John Bell Guests With Yonder Mountain At Kinfolk Celebration

On Friday Yonder Mountain String Band kicked off this year’s Kinfolk Celebration at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, Colorado. The band was not only joined by their “regular” guests of Allie Kral and Jake Jolliff, but also by special guest John Bell of Widespread Panic.

[Photo via YMSB Facebook]

Bell took the stage for a five-song solo sequence of “Tickle The Truth,” “Quarter Tank Of Gasoline,” “Already Fried,” “Time Waits” and “Old Joe” before Yonder came out to perform with their special guest. The first JB/YMSB collaboration featured takes on “Ribs and Whiskey,” “Climb To Safety,” “Don’t Worry Happy Birthday,” and “Fixin’ To Die” and “Worry.” Then, Yonder played the remainder of the opening stanza without Bell for such tunes as “Sidewalk Stars” and “All The Time.”

Yonder’s second set started off with “Looking Back” > “On The Run” > “Black Sheep” > “On The Run,” before they welcomed JB back. Bell then led YMSB through “Mercy,” “Winds On Fire” and “Ain’t Life Grand.” The rest of the set was pure Yonder and included a cover of “Jolene,” as well as “Drown” and “Casualty” > “Pockets” > “Casualty.” The Colorado jamgrass act finished off the evening with a three-song encore that ended with John Bell returning to assist on a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “New Speedway Boogie.”

An audience recording of last night’s performance has already been posted by taper Bennett Schwartz on bt.etree.org and can be streamed at PanicStream as well as below.

Here’s a look at the John Bell/Yonder Mountain String Band setlist:

Set One: Tickle The Truth*, Quarter Tank of Gasoline*, Already Fried*, Time Waits*, Old Joe*, Ribs and Whiskey**, Climb To Safety**, Don’t Worry Happy Birthday**, Fixin To Die**, Worry**, Northern Song***, Part 1***, I’ve Got a Name***, Loved You Enough***, Sidewalk Stars***, All The Time***

Set Two: Looking Back***, On The Run*** > Black Sheep*** > On The Run***, Mercy**, Winds On Fire**, Ain’t Life Grand**, Jolene***, Drown***, Casualty*** > Pockets*** > Casualty***

Encore: Polka On A Banjo***, Crazy Train***, New Speedway Boogie**

*JB Solo
**JB and Yonder
***YMSB

Yonder’s Kinfolk Celebration continues today at Planet Bluegrass. Jason Carter and Ronnie McCoury will be YMSB’s special guests.