The Yonder Mountain String Band is touring (as they do most of the time) and about to play a sold-out show tonight at Seattle’s Showbox Theater. Thankfully, they let me swing by before their soundcheck and do a quick interview and video shoot. Talking to the guys, what struck me the most was their respect for their army of fans, to entertaining them and keeping them on their toes. They know they have followers who join them at every stop of their tour (a la Deadheads), and that they have followers who can only see the band when they come through their town. So they keep every setlist they do for every city they play in, and they make sure they don’ repeat the same songs the next time they come through town. Whether it’s a show the next night or a show a year later… or three years later! How many rock bands could pull that off? How many would? You don’t have to be into jam bands to admire this attention to detail. There really is a communal nature to their shows, and the back-and-forth that happens between bandmates and fans. And isn’t that what music is all about?

Look for both the interview and videos featuring two new YMSB tunes on this website soon. And don’t forget to check out Fretboard Journal #18, where the band’s Jeff Austin writes about his Nugget mandolin.