Interview: Yonder Mountain String Band
Posted on: October 21, 2004
Posted in: All Videos, Featured, Interviews, Mocean Worker, Yonder Mountain String Band
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I called Penny Zemp at Partners In Music and asked if Yonder Mountain String Band could make themselves available to me during their visit to New York City. She said I could shoot an interview and performance the day of their gig at Irving Plaza so long as I provided transportation for the band and their gear. I told Penny, “No problem,” and waited for the date.
The day of the gig, I hopped into my VW Westy and drove to Irving Plaza to collect the guys. Everyone got a nice laugh when they saw the van. We loaded everything up and headed up to midtown for the shoot. When we arrived at the studio the band sat down for an interview. Ben Kaufmann talks about the band’s influences which, for a bluegrass band, are surprising - Frank Zappa to name one. Dave Johnston explains to viewers how bluegrass evolved from people expressing their wants, desires and fears through song. Later, Jeff Austin gives the real-deal take on what it’s like being in the band.
Afterward, the band was videotaped performing a couple of songs. You can watch “Sometimes I’ve Won” in Part II. The performance footage showed during the interview is from the song “Hill Country Girl.”