Yonder Mountain String Band, a vanguard in the progressive bluegrass world, has been making fans smile and dance since 1998, and such was the case April 3 in the MontBleu Theatre. The venerable showroom will filled with an enthusiastic, appreciative and, as in typical bluegrass fashion, exceedingly polite. “Everybody was jacked up,” said Kurt E. Johnson, who filed his first batch of photos for Tahoe Onstage. The audio mix was excellent, Johnson added. The quartet from Nederland, Colo. also known as YMSB played two sets after a rousing opening set from Brothers Comatose. The “Jimmy Page of mandolin,” Jeff Austin added a strong dose of charisma with his musicianship, along with the personable upright bassist Ben Kaufmann, guitarist Adam Aijala and banjoist Dave Johnston.
Editor’s note: Photographer Kurt E. Johnson is a 10-year Lake Tahoe resident who plays drums for the band Mudd Bonz.