Yonder Mountain String Band @ McDonald Theatre - Eugene, OR - St. Paddy's Day 2018

The McDonald Theatre was bursting with emerald last night as jam-grass pioneers, Yonder Mountain String Band, stopped by in Eugene, OR for an extra-green St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) celebration. Old Salt Union from Belleville, Illinois, are currently touring with YMSB and opened the show. 

Plenty of lime and leaf-colored lights accompanied a brilliant St. Paddy’s setlist. As it's a tradition with Yonder, the set included a healthy dose of re-imagined covers such as Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man” and a lengthy, mind-altering “Northern Song” courtesy of the Beatles. Things also got quite chartreuse during their rendition of Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper,” featuring a mystery man on the cowbell sporting a shamrock suit. 

Yonder made sure to include some extra-solid jams of their originals, as well. “You Left Me in a Hole” and the title track of their new record, Black Sheep, sounded particularly tight. Yonder kept the night intimate with a couple lovely announcements, too. Mandolin madman Jacob Jolliff’s parents attended the show, plus, Ben revealed that violin and vocalist extraordinaire, Allie Kral is 8 months pregnant. Love and family vibes closed out the night with a shoutout to the Grateful Dead, as Yonder encored with a heartfelt cover of “I Know You Rider,” and we’ll miss them now they’re gone.

***Words and Photos by Music Festival Central photographer, Finn Turnbull***