Colorado jam-grass titans Yonder Mountain String Band reflect on over two decades of music-making with the surprise reveal of I’d Like Off, a formerly unreleased collection and one of the last studio projects featuring the group’s original lineup: Adam Aijala, Dave Johnston, Ben Kaufmann, and the late Jeff Austin. Out today on all digital streaming platforms, the five track EP offers a unique glimpse into a crucial chapter of the band’s extensive history, underlining its steadfast chemistry and dedication to honest, benevolent songcraft.
Known for its high-octane live show and bold, expressive approach to bluegrass music, Yonder Mountain String Band continues to push the boundaries of the genre while casting light upon some of life’s less-than-storybook moments. Written, recorded, and performed over a decade ago––during a time when mental health awareness and support structures did not commonly exist within the music industry––the songs that make up I’d Like Off are a valiant representation of the darkness we all harbor, bolstered by the necessary delivery of profound compassion and care.
Though YMSB fans are no stranger to these compositions, as they appear regularly in live shows, the studio recordings were first tracked at the tail end of 2010 and maintain their significance as an illuminating relic from the band’s anthology. More recently, the group released its GRAMMY-nominated ninth studio album, Get Yourself Outside, which simultaneously saw the introduction of a new member, mandolinist Nick Piccininni. As it finds its footing as a reinvented touring outfit, the band maintains a grounded philosophy on change; one that honors the past while looking optimistically toward the future.
The opening number, “Ripcord Blues,” promotes reclaiming control over one’s power, even in the face of our instinctual reactivity, while the stirring track “What the Night Brings” highlights the consequences of perilous temptations. The refreshingly upbeat “Pockets,'' offers a more lighthearted perspective on navigating uncertainty with humor and levity, and “Don’t Lean on Me” gives voice to broken relationships and failures to see eye-to-eye. Rounding out the collection is the title song, “I’d Like Off,” which hinges on the unsettling realization that true mental health involves confronting challenges that are not easily overcome.
While the aforementioned arrangements do not encompass the entirety of those pivotal recording sessions, the five tracks comprising I’d Like Off offer a poignant reminder to learn from one’s experiences, empathize with the struggles you observe in others, and do your damndest to rise above the hopelessness that sometimes overwhelms the human experience.
I’d Like Off from Yonder Mountain String Band is out today on all digital streaming platforms. The group, now featuring Adam Aijala, Ben Kaufmann, Dave Johnston, Nick Piccininni, and Coleman Smith, is on tour now, with dates confirmed through mid-December. To learn more about Yonder Mountain String Band, view tour dates, and more, visit YonderMountain.com.
I’d Like Off Track List
Ripcord Blues
What the Night Brings
Pockets
Don’t Lean on Me
I’d Like Off
YMSB 2024 Tour Dates
04/02 – Los Angeles, CA – The Bourbon Room Hollywood
04/03 – Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up
04/04 – Pioneertown, CA – Pappy & Harriet’s
04/05 – Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole
04/06 – Flagstaff, AZ – Yucca North
04/07 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
04/20 – Huntsville Park, AL – MidCity District’s Crawfish Festival
05/10 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
05/11 – St. Louis, MO – Old Rock House
05/15 – Minneapolis, MN – Dakota
05/16 – Minneapolis, MN – Dakota
05/17-05/18 – Clive, IA – Greenbelt Music Festival
05/23 – Cumberland, MD – DelFest
05/31-06/02 – Wellston, MI – Hoxeyville Music Festival
06/13-06/15 – Weiser, ID – Weiser River Music Fest
07/02 – Fairport, NY – Perinton Center Park Amphitheater
07/03 – King of Prussia, PA – Heuser Park
07/05 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
07/06 – Vienna, VA – Filene Center Wolf Trap
07/18-07/21 – Oak Hill, NY – Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival
08/03 – Fairlee, VT – Lake Morey Concert Series
08/14 – Gunnison, CO – I Bar Ranch
08/16 – Denver, CO – Levitt Pavilion
08/17 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
08/18 – Vail, CO – Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater
08/22 – New Berlin, IL – Danenberger Family Vineyards
08/30-09/01 – Mill Spring, NC – Earl Scrugg Music Festival
09/12-09/15 – Las Vegas, NV – Bender Jamboree
09/13-09/15 – Flagstaff, AZ – Pickin’ In The Pines Bluegrass & Acoustic Music Festival
09/22 – Louisville, KY – Bourbon & Beyond
10/11 – Pelham, TN – The Caverns
10/12 – Steelville, MO – Wildwood Springs Lodge
12/12-12/16 – Puerto Morelos, MX – Strings & Sol
