Yonder Mountain is back

Yonder Mountain String Band (Credit: Special to Metromix)

2012 80/35 Music Festival Guide

See new bands and re-live last year's fest through photos,...

It’s been a little over a year since Yonder Mountain String Band played the main stage at the first 80/35 Music Festival. The band has been touring nearly nonstop and also found time to record a new album, “The Show,” due in stores Sept. 1.

The album will showcase a slightly different sound for the Colorado bluegrass band. The group normally only plays with stringed instruments, but for “The Show” YMSB worked with Elvis Costello drummer Pete Thomas. But don’t expect their sound to be too different live.

“So people have the mentality of ‘Why make a record and do stuff on it you don’t do in a live setting?,’ " guitarist Adam Aijala said. “I was never a fan of going to a live show where it sounds exactly like on the record.”

This is the band’s third show in Des Moines in three years, but fans shouldn’t worry about a repetitive performance. YMSB keeps track of the songs they play in each city, adjusting the set list on return visits. Their headlining shows are also different from their festival sets, since they have more time and normally do two sets. More time also means the songs vary a bit more.

“A lot of times when we finish a festival set, we’re just getting warmed up,” Aijala said. “We go in with the same attitude, but at a festival we might put in a little more energy and play faster because we want to nail the crowd.”

“The Show” was largely written on the road, with only one song coming together in the studio. The band is known for its live shows, and to capture that in the studio the band tried to play as much of each song live in the studio as possible.

The band is also putting together a bonus disc of solo recordings from each member. At the time of this interview, Aijala hadn’t recorded his solo songs but said he plans to do two, including his first “jammer.” He said the tune reminded him of Pink Floyd, although it won’t sound like the legendary English prog-rock band.

Overall, Aijala feels that “The Show” feels like it picks up where 2006’s “Yonder Mountain String Band” left off, but with a sound that has improved with age.

“I think it came out really well. Our playing is getting better and so is our comfort level in the studio. That’s the situation you want to be in, to make a record and still feel relaxed.”