Yonder Mountain String Band Honor Bob Weir with Kyle Tuttle and Dominick Leslie
Yonder Mountain String Band, photo by Robin Vega
Yonder Mountain String Band took the stage at Denver’s Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom over the weekend for a home state double-header to embark on their Winter Tour. After the legendary guitarist, singer, songwriter and Grateful Dead co-founder Bob Weir passed away on Saturday, the progressive bluegrass ensemble peeled off from their usual repertoire to honor their jam forefather through some reverent covers, featuring support from special guests.
Yonder Mountain String Band returned to the spotlight on Saturday night with the traditional “Little Maggie,” then turned to their celebrated 2024 album Nowhere Next with “Cruisin’.” After their two-decade live staple “Sometimes I’ve Won,” Jesse Fuller’s “You’re No Good” and new Yonder original “Brand New Heartache” which debuted at Cervantes (with the single to be released on Friday), the band called up opener and banjo ace Kyle Tuttle and Colorado-based mandolinist Dominick Leslie to pay their respects to Weir.
YMSB’s salute to the iconic Grateful Dead guitarist began with his band’s live hallmark “Me and My Uncle”; the John Phillips-penned entry famously spotlighted Weir’s vocals and became the group’s most frequently performed live cut between 1966 and 1995. Yonder’s guitarist Adam Aijala led lyrically, then passed the microphone to banjoist Dave Johnston for the Weir-associated folk classic “Dark Hollow,” originated by Bill Browning and covered live by the Dead roughly 30 times.
Yonder Mountain String Band’s guests remained onstage for the longtime fan-favorites “Traffic Jam” and “Boatman’s Dance,” then the core quintet wrapped up their main set with a joyous “Shakedown Street” and the traditional “Raleigh and Spencer.” An encore of “Idaho” and a final salute to the Dead with Jerry Garcia’s original “Deal” closed out the show on a high note.
Yonder Mountain String Band will perform tomorrow, Jan. 15, at Clemson, S.C.’s Brooks Center for the Performing Arts, then continue their Winter Tour with 29 further engagements through March 28. Find tickets and more information at yondermountain.com. Watch a fan-shot full-show recording from Saturday below.
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