Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Yonder Mountain, Red Rocks, 9/2/07

I tuned in via the iClips stream, and it was top notch all around! I was at a friends house where the stream who hooked up to the new flat screen tv and the stereo...the sound was great and the video looked really great even at such a large size. Big difference when compared to the Summer of Love stream, these guys at iclips really put out a great feed! I'm actually kinda surprised it was free. There was one moment when the sound went out, but it was back in 10 minutes. Pre-show, there was even a real live person on the phone to help with technical difficulties, the support was above and beyond considering it was a free thing...totally impressed with iClips, and if they were charging next time, I'd have no problems pays a few bucks for their show.

I missed the first opener, Todd Snider. But I caught most of the second opener, Rodrigo Y Gabriela. I like these guys, they do a fun set. So far, they only do A SET. No changes, it was nearly a carbon copy of the set that's circulating from the glastonbury festival. Hopefully they won't be a one set band for long, I'd love to see them grow into more.

As for Yonder--Love these guys. They consistently bring high energy and enthusiasm. This was their first headlining gig at Red Rocks and it was sold out, the hometown crowd really brought it for them! Jon Fishman sat in for a lot of the night, I'm assuming that was a big deal for him since phish had been banned from red rocks.

Fishman made for a great bluegrass drummer, really mellow but still swinging, adding to the music but not driving it. Complimentary but not overpowering. He did a great job. Much better than when they had FutureMan sit in on the Acoustic Planet tour.

Here's the setlist, I'd mention highlights but it's YONDER AT RED ROCKS! The whole show was awesome.

Set One: No Expectations, Sometimes I've Won, Maid of the Canyon, Rain Still Falls, New Horizons>Holding>New Horizons,40 Miles from Denver, Idaho, Finally Saw the Light, How About You*, Kentucky Mandolin*, Steep Grades, Sharp Curves*

Set Two: Ten>Riverside>Ten, Damned if the Right One Didn't Go Wrong*, Fine Excuses*, Catch a Criminal*, Midwest Gospel Radio*, Fingerprints*, King Ebeneezer*, Mother's Only Son*, Keep On A Goin'*

E: Sidewalk Stars*, East Nashville Easter*

* w/ Fishman

Right from the start...no expectations to open, that means business! Sometimes I've Won...love it! One of the things I love about Yonder is every set they play is a 'second' set. There's no saving this song or that song for the second set, there's no rules as to when a song should or shouldn't be played, everything is fair game all the time...and the result is every show is two second sets! I love that! One of my big praises of David Nelson as well

It looks like the sound was out for the part of the show I'd want to miss anyhow...at least on paper, so I'm happy As for the sound, it was tight and fast, the usual for Yonder. Watching the video when the audio was down made the band look like they were on fast forward, it was pretty comical.

I think I've nearly forgiven them for the Terrapin Interruptus at String Summit

and I highly reccomend iClips streams, they have an archive, I think that may be where they collect $$, not sure exactly, I haven't checked out the archive but the live show was a great!

Well, this is a bit difficult for me to write, but I was less than thrilled with last night's experience at Red Rocks. To me, it was more of the Yonder Mountain Rock Band instead of the Yonder Mountain String Band. To those who enjoyed the show, I hope you did to the fullest: The whole evening just felt like a mixed bag for me. My fave part of the show was easily the Ten > Down By the Riverside > Ten sandwich, because it felt more like Yonder to me than the "rock star" side.

Fishman did a fine job overall, but for me, the drums really didn't work, except for the Steep Grades first set closer and Catch A Criminal. The version of Kentucky Mandolin left me cold, as the tempos were unsteady, and nothing genuinely extraordinary happened: The recent version I caught at Grand Targhee with Larry Keel (guitar) and Eric Thorin (upright bass) was easily superior, and I've seen better there too. I actually found myself genuinely bored during the Midwest through Ebeneezer stretch, which at times sounded like Yonder Mountain Phish Band. I also thought the version of Mother's Only Son -- one of my fave Yonder tunes -- was sloppy and disjointed: Ben Kaufmann had two cases of significant lyrical memory failure, and while Dave Johnston and Adam Aijala had respectible solos, the ensemble playing was rushed and without rich details. However, the Keep On Going closer was a nice return back to the Yonder that I am accustomed to.

There was plenty of energy in both the band in crowd, no question. However, I also disliked part of the crowd, where the key words include "frat boy" and "idiot". I had set a spot in the 11th row, then bolted to find shelter since it poured rain for nearly an hour. Some asshole moved my stuff, which simply pissed me off: I simply have no tolerance for those disrespecting others' space like that. Fortunately, I found a spot two rows up. Plus, many people kept walking by me, and out of every twenty, probably three had any clue of etiquette. Hey people, ever hear of the phrase "Excuse me?!" One spilled a beer on me, and when I said, "To the back of me, please", I was given a dirty look, to which I responded, "And learn to say excuse me!" Also, after having such a great weekend up in the Poudre, I guess I was due for a letdown: Both my pal Lance and I simply were "not feeling it" for a good portion of the night; speaking only for myself, I had an uninspired night, so part of this is clearly me. We wound up leaving at the end of the second set, more interested in beating the traffic than catching the encore.

I guess I am just not a fan Yonder with drums, although again, Fishman did a solid job overall. To these ears, the drums forced the players to alter their approach, and some of the tempos just didn't gel for me. I just don't care for the direction the band went in for nearly half the show.

However, I am most certainly happy for the Yonder lads in selling out Red Rocks and sharing that with their audience. That said, the next time I see a Yonder show where a drummer is advertised, I will probably and respectfully pass.

I missed the first opener, Todd Snider. But I caught most of the second opener, Rodrigo Y Gabriela. I like these guys, they do a fun set.

To be frank...while Gabriela is talented, I found the duo to be very repetitive; with far too many gimmicks, and seriously devoid of soul! They were background music to me within 15 minutes.

Todd Snider only got 30 minutes, and Jeff and Ben backed him for all except the first two songs. To be frank, I wished Todd had gotten another half hour, although not many people paid attention to him.

Yonder definitely attracts a drunk frat boy crowd, I did have a few of those moments at String Summit...luckily there was plenty of room to move and avoid that element at Horning's.

I'm not really surprised that you didn't like it as much as other shows, I dunno, I prefer no drummer and I'm not into fishman at all but for just one show, I'm not worried too much, it's not a long term change (thankfully!). It was fun for one night--I'd probably see fishman live but I'd pass on another chance to see FutureMan...

Didn't realize it had rained, from the webcast we had no idea. We did catch this though significant lyrical memory failure...the camera angles were great, we were looking up the length of his bass from the stage, the expressions on his face really said a lot.

Really nice review John. It was critical yet objective.

Fishman is really an excellent drummer, and if they're going to have an upfront type drummer play with them he's a great choice, but I agree.... NO drummer in acoustic, bluegrass music please!

To me the bluegrass sound is weightless articulation; its dynamic floats & flys in a natural way. Drums tend to hold things down and solidify the sound too much, IMO.

Is this a direction they're going, to appeal to larger audiences and fill larger rooms? Pity if that's so, but if that's what they need to jump to a higher level and start making real money (families, kids & morgages do come into play as musicians get older) than it's hard to criticize them, as they've worked hard for quite a while now.

At least it wasn't Jay Lane on drums.

;-)

Somebody moved your stuff? I'm surprised that you able to find it. What an asshole!

Did YMSB draw a large crowd despite the inclement weather?

Hi, Nick.

Somebody moved your stuff? I'm surprised that you able to find it. What an asshole!

Given a chunk of the crowd, when looking back now, I should not have been surprised. One of many reasons I prefer to hit my festivals of choice. My stuff was moved to the very end of the 11th row.

The show was sold out, due to over 2,000 walk-ins that day.

I love them !
Saw them in Humbolt at the Mateal at the end of harvest...!

Smoking !!

Jay Lane is a great drummer.