Yonder Mountain String Band shares the creative journey behind its 12th studio album, Good as True, set for release on March 27. The record emerges from a collaborative process where members openly exchange songs, refining ideas without egos clashing.
Collaborative Songwriting Dynamics
Banjo player Dave Johnston describes sharing new songs with the band as nerve-wracking. “There’s something really daunting about sharing a song with the band,” Johnston says. “What if nobody wants to play the stuff you come up with? But you never really know.”
Yet, the group embraces each contribution. Guitarist Adam Aijala and Johnston, partners for nearly 30 years, exemplify this trust. “Most people take that stuff personally,” Johnston notes. “Adam doesn’t take that personally, and I don’t either. That makes it possible to keep things moving.”
Aijala adds, “I use Dave as a bellwether to see if something’s worth pursuing. There’s no ego. If he doesn’t like something, he can say it, and I’m not hurt by it.”
Current Lineup and Fresh Influences
The lineup features Aijala and Johnston alongside bassist Ben Kaufmann, multi-instrumentalist Nick Piccininni, and fiddler Coleman Smith. Piccininni, with the band for six years, co-wrote tracks on this and the prior album. Smith debuts in the studio, infusing classical fiddle techniques that broaden the sound while preserving the band’s essence.
Formed in 1998 and based in Boulder, the band navigates changes post-founding member Jeff Austin’s 2019 passing, maintaining its democratic approach.
Tracks Built for the Stage
Good as True prioritizes live energy, recorded straight to tape without overdubs. It opens with single “Brand New Heartache,” released in January and inspired by Tom Petty’s catalog. Upbeat strings mask poignant lyrics of loss amid motion.
The 16-minute closer “Barroom Feather” captures a spontaneous studio jam. “We just said, let’s turn on the microphones and see what happens,” Johnston recalls. Aijala compares it to past unstructured epics, emphasizing play over perfection.
Touring and Home Roots
Aijala stresses stage viability: “The whole point of writing new stuff is having something we can play live.” New material refreshes setlists and energizes performances.
The Boulder residents balance touring with family life. “Our families are here,” Aijala says. Johnston affirms, “Boulder has changed a lot… But I still feel like I belong here.”
Presales are live at yondermountain.com, with the tour schedule at yondermountain.com/tour. The album arrives via Thirty Tigers on Frog Pad Records.
