment here. Last year it was Mumford, now this. The three YSMB shows just got a lot more interesting.
To be honest, this does not really surprise me. They toured this winter without him, stopping in Ohio, because his wife was having a baby. Does anyone not find that a little strange, that they would do that? Not everyone’s like Bela, running through airports from gigs when your wife is in labor.
Maybe, after years of touring, it was just time?
Ben was always my favorite anyways, but it will be very interesting to see where they go from here.
If this had been reported two weeks ago, would fewer folks have requested YMSB CC and SOH??
He does seem the one who moves around the stage, wild eyed looks… It’ll be interesting to see if there is the same energy on stage…
Jeff’s doing a songwriter workshop at Music Camp before the Grand Targhee Bluegrass Festival in August…
I posted this in another thread, but it should go here as well.
"I had been hearing rumors for a while that their most recent tour would be their last. Honestly, I’m shocked the band is planning on continuing on without him. He’s been working on a bunch of solo projects recently, so I’m surprised he’s decided to move in that direction. I am surprised that Adam and Ben have decided to keep Yonder going. I always figured the two of them would go off and do some type of collaborative thing while Jeff formed his own band and Dave waited by his phone for the call to reform Yonder (sorry, Dave). I’m absolutely shocked.
I give it a year before Yonder disbands and goes the route of Salmon. They’ll do their own thing for a few years, then they’ll start doing 2-4 reunion shows a year at big festivals, then they’ll come back full force and show a whole new generation what they were about.
I was at the last show of their tour, which now is the second to last show with the original lineup. Weird to think about."
There just is a ton of new(er) up and coming bands emerging right now - it’s probably a good thing to change things up as far as Yonder is concerned, there’s definitely some up and comers on their tail- by that I mean The Devil Makes Three, Pert Near, Deadly Gentlemen, Della Mae . . . on and on . . lots of different stuff from different angles . . .
Whether or not they keep this going - it’s up to us and them, I guess - if they’re good and add some interesting talent to the band, everyone will stick around. If is sucks and it looks like they’re forcing it, we’ll all know that, too.
Newgrass Revival changed things around a couple of times and kept on trucking - some will say they were better in their last incarnation.
So, we’ll see. I think this year’s shows at most major festivals will be great - they’re will be a lot of energy, high expectations from us - the fans - and I hope they deliver.
Not to sound like some old fart here, but I’ve seen every Yonder show at the Sheridan, I am sure there are a few others that can say the same. They were at their best years back. Last couple of Sheridan shows, not many guests came to sit in. Greensky’s Sheridan show a couple years ago was OVER THE TOP! I’d like to see the energy and straight out jamming of the days of yore . . .maybe changing things up a bit will do that.
If you haven’t yet, read that interview with Adam about how he talks about playing with others outside the band - I think maybe this change was a year or two overdue . . .
I agree, Erndog. I wonder if this will end up being a really good thing for guys like Greensky and The Dusters to take that next step.
I could see Greensky taking over the CC spot .
Whatever can be said, it’s the end of an era for Yonder and perhaps a new beginning. We’ll see.
Hot Tip: When it comes to new acoustic music, Ross Martin, Eric Thorin and Danny Barnes are absolute beasts. Watch out!
The news saddens me for sure. For me, YMSB was something special. Excellent group of gentleman seemingly meant to play together. Their energy and stage presence was fantastic. I feel lucky to have been part of it since the beginning.
Fun story - When I moved to Denali Park, AK in 2002 I was certainly disappointed to leave behind Carbondale, IL and all the access to live music. Especially Yonder as I was drinking the kool-aid really heavy at the time. After already making the decision to move, Yonder announced two nights in Anchorage. Obviously I was super excited. I made it to the show very early and actually had some beers with Jeff Austin as he was drawn to my Cubs hat. The show was at the Bears Tooth Theatre for anyone familiar. After beers with Jeff I had just the right buzz to quietly walk over to the bulletin board, unpin the very cool YMSB playbill and walk back to my vehicle. When I got back to my vehicle a Bear Tooth employee confronted me and told me to put the poster back. My car still had Illinois plates (along with YMSB stickers) and I told the dude I drove all the way up here from Illinois for these shows and I really want the poster. He let me keep it. Anyone want to buy it? It’s vintage baby. Kidding.
Not sure why I told you that…part of the healing process I guess.
Jeff is a great guy and I wish him the best of luck. I also wish the remaining members the best of luck.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Will Jeff be a special guest with YMSB at Telluride? Hopefully for Telluride this means Ronnie on mando and Jason Carter on fiddle. Didn’t get to see any of these shows but I do have a recording from the Orange Peel in Asheville. The Vamp in the Middle is sick. Ronnie and Jason sound great with Ben, Dave, and Adam.
I saw the show in Madison with the Traveling McCourys, Jason and Ronnie killed it. Still I hope we see Jeff Austin appear as one last hurrah.
:wave Hi Beaker!
Duke and I are headed from Atlanta {Mike will already be out for landrush as you know} and we will certainly see you in time for the Ganjala Ride to CC for whatever YMSB version we get! I hope you are right and we get one last hurrah. :cheers
Hi Scott!
Can’t wait to see you and Duke again. My countdown clock has me at 50 days until I get on the plane in Anchorage. Ah, the Ganjala ride. Have you seen this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CiRvDBxg2U
Whatever happens at the Wednesday night kick-off is going to be great. I love that party!