FRESH GRASS

Spring may not grace us with its presence for a few more months, and signs of green grass underneath the melting snow are scattered, but Tues., Feb. 24 at Axis there will be a little bluegrass to warm away the winter blues.\nThe Yonder Mountain String Band will be rolling into town on their Cabin Fever Tour for Axis' "Huge Fat Tuesday Show," bringing with them a new spin on the blugrass tradition.\nFor almost six years now, the Colorado-based quartet has toured, recorded, produced and cultivated a fan base rival to those of String Cheese Incident or Widespread Panic. The band's members hail from various areas of the U.S. and have differing musical backgrounds that serendipitously led them down the path to bluegrass and eventually to each other. Together, band members Jeff Austin (mandolin, vocals), Ben Kaufmann (bass, vocals), Adam Aijala (acoustic guitar, vocals) and Dave Johnston (banjo, vocals), have recorded five albums with Frog Pad Records since their formation in 1998. \nThe band's Cabin Fever Tour is an annual winter tradition as the band always takes a few months to travel and play shows. \n"The tour is going great," Johnston says. "We've been playing a lot of medium-sized shows and we've been in the southeast mostly until now." \nHowever, this year's tour finds the band one member short, as Kaufmann is absent due to the death of his father. Guest bassists Gene Libbea, Bryn Bright and Brandon Story will be filling in. \nYMSB's style may be described as "jam grass," a genre which stems from a long bluegrass history that has found a new younger audience with movie soundtracks such as "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Cold Mountain," but borrows from the "jam band" tradition, defined by acts such as Phish, Widespread Panic, String Cheese Incident and Leftover Salmon. \nEach "jam grass" band finds their own niche, some using more bluegrass than others. YMSB found their style based more in traditional bluegrass, but has appealed to the jam band crowd as well. \nJunior Megan Gram has listened to the band for years. \n"I love the bluegrass sound they have more than the Phish-type of jam band," she says. "I'll definitely be at the show, they're always awesome."\nThe band uses the standard bluegrass instruments: mandolin, acoustic guitar, upright bass and banjo, but also incorporates slide guitar and fiddle. Their 2003 release, Old Hands, features songs written by friend Benny Galloway and showcases the most traditional sound for the band yet. \n"We wanted to put together a tribute to more traditional roots," Johnston says. "We're huge traditional fans."\nJohnston says he finds inspiration in everything from Del McCoury, Earl Scruggs and Bela Fleck to Led Zeppelin and punk rock. The band pays tribute to Willie Nelson and John Hartford on other albums, but they don't feel any pressure to fill the shoes of bigger bands like Phish. \n"We've found our niche," Johnston says. "Only these four people in this configuration can make up our sound. We don't have to worry about being like other bands, and because we've found our own thing, other bands respect us more. They see that we're not trying to tap into what they're doing."\nAn energetic and laid-back feeling to a show is what the band is known for.\n"Kids tend to get intimidated with a more stereotypical-type bluegrass concert which can end up more like a recital," Johnston says. "We bring energy to the stage but we're also really informal, we're laid back, we don't preach. Music is to be shared and everyone's here to have a good time. It doesn't matter if it's not perfect and that's why the kids like us."\nAnother reason why this band has broken out so strongly may be because of a grassroots effort that appeals to a younger crowd. According to the band's Web site, the Kinfolk Community consists of YMSB representatives who help promote the band as a street team, hanging up posters, spreading the good vibe about shows and reporting back to the band the news in their community. Hard-working volunteers might even get to see a free show.\n"The street team has definitely influenced the way the band is," Johnston says. "There's a cool vibe about the whole thing. Grassroots efforts are important -- the idea that every person is important and deserves your respect."\nThe good vibe is working its way around. Senior Jonathan Lundquist has listened to very little music from the band, but has heard great things and plans on attending the show.\n"I've heard they have that old-timey sound that I like a lot," Lundquist says. "I like a band that can convey a feeling of a mountain town influence or travelling on lonely roads and railroads."\nThe band will play a show in Indianapolis the night before coming to Axis, then they will continue the tour at the University of Illinois, moving further west from there and then coming back to the Midwest for another show in Indianapolis.\nYMSB will be featured on an upcoming March release called Songs from the Tin Shed by Jeff Austin of YMSB and Chris Castino of the Big Wu. The album will also have more of a traditional "folksy" sound. \nAs far as the long-term plans for the band, Johnston says it best. \n"For the moment we'll just keep doing what we're doing," he says. "It seems to be a good formula."\nFor more on the Yonder Mountain String Band, check out their Web site at \nwww.yondermountain.com.