Over the past few years many bands have started to release series of live albums, such as moe.’s Warts and All collections, the Dead’s Road Trips and DMB’s Live Trax. I personally really dig Yonder Mountain String Band’s Mountain Tracks compilations. YMSB brings a certain energy to their performances that really shines through on disc. The next installment of Mountain Tracks series looks particularly juicy, and is currently available for pre-order before the April 15 release date.
Mountain Tracks 5 is a double-disc CD featuring YMSB’s unreleased concert from Columbus, OH at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion (July 21, 2007). It also features a compilation disc of the best live tunes handpicked by the band from the past couple of years. With each passing year Yonder keeps on developing their own style, relying less on bluegrass and more on rock. I saw the band a week after the Columbus show, and their musicianship, improvisations and songwriting really impressed me.
In other YMSB news the band is heading into the studio in May to record a new studio album with producer Tom Rothrock (Beck, Badly Drawn Boy, R.L. Burnside). The guys head out for a lengthy tour on April 1 in Fayetteville, AR, be sure to check them out when they come to your neck of the woods.
For our latest installment of Everybody Wins When We Plug Something And In Return They Offer Us Free Shit To Give Away we’ve got an autographed copy of Mountain Tracks: Volume 5 up for grabs. Just follow the rules below:
- To enter the contest leave a comment below telling us about your favorite YMSB song in 50 words of less
- Your comment must be left by 11:59 PM EST on Sunday March 30th
- Don’t be greedy, only one entry per person
- One winner will be selected at random from entries that follow the rules
- Winner receives an autographed copy of Mountain Tracks: Volume 5
41 Responses
My favorite yonder song is River because I grew up on the Mississippi and the lyrics really reflect a lot of my thoughts and feelings about life. Plus its their only song i know. I don’t really like yonder;)
“Things You’re Selling” That song can mean so much and it keeps changing. It really showcases how well Ben can write. I feel that the song speaks for it’s self. Thanks a lot man, but I’ll be moving on.
My favorite track is the one I share with my daughter Skye, Snow on the Pines. What began as a bedtime song is now one we both sing and “freak out” too! It feels amazing that we both love the same band as much as we do.
Riverside…. The song rages, love that tension and release. It makes Jeff go into an almost psychotic trance. You really can’t argue with a song about loving your girlfriend so much that you want to take her down to the river and give her the ol’ bubbly bubbly treatment.
Probably Boatman. That song just rages every time and you can’t help but dance your ass off. Not that you can’t dance your ass off to most every tune, but that one does it, especially with Darol on the intro.
Sooo many great tunes to pick from but I have to go with Riverside, it’s just an absolute monster, and yes it makes Jeff go nuts
RIVERSIDE. because it is the dirty and it gives me what i need to get through the day. Since 1999, this song has evolved to become one of the biggest ragers in yonder’s repitore and it never gets old, only better.
Darkness And Light. This song has a lot of feeling to it. Story of love, and losing the one you felt it for. Also how it speaks of how real dreams can seem just gives me a warm feeling inside.
Town – Because I am a music loving bluegrass head from Colorado and I’m stuck in a menonite republican small kansas town going to school. Every time I leave this place I put on Town and Smile.
My favorite song is “Peace of Mind” because there is no other song that can get me so riled up, yet give me peace of mind (no pun intended) at the same time. That’s what is so great about Yonder; songs that mean so much and make you shake it!
Darkness and Light-This song has a lot of emotion and well thought heart-tugging lyrics that are about love and love separation. Two things are prevalent in this song which are narrative lyrics and a great hook and that is why I love Yonder!!
TEN!!!!
Enough said.
I’m currently rocking out to “Classic Situation” on my Myspace page. Great lyrics and it just seems to roll along while the words home home. Love Adam’s work during the Guitar Solo.
check it out for yourself…..
http://www.myspace.com/yondermountainstringband
and remember….all who Yonder are not lost 🙂
I love their cover of “Jesus on the Mainline.” Mainly because it makes me think of Jesus mainlining the trey sauce, and that me chuckle.
Sometimes I’ve Won. It was the first Yonder song that grabbed me and said “this band’s for you”. I will never forget the first time I listened and it brought tears to my eyes. Was this song written for me? “A life like mine, there must be reasons why…” (I like to think so). 🙂
My favorite lick would have to be have to be Peace of Mind. It always reminds me of heading out west for some killer yonder shows. When they aren’t in the midwest. Crystal bay here we come!!!!
Over the years, my “favorite” YMSB song has been a rotating platter of goodies, but for the past two years, “Ten” has controlled the top slot, bashing down contenders with acoustic rage. Ten kicks off in yellow flame and dials up the heat to pure blue. Dancefloors suffer a beating when the boys roll up to the crescendo and back down down again. My hands-down favorite song is “Ten.”
My favorite song is “How ‘Bout You” – everyone else hates it and I love to see pain, annoyance, and bitterness in peoples eyes when they when Yonder BUSTS THIS MOFO OUT. Nothing brings me more joy. Nothing.
My favorite song is Idaho, because it does such a fantastic job describing the state I love.
“Half Moon Rising.” Always been a favorite, but this summer when I worked in the Boundary Waters in Minnesota it really took on additional meaning. Being out in the wilderness, looking up at a half moon while paddling a canoe and singing this tune – doesn’t get better than that.
traffic jam… I used to commute to work in a big city, which took almost 3 hours every day. four years ago I moved to a small rural town and it takes 5 minutes to get to work. that and it rocks.
Dominated Love Slave, even though it’s a cover — the chorus speaks for itself:
Cause I love feelin’ dirty
And I love feelin’ cheap
And I love it when you hurt me
So drive them staples deep
Although always changing, my current favorite Yonder tune is Casualty. How can a person not enjoy this song? Great lyrics by Ben as usual, and just plain fun to dance to! Without knowing it, I always seem to drive about 5mph faster in the car when this song comes on. Definitely my current favorite!
My favorite Yonder song is not actually by them. They have many great songs, but the song that introduced me to them was “Girlfriend Is Better”. I love(d) the arrangement of it and the band truly makes it their own. It’s not even a Talking Heads song anymore, its a YMSB song.
My favorite Yonder song is Mother’s Only Son because i am, i do regret what i’ve done, and I LOVE MY MOMMA
My favorite Yonder song has got to be “Finally Saw the Light” because it has beautiful lyrics, and it gives me chills every time I hear it, especially live. “I used to think it was the bad things that ya do…” amazing line.
“Wind’s On Fire” is my new favorite song by YMSB because it looks to speak to a, “little light in your heart”. It encourages a search for what is just in the heart (or World) of a listener, and encourages them to trust in their own guts. Dave Johnston not only sings it great, but the band does an excellent job with a slow tempo. I catch myself singing it all the time.
My favorite yonder song is “Mother’s Only Son” because it gives me a RAGING clue.
My favorite song is “Rambler’s Anthem” because it makes my booty bounce.
I like headbanging to TEN.
Rain Still Falls because I like to yell.
Traffic Jam. Not only do I love and agree with the message the song is sending, but I love how they swoop back into the song after the last segue, the stage goes dark and then the lights shine on all four fellas simultaneously.
I’ve been listening to “Night is Left Behind” a lot lately so at the moment that is my fav yonder song.
Keep on Going. There are a lot of songs I love, but I’ve never heard a KOG that doesn’t blow my mind and leave me with a smile on my face.
Sometimes i’ve won. The lyrics hit home, “I’m getting tired of this search for my soul with all of these rocks in the road.” Also this song will always remind me of telluride 2007, my friend thought we were lost and should turn around, I felt we probably were but that it might be a good thing and sang, “sometimes i’ve walked away before the dice were tossed.” What we experienced by continuing on will forever remind me to keep on going(which is also a favorite).
Eli Renfro
Because it has all the pieces of a fine bluegrass song, excellent harmony and riffs while the story is dark, there’s death, burying, and a curse.
Doesn’t get any better than that when profiling yonders style.
yes, Sheriffs suite is the same, but it is like 10 songs.
New Horizon. First, it reminds me of the Big Thompson Canyon flood that happened when I was a kid out in Colorado. Second, it has all the components of a great song – great tune, catchy lyrics with a good story. Lastly, a spot in the middle for some excellent jamming.
8 cylinders…makes me want to start 2-step line-dancin, it’s simple, original and dave.
Darling One is an oldie but goodie. They don’t play the track anymore, but the song can bring a tear and smile to your face at the same time. I love love songs 🙂
Half moon rising, the song that got me hooked. How could you listen to that and not be inspired to drop it all right then and there and go find the nearest mountain top to perch upon and wait for the half moon to find her glory in the night sky.
Traffic Jam for sure. I love to listen to it when I’m climbing up the mountian in the backcountry on my skis. It also reminds me Of the first show I caught, which was at Red Rocks.