Nowhere Next Yonder Mountain String Band

• 1 The Truth Fits 03:08
• 2 Cruisin' 03:52
• 3 Here I Go 05:14
• 4 Didn't Go Wrong 03:50
• 5 Nowhere Next 04:36
• 6 Leave The Midwest 05:39
• 7 Secondhand Smoke 03:50
• 8 Come See Me 02:27
• 9 Outlaw 03:05
• 10 Wasting Time 04:05
• 11 River 03:00
• Total Runtime 42:46

Info for Nowhere Next

Yonder Mountain String Band’s new album, Nowhere Next, masterfully blends a multitude of stylistic impulses into a cohesive and seamless musical statement. This exploration showcases their roots in bluegrass while venturing into diverse musical territories.

The album opens with “The Truth Fits,” setting the tone with a message of independence and self-discovery. "Cruisin" then subtly shifts away from initial certainties, embodying a sense of confusion and the quest to “find a way through,” reflecting one of Yonder’s core themes. In 'Here I Go,' the band confronts the ambiguity of growth versus failure, departing from traditional bluegrass with an instrumental bridge and solos, featuring Jerry Douglas offering an improvisational answer to the song’s central question. “Didn’t Go Wrong” delivers a sonic uplift, blending old country lyricism with modern jam band elements to celebrate new love, transcending typical “cheating song” narratives. The title track, “Nowhere Next,” centers the album. It’s the middle of the compass with all cardinal points possible, alley ways, hotel stairs, and the traps we find ourselves in. “Leave the Midwest” captures an introspective moment of revisiting one's past and reckoning with the present of where we tell ourselves we’re ok with where we’ve landed. “Second Hand Smoke” continues this theme, making a distinction between authenticity and pretense, while “Come See Me” offers a straightforward bluegrass tune that invites listeners to join in the journey of music, travel, and time. “Outlaw” celebrates unexpected positive changes and “Wasting Time” offers a humorous take on self-reflection and resignation. The album concludes with “River”, a serene and reflective piece, that embraces a peaceful mindset and a “lovely day.”

In “Nowhere Next” Yonder Mountain String Band takes listeners on a rich journey through diverse musical landscapes and personal introspection, ultimately revealing that the journey itself holds as many destinations as we can imagine.

Yonder Mountain String Band

Yonder Mountain String Band
Pioneers. Innovators. These are but a few of the monikers that Yonder Mountain String Band has worn since their inception. From the first Yonder shows in the fall of 1998 to their drive-in tour of 2020, this touring force has brought their adventurous musical spirit to countless venues for nearly a quarter century.

Yonder Mountain’s early success was fueled by their desire to make a sound distinctly their own, whether performed on crowded stages or selling out the hallowed Red Rocks Amphitheater. Their traditional take on bluegrass sound was fused with their diverse musical influences ranging anywhere from punk rock to the Grateful Dead.

The combination of the band’s unique personalities extended musical improvisations, their jam band fan culture and their collaborative effort on writing and arranging original songs which span multiple genres—attracted more of a freewheeling jam crowd than the traditional bluegrass scene which, in turn, exposed a whole new generation of fans to Bluegrass.

No band that has stood the test of time is without transformation and Yonder Mountain has had their fair share of change. In 2014, Yonder Mountain and Jeff Austin announced they were parting ways. Austin went on to tour full time with his side project, The Jeff Austin Band, with a rotating lineup of musicians playing with him until his unexpected death in 2019.

Yonder’s ninth studio album will be released in late 2021. It features founding members Adam Aijala on guitar, Ben Kaufmann on bass, Dave Johnston on banjo, alongside the 2015 addition of Allie Kral on fiddle, and newcomer, multi-instrumentalist Nick Piccininni handling duties on mandolin, second fiddle, and anything stringed.

Yonder Mountain String Band is a quintessential ensemble honing its craft night after night on the road; the result is music that doesn’t stand still, it’s always progressing and breaking unprecedented ground.

This album contains no booklet.