These days Bluegrass music is no longer your basic picking session, but has revolutionized itself into a combination of Bluegrass principles with a hint of jam band improvisation. This newer movement, often referred to as New Grass, is bringing about a definite change in the industry as well as capturing a whole new, younger demographic.
The recipe has always been quite simple. Get a couple of serious pickers to blend their unique sounds into a unified collaboration of bass, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and any other string you can think of. It’s music and sounds that go back generations upon generations, and have always relatively maintained the same characteristics. Even the greats like Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Peter Rowan, and the Del McCoury Band have stayed true to the idea of traditional Bluegrass.
New Grass, on the other hand, has taken on a whole new entity altering the traditional sense of Bluegrass through the use of different instruments, bringing in different musical styles, and changing the look of a “Bluegrass band”. Personally, I attribute the initial change to artists like Sam Bush and New Grass Revival, Leftover Salmon, and String Cheese Incident. They show their true character through their music whether they fit the mold or not. Inventive ways of bringing new approaches to their sound have been a staple for these bands by combining such things as percussion, keyboards, and electric guitar which definitely separates them from most Bluegrass. Also, bringing in elements of Rock in Sam Bush’s case, Funk and Cajun in Leftover’s case, and a Jam Band feel in String Cheese’s case just proves my point. You just can’t beat it, and let me say they are some of the most energetic and captivating shows possible to see.
So where does it go from there? For me, I have to say Yonder Mountain String Band has taken center stage in the New Grass scene showing new and creative ways of pushing the envelop in Bluegrass. Though they stick mostly to the true Bluegrass instruments, the way members like Jeff Austin (mandolin) and Ben Kaufman (bass) manipulate their sound is truly remarkable. At a show, you never know if they’re going to traditional Bluegrass like Red Bird or an improvisational Two Hits and the Joint Turns Brown or Snow on the Pines. Recently, they’ve brought in legendary drummers like Phishman and Futureman, as well as constantly packing the stage with Bluegrass and New Grass greats (which just shows the respect they get from their peers). I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are always great!
When you go to their shows you can’t help but notice the eclectic mix of people that represent all walks of life. Be they the old faithful Bluegrass fans or the younger traveling fanatics, all are looking to hear some great music and have an unforgettable experience. And let me just say our generation represents the majority of those faithful fans. I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, YMSB New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are the shit and Drew Emmitt and Billy Nershi are playing together on Halloween at the Boulder Theatre which you know will be good. If you have already experienced them, well keep going to the shows and supporting them as it is always good for the actual good bands and talent out there.
That’s All for Now
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Bluegrass's New Look and Sound
These days Bluegrass music is no longer your basic picking session, but has revolutionized itself into a combination of Bluegrass principles with a hint of jam band improvisation. This newer movement, often referred to as New Grass, is bringing about a definite change in the industry as well as capturing a whole new, younger demographic.
The recipe has always been quite simple. Get a couple of serious pickers to blend their unique sounds into a unified collaboration of bass, mandolin, fiddle, banjo, and any other string you can think of. It’s music and sounds that go back generations upon generations, and have always relatively maintained the same characteristics. Even the greats like Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Peter Rowan, and the Del McCoury Band have stayed true to the idea of traditional Bluegrass.
New Grass, on the other hand, has taken on a whole new entity altering the traditional sense of Bluegrass through the use of different instruments, bringing in different musical styles, and changing the look of a “Bluegrass band”. Personally, I attribute the initial change to artists like Sam Bush and New Grass Revival, Leftover Salmon, and String Cheese Incident. They show their true character through their music whether they fit the mold or not. Inventive ways of bringing new approaches to their sound have been a staple for these bands by combining such things as percussion, keyboards, and electric guitar which definitely separates them from most Bluegrass. Also, bringing in elements of Rock in Sam Bush’s case, Funk and Cajun in Leftover’s case, and a Jam Band feel in String Cheese’s case just proves my point. You just can’t beat it, and let me say they are some of the most energetic and captivating shows possible to see.
So where does it go from there? For me, I have to say Yonder Mountain String Band has taken center stage in the New Grass scene showing new and creative ways of pushing the envelop in Bluegrass. Though they stick mostly to the true Bluegrass instruments, the way members like Jeff Austin (mandolin) and Ben Kaufman (bass) manipulate their sound is truly remarkable. At a show, you never know if they’re going to traditional Bluegrass like Red Bird or an improvisational Two Hits and the Joint Turns Brown or Snow on the Pines. Recently, they’ve brought in legendary drummers like Phishman and Futureman, as well as constantly packing the stage with Bluegrass and New Grass greats (which just shows the respect they get from their peers). I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are always great!
When you go to their shows you can’t help but notice the eclectic mix of people that represent all walks of life. Be they the old faithful Bluegrass fans or the younger traveling fanatics, all are looking to hear some great music and have an unforgettable experience. And let me just say our generation represents the majority of those faithful fans. I say if you haven’t checked them out buy a ticket now, YMSB New Year’s shows at the Fillmore in Denver are the shit and Drew Emmitt and Billy Nershi are playing together on Halloween at the Boulder Theatre which you know will be good. If you have already experienced them, well keep going to the shows and supporting them as it is always good for the actual good bands and talent out there.
That’s All for Now
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3 comments:
As someone who is a fan of bands with a bluegrass/jamband/ improv style... I still haven't had the chance to see Yonder Mountain! I've heard nothing but good things about them though, hopefully I'll get to check them out soon. Emmit Nershi Band on Halloween should be a good time too!!
I have been a Yonder fan for almost 3 years now (my wife and I saw them for the first time on our anniversary, New Years Eve, in December 05) It was one of the greatest shows that I have ever seen and have been a raving lunatic fan ever since. Before then I would have never considered myself a bluegrass fan ( I didn't evven really know what it was) and had only dabbled in jam-type music (mostly O.A.R.). The thing that I find most intreaguing about Yonder and this type of music is that it easily transends gerational lines. I consider myself a younger guy (26) and I have never once in my youth listened to music that would be of any interest to my parents. For me, Yonder breaks that mold. Just the other day my mother-in-law went to a Yonder show. She is perhaps one of the most extreme right wing staunchly Christian persons that I have evver known and I wass sceptical about what the results of her experience would be. Long story short, she loved it... what other band do you know that caters to both the unshowered, dirt streaked, hazy brained hippie AND the middle aged, frequently offended, high necklined Catholic crowd? Name one, I dare you...
Back east bluegrass remains on the fringe of the music scene but with this said, Yonder has blown people away in their concerts here and I now get requests from people for their music, not to mention other bluegrass bands! Just goes to show the diversity of what is out there and what a great time it is to be into music!!
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