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30db: One Man Show

SCI Fidelity

Longtime friends, collaborators and Windy City natives Yonder Mountain String Band’s Jeff Austin (mandolin) and Umphrey’s McGee’s Brendan Bayliss (guitar) both endured some hard times and hard work during the creation of One Man Show. Forming a cathartic bond over their recent divorces, the two shared lyric and songwriting duties on the 14 tracks, which finally made their way onto 30db’s debut release. What results is an array of musical textures that’s equal parts folk, rock and bluegrass. The duo steps out of their comfort zones and performs genre-crossing tunes. Bouncy pop (“Always Up”), rollicking roots rock (“Grave”), mando-heavy newgrass (“Backfire,” “Liar”) and folksy ballads (“One Man Show”) are paired with some thoughtful, albeit sometimes ironic and depressing, lyrics. Other jam stalwarts make appearances on the album as well: Cody Dickinson on drums and keys (North Mississippi Allstars), Nick Forster on electric guitar (Hot Rize, eTown) and Eric Thorin on bass (Drew Emmit Band). 30db has the markings of both of the musicians’ vastly different sounding primary bands, but with a little more focus on simplicity, honesty and collaborative musicianship—it’s an odd fusion, but it works well.