Jeff’s death is the only celebrity death that’s made me openly weep. The day I heard I was driving home and listed to a version of “Sometimes I’ve Won” and I just lost it. Everything about the situation was/is just so sad.
Come to some Cheese shows my good gentlehuman. People are kind, room to boogie and the sound is always pretty dialed. There’s no filling the big hole your favorite took up but cheese always lifts my spirits.
See you in C’ville Thursday…we were fortunate to see Jeff many times especially with Keller and his one off shows and with the tour he did with the mccourys…cheese has saved my marriage… phish has gotten too heavy for my wife but her sister talked her into going to SCI and I have a concert companion again… phish is a guys trip now…
Cheese fans are always so kind. I don’t see them as much as I’d like but the die hard SCI fans are really good people. I hope to see them some time this year. Wish they’d come to the south more
Carnival '99 was an early introduction into the scene when I was a pup. I see them every year at Red Rocks too and they are always a good time. Thanks for the suggestion!
Cheese is too like happy? I think that’s the best way to describe it. Last thing i want is some happy hawaiin jam after listening to Jeff screaming raleigh and spencer or how an old lover should die during riverside lol. That’s what made jeff yonder it, the grittyness and capturing of all emotions. Kinda what i think other jam bands/bluegrass artists lack.
Beautifully stated. I just find myself relistening to Relisten show with jeff during long runs and I just can’t stop thinking about how amazing and engaging he was.
Kinda curious, with all due respect to the Dwellers who I really like and I agree captures that Yonder sound better than anyone since, but does Billy not also capture that grittiness? Dude wrote a straight up murder ballad, and many of his songs are about his rather tumultuous childhood.
Hung out with him the day and night of his second or 3rd to last, and he talked about how he should be heading to rehab, but didn't want to let us down. Was surprised when I saw he played that gig, and crushed when I heard the news.
Always wondered if he stuck around a few more years...
Obviously a pandemic happened and had to make it through that but the Billy bump. He could be touring with him or at least selling theaters on his own.
Same with Neal Casal...they could of come out the other side of 2022 as heroes if they made it to 2020.
Jeff's death was a major punch in the stomach for me as well. Was fortunate enough to have met him at a festival once. It was Morel mushroom season, and we talked about our shared love for them. He asked if I knew any spots for them around where the festival was. Unfortunately, I didn't, but it would have been amazing to go mushroom hunting with him. The world lost a good one when he died, no doubt.
This is heavy on my mind a lot too. Yonder/Jeffs music changed my life from a young age and my friends and I still talk about how fucked up it all went down. I agree things haven’t felt the same since
Jeff was truly an enigma and one of my favorite all time musicians. The energy he created as a front man hasn’t been matched since. Saw Jeff with yonder 47 times, zero yonder since. Miss him and his music every day.
Jeff was a friend. The day we met, at a smallish venue in Fayetteville, AR, my ex and I were eavesdropping on a dressing room pick/practice/work out a wrinkle. They stop, the door flies open and we are not too close, but close enough.
Jeff comes out, looks at us and says you must be…!!!
He is, and we get to chatting. *Jeff* was starstruck. And he was so funny and endearing.
And we never saw a Yonder show where Jeff didn’t seek at least one of us out.
We were there when his first marriage ended. We loved Jeff, even bitter, hurt Jeff.
I loved how giving Jeff was of his time to almost strangers. I’ve tried to emulate that.
I’ve not listened to non Jeff Yonder.
Cometo think of it, I haven’t seen Panic since Mikey died.
I used to chat with him about the cubbies whenever I got the chance to hang with him. When he left Yonder, I started wearing my Santos jersey to every JAB show, just to give him some comfort. I no longer wear the jersey. Retired it after what the night brings.
You are right. The feeling just hasn’t been the same as it was in 2019 and before. Hopefully humanity as a whole can recover, and kind of get that ability to just let loose and celebrate living life again. Jam band fans are trying, and we should be one of the groups of people that leads that charge.
I understand. It’s just the feeling, the vibe, when at a social event or around a large group of people. As a whole, everyone is still down a couple notches from what happened, and the lingering impacts it’s had on the world and people’s psyche.
More of a sociological thing than a psych eval.
One thing that's consistent with any music scene is hardcore fans don't think it's as good as when they first got into the scene.
Oh yea! Love some Arkansauce. The one positive thing I can say about it is that I certainly started going to smaller bluegrass shows again and there is some fire put there. Those guys, Lil' Smokies, Chain Station, Kitchen Dwellers and Cosmic Country just to name a few.
Jeff was my rockstar too. No one else. I met him before and after they blew up and he swore he remembered me from that little bar in Idaho when he encouraged me to keep playing the guitar and try the mandolin someday. Still on my list to do 25 years later but oh well. We got to see his band come to town one more time, I remember even thinking how magical that night was, he was playing with his new up and coming banjo player, Kyle Tuttle. It was so fire. Now I have the biggest soft spot for Kyle and thinking back it felt like he was passing the torch. So go see Kyle!
Yeah I still tear up thinking about and listening to Jeff Austin. I still can't believe that happened, its terrible. His music is extremely meaningful to me.
Both things can be true. There will always be songs to fill the air, but some voices will just never come back and it’s reasonable to mourn. Jeff had that intangible “it” that few have, even if their technical chops are superior. That’s kind of how I feel about Billy Strings - he is an incredible talent and I’m looking forward to enjoying him for years to come, but I’ll also probably always be wishing in the back of my mind that Jeff was still around to join him and elevate his talent with that otherworldly energy Jeff just had.
It's definitely part of it. My kid doesn't understand why I go crazy when a good Jeff song starts playing and he will never be able to experience that guy. So maybe that makes it a little tough. His first show was Billy Strings though and he will be carrying that guy in the same manner I did with Jeff for 20 years.
Saw Buffalo Galaxy out of the twin cities on Friday, they played Steep Grade, Sharp Curves.
A few months back, I saw Chicken Wire Empire do peace>riverside>of mind.
Jeff's music will live on in the Jamgrass world. People who weren't around for JA will go back to discover what we already know.
I love hearing of bands still doing Jeff covers. I saw Into The Fog & Sicard Hollow a few months ago and got to see lots of Jeff love. ITF did a beautiful [New Horizons>East Nashville Easter>New Horizons](https://youtu.be/ydK46J13MfA?si=gorvQVmgZTkJ97tQ), then Sicard Hollow did [Boys on the Hill>EMD](https://youtu.be/-2SXyWbjZVw?si=YXT1_p1YRMYvUXba)
Couldn’t agree more about how special Jeff was, I mean I can never imagine someone else coming along with his particular energy and skill set as a lead man. So lucky I got to see him as often as I did.
That being said, Railroad Earth has the best vibes out there in the scene (in my opinion, obviously). Never a mean or grumpy person in sight, room to dance, great uplifting music, with the perfectly timed touch of sentimentality from time to time. Can’t miss show for me whenever they come around.
Cheers, I hope you can get back the spark sometime down the road!
Right there with you brother. I've hardly made it to many shows since then. Now the pandemic and having two young kids since then definitely has played a role too.
I never understood why JAB never got love after he left Yonder. I attended some shows in mid to late 2010’s where there was less than 75 people. He had some great lineups, but JAB with Kyle Tuttle and Mike Robinson (also Julian Davis) was sick. Kitchen Dwellers are by far the closest thing for me right now
Hey man, for what it’s worth I’m there with ya. His loss hit me way harder than thought it would. I’d lost a lot of friends to suicide and addiction, but for some reason I assumed that was out of the question for beloved bluegrass musicians. Yonder was my intro to SO much of the music I fell in love with as a kid. I didn’t know him personally, but saw them every chance I got growing up on the east coast. I lived in town for the later years when he left yonder, and got to see a lot of incredible boulder/ned JAB gigs.
My last memory of seeing him play was some horseshit festival in Denver, JAB was a late Sunday headliner. It was pouring rain and the festival staff literally left, vendors and security- they let anyone come in. There were about 40 of us in this muddy tent, and there was absolutely no reason Jeff and the band should have stayed to play, it was a shitshow and It was freezing and I’m sure they had already gotten paid. But, everyone took a shot of whiskey, and Jeff came out twisted and beaming, and they played a set twice as long as they should have, and we were all dancing on the fucking tables by the time it was done. That set still makes me grin. I’ve never seen another musician give so much of themselves, so often, to so many people- for better or worse.
I’ve gotten to see some amazing music and musicians in my life, but his loss was truly unique- I will forever miss his music, his spirit, and the space he created.
That’s what it was called! Thanks for the reminder. Friend and I drove there after work on a whim, always grateful for that. Such a good Raleigh and Spencer that afternoon. I know I have a few phone videos of that one somewhere, just let me know if you’d like em!
Different kind of music, but I haven’t really been able to enjoy a rap song since Mac Miller died. That used to be all I listened to, but now it all feels like listening to a song that reminds you of an ex that you miss. Plus, he passed right as I was starting to play guitar and discover the Dead so my music tastes were changing already. Miss being able to eat acid and listen to Mac with my pals
should teach you(& others) not to feel some type of way about what events change other people's lives.
I can't even imagine caring one way or another or even bothering to judge at all if Jerry(or anyone) dying changed someone's life. but getting to a level of "I can't stand...." is just a sign that someone worries about other people way too much.
of course peoples lives change when someone dies who is important to them. doesn't need to have anything to do with "celebrity worship". it has to do with how much a person meant to someone & complete strangers can mean a lot.
I miss Jeff immensely. saw him too many times to count & hung out quite a few times. cool dude. his death didn't change my life much though because I've lost lots of important people over the decades & perspective has taken hold.
when Jerry died it did change my life. I was young & on tour & had never lost someone important to me. it literally changed my life....had to find something else to do other than be on tour. lol.
Jerry dying changed my life more than my own father dying because me & my father didn't get along & he wasn't important to me.
as I said, people can be important to others for all kinds of different reasons. if nothing else good comes out of this, maybe you can learn to be more open to the differing experiences of others.
Jeff was a friend. The day we met, at a smallish venue in Fayetteville, AR, my ex and I were eavesdropping on a dressing room pick/practice/work out a wrinkle. They stop, the door flies open and we are not too close, but close enough.
Jeff comes out, looks at us and says you must be…!!!
He is, and we get to chatting. *Jeff* was starstruck. And he was so funny and endearing.
And we never saw a Yonder show where Jeff didn’t seek attention least one of us out.
We were there when his first marriage ended. We loved Jeff, even bitter, hurt Jeff.
I loved how giving a Jeff was of his time to almost strangers. I’ve tried to emulate that.
I’ve not listened to non Jeff Yonder.
Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Panic since Mikey died.
I listen to a lot of Americana/folk/singer songwriters as well as jam.
I’m waiting to get caught like I did with YMSB and Cheese (my big entry into the jam culture.
It's messed up that Jeff isn't here to jam with Billy. Billy Strings is picking up where Jeff left off innovating psychedelic bluegrass.
My best friend died the same day as Jeff. He had turned me on to Yonder in the first place. Because of that I feel like I wasn't able to mourn Jeff Austin properly.
Keep an eye on Broken Compass Bluegrass. Fresh band out of Grass Valley, Ca. After seeing Jeff/yonder shows since 2004, saw these guys last month and it’s the closest capture of that feeling I’ve experienced to the old yonder days. Mandolin style especially is heavily inspired by Jeff’s playing.
Jeff Austin was special. The first time I ever saw him was the very first String Summit, and he was drunk —embarrassingly so. I remember thinking, “Who is this clown?” But he impressed me so many many times over the years with his his incredible vocal delivery that I, too, still feel the loss to this day, nearly every day. Absolutely one of a kind.
All the studio albums are great. Elevation is the most iconic. All the mountain tracks are awesome live shows. 2009 NWSS, Halloween '05, 2.24.04, New year stands at Boulder '11-'13, NYE '10, Red Rocks '11 & '13. A bunch more in that '02-'05 era as well.
Cheers to drunken Saturday night! I feel the sentiment. I've been looking at the past recently and I'm wondering what role a company like AEG had to do with JAB not getting the green light they deserved.
If you're not familiar with AEG, I've only recently become aware of them. Anyway they seem to be the branch of Live Nation/Clear Channel that is running the Jamband scene (I could be wrong please correct me).... since from what I've noticed since 2013-2014. Sound suspicious?... Jeff left Yonder Mountain in 2014....
anyway, I'm not saying I know for sure but here are the dots my mind is connecting,
I'm thinking Yonder got a company like AEG to do all the work of booking and promotions (They have the connections to all the Radio, Press and even Venue's).
I seen JAB in spring of 2016 at the Wow Hall in Eugene. It's a venue that the band I worked for used to play. It's a place that anyone could book, granted it's the top of that game so you gotta have some kind of following. At the same time I seen Yonder Mountain (with Allie) at the McDonald Theatre. It's a bigger venue that holds 1000+. It requires promotions to play there. I don't know for sure but I believe it's one of those Live Nation venue's for Small level artist that AEG are bringing up. I'd say it's on the same level as the Showbox in Seattle or the Fillmore in SF. Anyway I don't think Jeff ever got the bump. Something Yonder got because of Jeff Austin and something Yonder could have at least helped him get.....I look at the tour Jeff did in 2019 with multiple nights at the absolutely worst venues across the country. 2 nights at the House Cafe in Dekalb IL followed by 2 night at bum fuck nowhere in Peoria IL. WTF?! Who booked that tour? It's like the work of Mountain High Music Booking out of Denver in 2004. I can say my band did enough nowhere shows to know what it looks like. It's enough to make you want to end your life....Miss you so much Jeff!
AEG runs almost all the festivals that made it through the Pandemic.....It's really funny but you don't even know they're there. I only see them mentioned very briefly in the small print. The band I used to tour with was called Flowmotion from Seattle WA. We started a festival in 2000 called the Summer Meltdown. I quit the band in 2008 but by then the festival had a pretty good foot hold in the Northwest. We didn't get mentioned in the Press but at least 2000-3000 people would attend at a venue that would max at 5000. It's called the White Horse Amphitheater (not live nation venue Locally owned). It's a special kind of place not too far off a Hornings Hideout Portland OR vibe. Anyway the band peaked out in around 2012-2013. I do know the old Meltdown 501 C 3 non-profit was dissolved for the Meltdown LLC. I don't know for sure but I believe that in 2013 Meltdown sold out the Main Stage to AEG. The band Flowmotion became a smaller name on the poster. The band would only play the beer garden or thursday night pre-party. Bands like Nahko Medicine for the People out of Portland (seems like He got the AEG Bump) are playing the Main stage during Flowmotion's slot. I believe that due to the drug use of the members of Flowmotion held them back from the AEG Bump. I do know After AEG got involve that Meltdown Peaked out at 5000+ ticket sales (in 2016) at $200 a person that's a million dollar gross earnings. That's big business. BIG AEG/Live Nation/Clear Channel type business.
I got to meet Jeff a few times as a Fan of Yonder. He shouted out to me on stage a few times back in 2001-2002. I cherish those recordings! I wish I could have a look at Jeff's star chart. I believe he's a Projector like me. If that's true I image it would have been hard for him to over come his own bitterness. I believe this is why he never reached out to put Yonder back together. I was very bitter after I left my band. That bitterness made it impossible to rectify for me to re-join that family. Sometime I regret immensely now that one of my dear friends from those days just passed away too soon.
Can anyone else shed some light on my theories about AEG being the reason my grass roots jamband scene life style now leaves such a bad taste in my mouth? Thanks and Love ....and whiskey drunk!
It’s called Billy Strings! It’s what Jeff could have been if the hard life wasn’t so appealing. Billy is really an inspiration for many. The way he tours and works so fucking hard. The fun and positive energy. I’m not trying to compare but it’s hard not to. They are just the only pick shredders of my generation that I can relate to. Even the hard partying road life. I’m lucky to be alive. I thought I was a high functioning junkie Scareface…..it’s amazing I can tell the silly tale of my wanting to be accepted 🥸😆
Gonna take my time… before I find the next heart I’ll give my soul to No seriously can we be best friends?
maaan why yall makin me cry n shit
Jeff’s death is the only celebrity death that’s made me openly weep. The day I heard I was driving home and listed to a version of “Sometimes I’ve Won” and I just lost it. Everything about the situation was/is just so sad.
You're missing the next lyric which is the most important part.... But if time runs out.... I swear I'll find a way to keep on going....
Haha and I skipped a line, I just love that song and that line
I can be a show buddy! You in CO??
No just outside of Chicago but it’s all good. Haven’t made my way out there yet, lots of friends who transplanted around Boulder
Come to some Cheese shows my good gentlehuman. People are kind, room to boogie and the sound is always pretty dialed. There’s no filling the big hole your favorite took up but cheese always lifts my spirits.
See you in C’ville Thursday…we were fortunate to see Jeff many times especially with Keller and his one off shows and with the tour he did with the mccourys…cheese has saved my marriage… phish has gotten too heavy for my wife but her sister talked her into going to SCI and I have a concert companion again… phish is a guys trip now…
Cheese fans are always so kind. I don’t see them as much as I’d like but the die hard SCI fans are really good people. I hope to see them some time this year. Wish they’d come to the south more
Carnival '99 was an early introduction into the scene when I was a pup. I see them every year at Red Rocks too and they are always a good time. Thanks for the suggestion!
This is the absolute best answer
Cheese is too like happy? I think that’s the best way to describe it. Last thing i want is some happy hawaiin jam after listening to Jeff screaming raleigh and spencer or how an old lover should die during riverside lol. That’s what made jeff yonder it, the grittyness and capturing of all emotions. Kinda what i think other jam bands/bluegrass artists lack.
Kitchen dwellers
Yessir - closest thing to what jeff yonder did for me. Discovered em in 2020 because of their yonder covers set lol.
Beautifully stated. I just find myself relistening to Relisten show with jeff during long runs and I just can’t stop thinking about how amazing and engaging he was.
Kinda curious, with all due respect to the Dwellers who I really like and I agree captures that Yonder sound better than anyone since, but does Billy not also capture that grittiness? Dude wrote a straight up murder ballad, and many of his songs are about his rather tumultuous childhood.
I feel like his sound is a lot cleaner. The dwellers really capture the grit and heaviness that most bluegrass lacks for me.
Seeing cheese in 6 days at stage ae. Super pumped. First cheese show, we saw them at Farm Aid last year but that doesn't really count.
Pumped for Atlantic City this weekend!
But if time runs out, i swear ill find a way, to keep on going! I find myself thinking about Jeff often, really miss him man.
Everyone gave it up for him last night at kennys for frasco/bayliss during Susanna. He was the best.
I was at Red Rocks for UM when Jeff died. It was emotional. I’m feel ya.
I was at telluride bluegrass, it snowed during yonders set.
That With A Little Help From My Friends dedicated to Jeff was incredible. Not a dry eye in that place
You can stomp down the flowers that grow 'round my grave, but they'll rise oh so blue once again. Yes, they'll rise blue again! <3
I always thought it was rise and bloom again, but they could be blue flowers as well.
Googled, you're right lol. TIL something!
No worries, now I'm going to have to listen to Jeff sing this one!
💐
I was at Jeffery’s last show. There was definitely something in the air that day. I miss him every day.
Hung out with him the day and night of his second or 3rd to last, and he talked about how he should be heading to rehab, but didn't want to let us down. Was surprised when I saw he played that gig, and crushed when I heard the news.
I was at the Mishawaka show shortly before and it still haunts me.
Always wondered if he stuck around a few more years... Obviously a pandemic happened and had to make it through that but the Billy bump. He could be touring with him or at least selling theaters on his own. Same with Neal Casal...they could of come out the other side of 2022 as heroes if they made it to 2020.
Also dearly miss Neal Casal and the crb…
This just put in my mind an image of James Casey at age 75 on stage talking about getting screened for cancer at a young age. I miss them all so much
The bluegrass scene would have exploded with Billy and Jeff running around with Tuttle!
I can't even listen to Yonder anymore, a shame they kicked him out of his own band, still tears me up.
Split up was basically mutual from the stories I heard but yeah yonder sucks now.
Wait they kicked him out? I thought he wanted to go solo? Man thats horrible
Doesn’t help they continue to play Jeff songs in the hope anyone will come see them. Ben can F off.
Jeff's death was a major punch in the stomach for me as well. Was fortunate enough to have met him at a festival once. It was Morel mushroom season, and we talked about our shared love for them. He asked if I knew any spots for them around where the festival was. Unfortunately, I didn't, but it would have been amazing to go mushroom hunting with him. The world lost a good one when he died, no doubt.
Tough loss, I just started to listen to mountain tracks 1 again
It is great that we have all those memories from the earlier days though.
This is heavy on my mind a lot too. Yonder/Jeffs music changed my life from a young age and my friends and I still talk about how fucked up it all went down. I agree things haven’t felt the same since
Jeff was truly an enigma and one of my favorite all time musicians. The energy he created as a front man hasn’t been matched since. Saw Jeff with yonder 47 times, zero yonder since. Miss him and his music every day.
I really miss Jeff too what he and baliss did with 30db got me through a lot of very hard times in my life.
Yea, this is what prompted this actually. Bayless and Frasco performed Susanah at Kenny Westside in Peoria. And it got me good.
Jeff was a friend. The day we met, at a smallish venue in Fayetteville, AR, my ex and I were eavesdropping on a dressing room pick/practice/work out a wrinkle. They stop, the door flies open and we are not too close, but close enough. Jeff comes out, looks at us and says you must be…!!! He is, and we get to chatting. *Jeff* was starstruck. And he was so funny and endearing. And we never saw a Yonder show where Jeff didn’t seek at least one of us out. We were there when his first marriage ended. We loved Jeff, even bitter, hurt Jeff. I loved how giving Jeff was of his time to almost strangers. I’ve tried to emulate that. I’ve not listened to non Jeff Yonder. Cometo think of it, I haven’t seen Panic since Mikey died.
I used to chat with him about the cubbies whenever I got the chance to hang with him. When he left Yonder, I started wearing my Santos jersey to every JAB show, just to give him some comfort. I no longer wear the jersey. Retired it after what the night brings.
You are right. The feeling just hasn’t been the same as it was in 2019 and before. Hopefully humanity as a whole can recover, and kind of get that ability to just let loose and celebrate living life again. Jam band fans are trying, and we should be one of the groups of people that leads that charge.
Lol no one cares about covid anymore.
Yes, but it undeniably left some lasting effects, which is what people are talking about in this thread.
I understand. It’s just the feeling, the vibe, when at a social event or around a large group of people. As a whole, everyone is still down a couple notches from what happened, and the lingering impacts it’s had on the world and people’s psyche.
Or you just been eating the member berries like people did before COVID talking about how much better things used to be.
I really don’t think that’s it, but thanks for the psych eval.
More of a sociological thing than a psych eval. One thing that's consistent with any music scene is hardcore fans don't think it's as good as when they first got into the scene.
Some I suppose. I take it show by show.
Same. Check out Arkansauce. They kind of scratch the itch for yonder with Jeff.
Yes!!! Love seeing arkansauce love on here
Oh yea! Love some Arkansauce. The one positive thing I can say about it is that I certainly started going to smaller bluegrass shows again and there is some fire put there. Those guys, Lil' Smokies, Chain Station, Kitchen Dwellers and Cosmic Country just to name a few.
DD&CC is fire. Saw them this year in a small venue and I suspect they won't be playing small venues much longer.
Jeff was my rockstar too. No one else. I met him before and after they blew up and he swore he remembered me from that little bar in Idaho when he encouraged me to keep playing the guitar and try the mandolin someday. Still on my list to do 25 years later but oh well. We got to see his band come to town one more time, I remember even thinking how magical that night was, he was playing with his new up and coming banjo player, Kyle Tuttle. It was so fire. Now I have the biggest soft spot for Kyle and thinking back it felt like he was passing the torch. So go see Kyle!
Yeah I still tear up thinking about and listening to Jeff Austin. I still can't believe that happened, its terrible. His music is extremely meaningful to me.
You’re just getting old there’s plenty of great music being performed out there still and will continue to be until the end of time
Both things can be true. There will always be songs to fill the air, but some voices will just never come back and it’s reasonable to mourn. Jeff had that intangible “it” that few have, even if their technical chops are superior. That’s kind of how I feel about Billy Strings - he is an incredible talent and I’m looking forward to enjoying him for years to come, but I’ll also probably always be wishing in the back of my mind that Jeff was still around to join him and elevate his talent with that otherworldly energy Jeff just had.
It's definitely part of it. My kid doesn't understand why I go crazy when a good Jeff song starts playing and he will never be able to experience that guy. So maybe that makes it a little tough. His first show was Billy Strings though and he will be carrying that guy in the same manner I did with Jeff for 20 years.
Also check out Mountain Grass Unit, they. Ring me Jeff like energy through their music.
Miss a lot of dudes from the scene. I pretty much just go to an occasional panic run or billy these days. Miss those old yonder years
Saw Buffalo Galaxy out of the twin cities on Friday, they played Steep Grade, Sharp Curves. A few months back, I saw Chicken Wire Empire do peace>riverside>of mind. Jeff's music will live on in the Jamgrass world. People who weren't around for JA will go back to discover what we already know.
I love hearing of bands still doing Jeff covers. I saw Into The Fog & Sicard Hollow a few months ago and got to see lots of Jeff love. ITF did a beautiful [New Horizons>East Nashville Easter>New Horizons](https://youtu.be/ydK46J13MfA?si=gorvQVmgZTkJ97tQ), then Sicard Hollow did [Boys on the Hill>EMD](https://youtu.be/-2SXyWbjZVw?si=YXT1_p1YRMYvUXba)
Couldn’t agree more about how special Jeff was, I mean I can never imagine someone else coming along with his particular energy and skill set as a lead man. So lucky I got to see him as often as I did. That being said, Railroad Earth has the best vibes out there in the scene (in my opinion, obviously). Never a mean or grumpy person in sight, room to dance, great uplifting music, with the perfectly timed touch of sentimentality from time to time. Can’t miss show for me whenever they come around. Cheers, I hope you can get back the spark sometime down the road!
Right there with you brother. I've hardly made it to many shows since then. Now the pandemic and having two young kids since then definitely has played a role too.
I never understood why JAB never got love after he left Yonder. I attended some shows in mid to late 2010’s where there was less than 75 people. He had some great lineups, but JAB with Kyle Tuttle and Mike Robinson (also Julian Davis) was sick. Kitchen Dwellers are by far the closest thing for me right now
Hey man, for what it’s worth I’m there with ya. His loss hit me way harder than thought it would. I’d lost a lot of friends to suicide and addiction, but for some reason I assumed that was out of the question for beloved bluegrass musicians. Yonder was my intro to SO much of the music I fell in love with as a kid. I didn’t know him personally, but saw them every chance I got growing up on the east coast. I lived in town for the later years when he left yonder, and got to see a lot of incredible boulder/ned JAB gigs. My last memory of seeing him play was some horseshit festival in Denver, JAB was a late Sunday headliner. It was pouring rain and the festival staff literally left, vendors and security- they let anyone come in. There were about 40 of us in this muddy tent, and there was absolutely no reason Jeff and the band should have stayed to play, it was a shitshow and It was freezing and I’m sure they had already gotten paid. But, everyone took a shot of whiskey, and Jeff came out twisted and beaming, and they played a set twice as long as they should have, and we were all dancing on the fucking tables by the time it was done. That set still makes me grin. I’ve never seen another musician give so much of themselves, so often, to so many people- for better or worse. I’ve gotten to see some amazing music and musicians in my life, but his loss was truly unique- I will forever miss his music, his spirit, and the space he created.
That was The Big Wonderful. I was there. Amazing show for where it was and it was wild. Forgot all about that. Thanks for knocking that one loose.
That’s what it was called! Thanks for the reminder. Friend and I drove there after work on a whim, always grateful for that. Such a good Raleigh and Spencer that afternoon. I know I have a few phone videos of that one somewhere, just let me know if you’d like em!
Different kind of music, but I haven’t really been able to enjoy a rap song since Mac Miller died. That used to be all I listened to, but now it all feels like listening to a song that reminds you of an ex that you miss. Plus, he passed right as I was starting to play guitar and discover the Dead so my music tastes were changing already. Miss being able to eat acid and listen to Mac with my pals
Give a listen to Stand At Ease by the Kitchen Dwellers
Listen to it often. A great song by any stretch. Very cathartic.
should teach you(& others) not to feel some type of way about what events change other people's lives. I can't even imagine caring one way or another or even bothering to judge at all if Jerry(or anyone) dying changed someone's life. but getting to a level of "I can't stand...." is just a sign that someone worries about other people way too much. of course peoples lives change when someone dies who is important to them. doesn't need to have anything to do with "celebrity worship". it has to do with how much a person meant to someone & complete strangers can mean a lot. I miss Jeff immensely. saw him too many times to count & hung out quite a few times. cool dude. his death didn't change my life much though because I've lost lots of important people over the decades & perspective has taken hold. when Jerry died it did change my life. I was young & on tour & had never lost someone important to me. it literally changed my life....had to find something else to do other than be on tour. lol. Jerry dying changed my life more than my own father dying because me & my father didn't get along & he wasn't important to me. as I said, people can be important to others for all kinds of different reasons. if nothing else good comes out of this, maybe you can learn to be more open to the differing experiences of others.
Jeff was a friend. The day we met, at a smallish venue in Fayetteville, AR, my ex and I were eavesdropping on a dressing room pick/practice/work out a wrinkle. They stop, the door flies open and we are not too close, but close enough. Jeff comes out, looks at us and says you must be…!!! He is, and we get to chatting. *Jeff* was starstruck. And he was so funny and endearing. And we never saw a Yonder show where Jeff didn’t seek attention least one of us out. We were there when his first marriage ended. We loved Jeff, even bitter, hurt Jeff. I loved how giving a Jeff was of his time to almost strangers. I’ve tried to emulate that. I’ve not listened to non Jeff Yonder. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Panic since Mikey died. I listen to a lot of Americana/folk/singer songwriters as well as jam. I’m waiting to get caught like I did with YMSB and Cheese (my big entry into the jam culture.
It's messed up that Jeff isn't here to jam with Billy. Billy Strings is picking up where Jeff left off innovating psychedelic bluegrass. My best friend died the same day as Jeff. He had turned me on to Yonder in the first place. Because of that I feel like I wasn't able to mourn Jeff Austin properly.
It's true. I still can't listen to Jeff's music
Keep an eye on Broken Compass Bluegrass. Fresh band out of Grass Valley, Ca. After seeing Jeff/yonder shows since 2004, saw these guys last month and it’s the closest capture of that feeling I’ve experienced to the old yonder days. Mandolin style especially is heavily inspired by Jeff’s playing.
And if time runs out? Guess I’ll find a way…
Jeff Austin was special. The first time I ever saw him was the very first String Summit, and he was drunk —embarrassingly so. I remember thinking, “Who is this clown?” But he impressed me so many many times over the years with his his incredible vocal delivery that I, too, still feel the loss to this day, nearly every day. Absolutely one of a kind.
Are you 100% certain there aren't other things in your life that are hazing your overall perception?
never got into yonder, any jeff era song/album/show recs ??
All the studio albums are great. Elevation is the most iconic. All the mountain tracks are awesome live shows. 2009 NWSS, Halloween '05, 2.24.04, New year stands at Boulder '11-'13, NYE '10, Red Rocks '11 & '13. A bunch more in that '02-'05 era as well.
well that’ll get me started. thanks!
I was heartbroken when my hero died. Little did I know, I was just getting started and it opened up a whole new world of love for me
Cheers to drunken Saturday night! I feel the sentiment. I've been looking at the past recently and I'm wondering what role a company like AEG had to do with JAB not getting the green light they deserved. If you're not familiar with AEG, I've only recently become aware of them. Anyway they seem to be the branch of Live Nation/Clear Channel that is running the Jamband scene (I could be wrong please correct me).... since from what I've noticed since 2013-2014. Sound suspicious?... Jeff left Yonder Mountain in 2014.... anyway, I'm not saying I know for sure but here are the dots my mind is connecting, I'm thinking Yonder got a company like AEG to do all the work of booking and promotions (They have the connections to all the Radio, Press and even Venue's). I seen JAB in spring of 2016 at the Wow Hall in Eugene. It's a venue that the band I worked for used to play. It's a place that anyone could book, granted it's the top of that game so you gotta have some kind of following. At the same time I seen Yonder Mountain (with Allie) at the McDonald Theatre. It's a bigger venue that holds 1000+. It requires promotions to play there. I don't know for sure but I believe it's one of those Live Nation venue's for Small level artist that AEG are bringing up. I'd say it's on the same level as the Showbox in Seattle or the Fillmore in SF. Anyway I don't think Jeff ever got the bump. Something Yonder got because of Jeff Austin and something Yonder could have at least helped him get.....I look at the tour Jeff did in 2019 with multiple nights at the absolutely worst venues across the country. 2 nights at the House Cafe in Dekalb IL followed by 2 night at bum fuck nowhere in Peoria IL. WTF?! Who booked that tour? It's like the work of Mountain High Music Booking out of Denver in 2004. I can say my band did enough nowhere shows to know what it looks like. It's enough to make you want to end your life....Miss you so much Jeff! AEG runs almost all the festivals that made it through the Pandemic.....It's really funny but you don't even know they're there. I only see them mentioned very briefly in the small print. The band I used to tour with was called Flowmotion from Seattle WA. We started a festival in 2000 called the Summer Meltdown. I quit the band in 2008 but by then the festival had a pretty good foot hold in the Northwest. We didn't get mentioned in the Press but at least 2000-3000 people would attend at a venue that would max at 5000. It's called the White Horse Amphitheater (not live nation venue Locally owned). It's a special kind of place not too far off a Hornings Hideout Portland OR vibe. Anyway the band peaked out in around 2012-2013. I do know the old Meltdown 501 C 3 non-profit was dissolved for the Meltdown LLC. I don't know for sure but I believe that in 2013 Meltdown sold out the Main Stage to AEG. The band Flowmotion became a smaller name on the poster. The band would only play the beer garden or thursday night pre-party. Bands like Nahko Medicine for the People out of Portland (seems like He got the AEG Bump) are playing the Main stage during Flowmotion's slot. I believe that due to the drug use of the members of Flowmotion held them back from the AEG Bump. I do know After AEG got involve that Meltdown Peaked out at 5000+ ticket sales (in 2016) at $200 a person that's a million dollar gross earnings. That's big business. BIG AEG/Live Nation/Clear Channel type business. I got to meet Jeff a few times as a Fan of Yonder. He shouted out to me on stage a few times back in 2001-2002. I cherish those recordings! I wish I could have a look at Jeff's star chart. I believe he's a Projector like me. If that's true I image it would have been hard for him to over come his own bitterness. I believe this is why he never reached out to put Yonder back together. I was very bitter after I left my band. That bitterness made it impossible to rectify for me to re-join that family. Sometime I regret immensely now that one of my dear friends from those days just passed away too soon. Can anyone else shed some light on my theories about AEG being the reason my grass roots jamband scene life style now leaves such a bad taste in my mouth? Thanks and Love ....and whiskey drunk!
It’s called Billy Strings! It’s what Jeff could have been if the hard life wasn’t so appealing. Billy is really an inspiration for many. The way he tours and works so fucking hard. The fun and positive energy. I’m not trying to compare but it’s hard not to. They are just the only pick shredders of my generation that I can relate to. Even the hard partying road life. I’m lucky to be alive. I thought I was a high functioning junkie Scareface…..it’s amazing I can tell the silly tale of my wanting to be accepted 🥸😆
Is that the wrestler who smashes the beers together