Written by: Phil Santala

Leftover Salmon: the band, the myth, the legend, the original. While often imitated over the last two and a half decades they are still the trendsetters despite being the original new-grass, slam-grass, jam-grass bluegrass band. Their sound and format was the original on the scene, and it’s far from being considered passé. A recent addition of Bill Payne of Little Feat for a series of shows expanded not just the diversity of the sound, but also scope of that influence. Little Feat songs pushed out the sound base for the shows, and added a bit of southern blues to the poly-ethnic-Cajun-slamgrass sound that is Leftover Salmon. The band had time to progress their sound for this run, perfecting the mashups during their shows in Jackson, WY at the Pink Garter Theatre and in Victor, ID at the Knotty Pine. Fans coming out of these shows had already begun raving about the sound of “Leftover Feat.”

The band came out ready to rock opening the two day run with “Gonna’ Have a Party.” Open the show it did, almost shooting it out of a cannon. Signature Leftover Salmon, letting you know they intended for you to grab onto the fish, and ride it like a bull for the next 4 sets. But like a bucking bull (or fish) Leftover doesn’t have just one speed. If bucking you hard isn’t working they are just as capable of taking it slow and side to side. A jazzy “This is the Time” featured a slower tempo with Drew Emmitt on his Les Paul guitar. This would be one of 3 instruments Drew would play through out the weekend. The faster tempo Little Feat song “O Atlanta” would prompt Bill to comment, with a grin as wide as Big Sky, that playing these songs was “like playing classical music, only faster.”

The second set of the night also featured Vince Herman demonstrating one of the not-often imitated aspects of Leftover Salmon. The psychedelic-grass standard “Ask The Fish” is Leftover’s “YEM” meets “Harpua” jam. Vocal riffs, heavy distorted instruments, and wandering narratives are the norm for this tune. Vince rapped about snow, ski bums, and the fish questioning conservation tactics and wondering “where did all the buffalo go…?” Other new-grass bands have found their niches, and some have done so after heavily copying Leftover Salmon’s. But here is where Leftover stands alone. Nobody does psychedelic bluegrass with the same ease and skill.

Near the end of the set Little Feat’s “Willin’” segued into a “Don’t Bogart That Joint” jam.  This was clearly a crowd favorite. It was surreal seeing classic rock songs about drugs melded with the new age usage. Joints and bowls were a rarity, but the clouds of vaporizing pen emissions still managed to muddle the air and scent the venue all the same.

The band brought up the tempo for the close of the set and launched into a prime example of the diversity Bill Payne’s addition brings to the line up. “River’s Rising> Spanish Moon> River’s Rising” left the lit up ski crowd grinning and smiling. Shaking off the vaporizer fumes, the rapid tunes left no time to imbibe, only time to dance.

The second night continued the mashups and zany atmosphere. Early in the set Andy Thorn took the room for a spin with “High Country” which featured not just his singing, but his picking and grinning as well. Vince would take to the washboard for “Dixie Chicken.” The song was noticeably slowed down and blues drenched. It left room for the sound and feel of the song to develop more. It also left room for the song to slowly build into its full head of steam. By the end of it Vince had shed the washboard, throwing it into the air as he did so. “This is the Time” absolutely lit the room on fire, and had Drew Emmitt howling at the moon. The show ended on the highest of high notes. A fast up-tempo “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” clocked in at around 12 minutes long. This version differs heavily from The Nashville Sessions CD version featuring John Bell of Widespread Panic. Vince left room in the song for every band member to take a solo. He brought the crowd into the act, promoting someone to “roll up one of those Big Sky fatties” before he led the crowd along with a sing along which would end the song. “Nobody’s fault but mine…nobody’s fault but mine…ain’t nobody’s fault but mine…” It echoed down the halls of the mountain mall outside the venue, it rang off the timbers inside, and it roared out of our mouths on the dance floor.

Leftover Salmon, like most in attendance, clearly have a good time when in town. Many in the band ski, and Big Sky provides chances to do that aplenty. But more so, Big Sky is a fun loving community; Montana as well. We do it all here from fishing to skiing, mountain biking to Frisbee golfing. Montana folks love to relax and partake in their pastimes. The Big Sky state shows some big time love for the things they like to do. Jam and dance are two that rank pretty high around here. The Leftover Salmon tour continues on to Colorado, then down south to warmer shows. I’m sure the crowds might be bigger in more populous states, but more enthusiastic…well I highly doubt that. If you don’t take the time to see that for yourself someday…well that’s nobody’s fault but yours.