What The Night Brings – November 4th – 1stBank Center

Estimated read time 5 min read
Photos by Jim Mimna

What The Night Brings celebrated the life and legacy of the one and only Jeff Austin and was a show that many in the Bluegrass world had been looking forward to for quite some time. While the reason it was happening was tragic, the line-up was formidable. In the words of musical director Nick Forster, it was like all of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival coming together on one night. With the likes of Sam Bush, Greensky Bluegrass, Railroad Earth, Billy Strings, Leftover Salmon, Hot Rize, The Infamous String Dusters, Keller Williams, members of String Cheese Incident, and more, he was right on the money.

The four and a half hour affair played out a bit like a well oiled variety show with bands changing spots on stage in seconds leaving only very short periods of dead air between acts – a testament to the Forster’s planning and organization of the event.

Tears were flowing right out of the gate when Sam Bush, Billy Strings, Noam Pikelny & Greg Garrison paid tribute to Austin’s love for baseball with a rousing rendition of “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” Hats off to whoever came up with that as the opener, it was pure genius! Other hightlights of the first set include Vince Herman channeling Austin (for the first time in the evening) on “Boatman’s Dance,” Greensky nailing “Peace of Mind,” and Sam Bush and Anders Beck taking an opportunity to honor the recently departed Paul Barrere with a beautiful take on Little Feat’s “Sailin’ Shoes.”

The incomparable Todd Snider kicked off the second frame with “Sideshow Blues” – a song that Austin made his own over the course of his truncated career – but it was the Infamous Cheese Dusters take on Nershi’s “Restless Wind” that brought tears to my eyes. If I hadn’t heard String Cheese play this song countless times while Austin was alive, I would have sworn that Nershi wrote it for his one time neighbor and friend (see below for lyrics).

As I ramble around on the outskirts of town
Visions from the past fill my mind
I remember the day that you went away
And each and every tear that I cried

Autumn chill cuts the air
Leaves blow through the sky
I feel your spirit everywhere
I can hear you sigh….restless wind

I look back on the past, time has gone by so fast
Since those trips to the hills where you lived
When I was young you were always so strong
You seemed to have the world on a string

Roots run deep
And you ran faster than the wind
Roots run deep
I still feel all the love you send

I turn back towards my home but I don’t feel alone
Like I did when I left for the night
‘Cause you’re right here with me and now I can see
The spirit and the soul never die

Other standout moments of the second half of the evening included Billy Strings, Mimi Naja, Travis Book and Noam Pikelny working through the tender “Sorrow Is A Highway,” and Herman’s riveting performance of one of Austin’s signature tunes, “Ramblin’ In The Rambler,” that was followed by nearly everyone on the bill taking the stage for “one last Jagermeister shot!”

I’d say that, in the end, my only complaint was that no one took on “Snow On The Pines” – one of my favorite Jeff Austin compositions. I think Greensky Bluegrass or Billy Strings would have handled it beautifully, but it wasn’t to be. The evening wrapped with Railroad Earth dazzling us with a stunning take on “What The Night Brings” and finally a clusterpluck version of The Rolling Stones “No Expectations” that was a fitting end to a pretty amazing night of music in honor of the true Bluegrass greats of our time.

If you’ve got a second, and haven’t see it yet, head over to The Marquee Magazine and check out my piece in honor Jeff Austin:
http://marqueemag.com/2019/11/jeff-austin-1974-2019/

Set One: Take Me Out To The Ball Game (Sam Bush, Billy Strings, Noam Pikelny & Greg Garrison), Daybreak In Dixie, Steep Grades Sharp Curves (Jean Luc Davis, Mimi Naja, Kyle Tuttle, Julian Davis), On Your Side (Carey Harmon, Bridget Law, Mimi Naja, Lindsey Lou), Soundcheck Jam (Keller Williams, Keith Moseley), New Horizons (Keller Williams, Keith Moseley), Troubled Times (Leftover Salmon), Boatman’s Dance (Leftover Salmon), Cuckoo’s Nest (Infamous Stringdusters), Rise Sun (Infamous Stringdusters), Peace Of Mind (Greensky Bluegrass), To Say Goodbye, To Be Forgiven (Greensky Bluegrass), Sailin’ Shoes (Sam Bush, Anders Beck), Up On Cripple Creek (Greg Garrison, Carey Harmon, Jeremy Garrett, Noam Pikelny, Billy Strings, Sam Bush, Anders Beck)

Set Two: Sideshow Blues (Todd Snider), Backfire (Brendan Bayliss, Cody Dickinson, Nick Forster), Susanah (Brendan Bayliss, Cody Dickinson, Nick Forster), Restless Wind (Bill Nershi, Keith Moseley, Andy Hall, Jeremy Garrett, Chris Pandolfi), Sorrow Is A Highway (Noam Pikelny, Billy Strings, Mimi Naja, Travis Book), Your Light Leads Me On (Hot Rize), High On A Mountaintop (Hot Rize), Half Moon Rising (Yonder Mountain String Band), Keep On Going (Yonder Mountain String Band), Ramblin’ In The Rambler (Yonder Mountain String Band, Vince Herman), Jager Shot (All), That’s Where I Belong (Billy Strings, Bryan Sutton), Passin’ Thru (The Travelin’ McCourys), Things In Life (The Travelin’ McCourys)

Encore: Even Fade (Railroad Earth), What The Night Brings (Railroad Earth, Kyle Tuttle), No Expectations (All)

tdwenger http://www.listenupdenver.com

Music has always been a part of my life. It probably all started listening to old Grateful Dead, Peter Paul & Mary, and Simon & Garfunkel records that my parents had, but it wasn't long before they were taking me to concerts like Starship, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and Huey Lewis & The News. I got the bug to write about music after reviewing an Eric Clapton concert for a creative writing project in high school but didn't really take it up seriously until 2002. Since then I have published countless articles in The Marquee Magazine and done some work for Jambase.com, SPIN Magazine, and various other outlets. I started Listen Up Denver! as a way to share the music information that is constantly spilling out of my head with people who care. Please enjoy!

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