Yonder Mountain String Band has released an EP recorded more than a decade ago in 2010 by the band’s original lineup of Adam Aijala, Dave Johnston, Ben Kaufmann, and the late Jeff Austin.
I’d Like Off includes the original recordings of five introspective songs dealing with the difficulties of maintaining mental health, managing temptation, having compassion for oneself and others, and more. The EP offers new insight into a significant chapter of the jamgrass pioneers’ extensive history with tunes highlighting the band’s unique combination of explosive chemistry and elevated songcraft. Among the tracklist are songs that remain in Yonder’s live catalog, including “Ripcord Blues”, “What the Night Brings”, “Pockets”, “Don’t Lean on Me”, and the titular “I’d Like Off”.
Jeff Austin’s family shared a message regarding the new EP, writing, “Our family was a little shocked to hear that there would be a new EP featuring all four original members from Yonder Mountain String Band. We hope that you’ll honor Jeff’s legacy as an iconic musician by downloading/streaming any version you prefer … We love you Jeff and we hope this makes you proud.”
Austin’s gift for songwriting is on full display on the EP. In a 2011 interview, he described writing “What the Night Brings” in a creative burst. “There’s songs that get finished in 15 minutes and are never edited,” he said. “I have a song I wrote called ‘What the Night Brings’ and if you look at the original piece of paper that it was written on‚ there’s one line crossed out and replaced with something else and that’s it. I wrote it in about 15 minutes‚ it just came.”
Listen to I’d Like Off, the new old EP from the founding lineup of Yonder Mountain String Band below or on your preferred streaming platform. The band’s current lineup, which features multi-instrumentalist/mandolinist Nick Piccininni, is gearing up to head out on tour and recently announced a round of summer tour dates with Railroad Earth and Leftover Salmon. Click below for a full list of upcoming shows. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit the band’s website.
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