Words: Jonathan “Kos” Kosakow
Images: S. Balaji Mani

In a city where you can find entertainment of just about any kind, Yonder Mountain String Band stood out from the rest of options this past Saturday night in New York City’s Times Square thanks to their unique way of adding a slight twist of modern rock to traditional bluegrass that allows their sound to satisfy the tastes of fans across the board.

Even without a percussionist, the group is able to keep any crowd shuffling their feet for hours on end. Vocally, all four members are able to take center stage – with the majority of songs led by mandolin player Jeff Austin or bassist Ben Kaufman. The moments that they truly shine, though, come when they all harmonize together.

Unlike many current acts, the four members of YMSB, though they play different parts and sing different lines, come together to sound as one. Given their excitement at playing on Broadway, the quartet came out rocking, ready to play to their largest New York City audience to date at the 2,100-capacity Nokia Theater. READ ON for more from Kos and Balaji…

The first set opened with an electrically charged Raleigh & Spencer. Kaufmann held down the rhythm section, never missing a beat as his band mates each took their turn leading the jam.  It was more of the same throughout the night, and after powering through 40 Miles from Colorado and Pride of Alabama, a certain excitement was in the air. Austin took some time to tell about their first few New York City gigs at the gone-but-not-forgotten Wetlands, and a break-in of their van which resulted in, among other things, a stolen computer.

Banjo player Dan Johnston took the vocals on a quieter ballad before the band collectively raged through Elzic’s Farewell > New Horizons > Holding > New Horizons, with impressive work from all, particularly Adam Aijala, who was on point all night.

A nearly half-hour intermission gave the bartenders some extra work, and the crowd was especially fired up for the second set. Austin came out ready to play, as a raucous Traffic Jam segued into Little Rabbit and back into Traffic Jam. Danny Barnes – who opened the night’s festivities along with Railroad Earth – joined on banjo and vocals for the Bill Monroe tune Pike County Breakdown and YMSB’s Where They Do Not Know My Name. A couple of songs later, Aijala and Johnston showed their chops as they cut through Country Boy Rock & Roll. The set closed with a jostling Peace of Mind.

It was decided that a fiddle was necessary to make the night complete, and Tim Carbone was brought out for the two-song encore. A delighted audience was granted a swinging version of Jimmy Cliff’s Harder They Come and the old traditional tune Shady Grove.

It was around midnight by the time the show let out, but even after three acts and nearly four hours of bluegrass, you would have been hard pressed to find someone who wouldn’t have asked for just a little bit more.

Yonder Mountain String Band – 10.17.09 – Nokia Theater, Times Square, New York, NY

Set 1: Raleigh & Spencer, 40 Miles From Denver, Pride Of Alabama, Sometimes I’ve Won, Winds On Fire, Another Day, Complicated, Southbound, Elzic’s Farewell> New Horizons> Holdin’> New Horizons

Set 2: Traffic Jam> Little Rabbit> Traffic Jam, Crazy, *Pike County Breakdown, *Going Where The Do Not Know My Name, Finally Saw The Light, Country Boy Rock & Roll, Natchez Whistle> Peace Of Mind

E:#Harder They Come Harder They Fall, #Shady Grove

*= Danny Barnes on banjo & vocals, #= Tim Carbone on fiddle

HT Staff

Hidden Track was started in October of 2006 and features a team of dedicated contributors from across the country. This article was written by one of the newest members of our team or was a collaboration by more than one contributor. Want to contribute to Hidden Track? Send us a pitch to scott at glidemagazine dot com.

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