The story contained within the notes of Yonder Mountain String Band’s new song “Suburban Girl” is one that will strike a chord with a vast majority of listeners, and yet, it’s a story that’s possibly never been told in such a beautiful, heartwrenching, and heartwarming way. “Suburban Girl” is, in YMSB banjoist and songwriter Dave Johnston’s words, “an autobiographical song about skateboarding, the Midwest, and unrequited, angsty teenage emotions.” But the time between the memory and the writing of the song left the raw angst behind and transformed into a refined, finger-picked guitar part and strikingly simple, vivid imagery reminiscent of greats like John Prine or Guy Clark. “There’s not a lot to the world. Make up your mind, suburban girl,” sings Johnston from the sidewalk to an open second-story window, encouraging its inhabitant to “get yourself outside”—which is also the namesake of the band’s upcoming album Get Yourself Outside, out February 25th via Frog Pad Records.
To accompany the sweetly-sung song, YMSB enlisted director/animator John Summerson and stop-motion animator Maggie-Rose Condit-Summerson to collaborate on a similarly charming music video. Opening on a skateboard and the shoes of its rider without a body to be found, the fascinating stop-motion video follows the board—along with come-to-life doodles in a surprisingly accurate high school math notebook—as “Suburban Girl” unfurls itself to listeners. “I’m riding on my Santa Cruz. Skinny legs skinny shoes. All a poor boy could want. All a poor boy could do.”
To watch YMSB’s gorgeous song come to life, check out the “Suburban Girl” video here. Fans can also listen to previously-released singles—“If Only” at this link and “Into The Fire” at this link—and pre-order or pre-save Get Yourself Outside before its February 25th release right here.
Recorded during the shutdown at Cinder Sound Studio (Gunbarrel, Colorado) and co-produced with engineer John McVey, Get Yourself Outside (Frog Pad Records) is a musical odyssey of string instruments and sonic textures. “We want the listener to get outside of your own head, get outside the box or container that you’ve created around yourself—look outside and see what else is out there,” says bassist Ben Kaufmann. What started out as back-and-forth online interactions between the band members soon shifted into YMSB entering Cinder Sound after several months apart. “We knew we had to take greater advantage of our time off the road. So, we started to collaborate and realized we had all of these songs,” Kaufmann says. “It was kind of a trick to figure out how to get together and record safely. But, we’re glad that we did and what came from it.” “Some of the song ideas were older. But, a lot of the ideas happened during the pandemic,” Aijala adds. “There’s a blessing to this life to be able to play music for a living,” says Kauffman. “Get Yourself Outside is a testament to that, which is why it’s been such a joy to finally play these songs live.”
Get Yourself Outside Tracklist:
Beside Myself
I Just Can’t
Small House
If Only
Up This Hill
No Leg Left
Out Of The Pan
Into The Fire
Broken Records
Change Of Heart
Suburban Girl
In addition to the upcoming album announcement, YMSB is gearing up for a long run of February and March tour dates beginning with their official album release show at Denver’s newly-opened and incredibly popular Meow Wolf Convergence Station where concert-goers will experience a one-of-a-kind immersive music and art experience, before heading down to Florida, through the Southeast, and across to Texas. A full list of dates is below and ticket information can be found at yondermountain.com/tour.
Catch Yonder Mountain String Band On Tour:
2/24 – Denver, CO – Meow Wolf Convergence Station – official album release show
2/26 – Steamboat, CO – Winter Wondergrass
2/27 – Steamboat, CO – Winter Wondergrass
3/11 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
3/12 – Immokalee, FL – Southland Bluegrass and Wilderness Festival
3/13 – Key West, FL – Parade Grounds at Fort East Martello
3/15 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
3/16 – Savannah, GA – Victory North
3/17 – Live Oak, FL – Suwannee Spring Reunion
3/18 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
3/19 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Bluegrass Festival
3/20 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
3/23 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge
3/24 – Austin, TX – Scoot Inn
3/25 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
3/26 – Dallas, TX – The Studio at the Factory
4/27 – New Orleans, LA – Hogs For The Cause
4/28 – Poughkeepsie, NY – Bardavon
4/29 – Baltimore, MD – venue TBA
5/6 – Black Mountain, NC – Silverados
5/7 – Cincinnati, OH – venue TBA
5/8 – Cincinnati, OH – venue TBA
