Last night, Yonder Mountain String Band brought some serious jamgrass to Milwaukee’s Turner Hall Ballroom for a fun Thursday night show. It was a packed house, and as usual Yonder Mountain knew how to get fans’ feet stomping and hands clapping. What was pretty cool and notable about the show was that for those who couldn’t make it to the show, you could still catch the set as it was live-streamed on jamgrass.tv. Not typically a band that streams a lot, it’s great to see YMSB try and bring their live show to an even broader audience. Even the opener was included on the stream to boot. Hopefully some footage from this show surfaces, as it was a great night of music.

Minnesota-based bluegrass band Pert Near Sandstone opened the show. Right from the beginning of their set, they played straight bluegrass, with a breath of relief from the frantic energy with a folk song every now and then. With a new album to be released by the band on November 4, their set was filled with newer tunes like “Bloom Again,” as well as older favorites like “Down in the Holler.” They even brought up Yonder’s Jake Jolliff for two songs and Allie Kral for the set-ending “Wild Bill Jones.” Some (including myself) in the crowd were pleasantly surprised by their percussionist – the clogger. Matt Cartier kept the beat with his two feet and his 5’ x 5’ wood panel beneath his feet. His solos were quite enjoyable. Pert Near Sandstone did a fantastic job starting off the night and demonstrated how entertaining they have been for over ten years.

Yonder’s set was equally as energetic. Their music blended into a smorgasbord of genres. Even fiddle player Allie Kral mentioned to the crowd how her aunt claimed the group’s music as “a mix between the Grateful Dead and bluegrass.” It was quite an apt description.

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Later banjo player Dave Johnston then told the Milwaukee crowd, “Don’t tell me this town ain’t got no heart.” Upright bass player Ben Kaufmann had just enough time to swipe out his upright bass for an electric bass guitar before Yonder broke into an absolutely amazing rendition of “Shakedown Street.” It was a phenomenal bluegrassy version of an awesome song and definitely was the highlight of the night. Kral took charge during the Garcia guitar solo and did it justice. All the members of the band had some cool effects on their instruments making it a spacey, bluegrass cover of this classic Dead tune.

Other great moments of the show were “Black Sheep” and “Ever Fallen in Love,” the latter featuring those great harmonizing vocals that the band is known for.

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Yonder Mountain has three shows coming up, ones that will mark the end of their fall tour. Tonight they will be playing in Minneapolis for the CD release party of opener Pert Near Sandstone’s new album Discovery of Honey. Saturday they will be making it to Chicago for what will be a raucous Halloween show, playing tracks off of the classic Ween album 12 Golden Country Greats. Finally, Sunday will be the fall tour closer in Omaha.

Judging from last night’s show in Milwaukee and what is to come over the next weekend, you will definitely want to make the trek to the Yonder Mountain for some great music. Check out the full set lists, below.

Setlist: Pert Near Sandstone at Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI – 10/27/16

Set: Rattlesnake, Down in the Holler, Skillet, Animal Instinct, Dawg’s Bull, Hard Times, Pass Me By, Enough Said (with Jake Jolliff), Bay Road (with Jake Jolliff), Bloom Again, Nothing I Can Do, Wild Bill Jones (with Allie Kral)

Setlist: Yonder Mountain String Band at Turner Hall Ballroom, Milwaukee, WI – 10/27/16

Set: Loved You Enough, Annalee, Ever Fallen In Love, Don’t Cry Blue, Shakedown Street, All Aboard -> Fingerprint -> All Aboard, Bend, Black Sheep -> I’m Lost, Gilpin Swing, New Deal Train, Leavin’, Torn & Frayed, Criminal, Northern Song -> Sideshow Blues -> Night Out -> Sideshow Blues -> Northern Song

E: Rag Mama, Yer No Good