Even while seated in the audience, attendees found a way to dance. Movement was endless, happy, and carefree at the Englert Theatre on Jan. 31 thanks to the powerful energy Leftover Salmon brought to the stage.
From the moment Leftover Salmon stepped up to perform, they had the audience on their feet and dancing in the aisles. It was clear the band was happy to be performing, most notably during the song “Midnight Blues,” an energetic song that pulsed with good energy.
In every song, each instrument featured had a solo. With shrieking rifts on the bass, rhythmic runs on the keyboard, and the heart-pounding with the drums, each soloist received rounds of applause from an enthusiastic audience.
In addition to their lively songs, the band members cracked jokes with each other and the audience, making the show friendly and entertaining.
Leftover Salmon’s banjo player, Andy Thorn, has been with the band since 2010 and has played the banjo professionally for 30 years. Leftover Salmon has existed since 1989 with a rotating set of members who embody a consistent message and energy.
“I was a fan of the band in high school,” Thorn said. “I used to see them play out in North Carolina, so I feel like I’ve known them the whole time.”
Attendee Ella Voloshen had also heard of the band before the show, as the group has performed with several of her friends.
“I know they’re beloved in the bluegrass space, and I’m excited to listen to what they have to perform,” Voloshen said.
Thorn said the band crafted their unique name from a combination of two different bands: Left Hand String Band and the Salmon Heads. Currently, the band consists of six members, led by lead singers and co-founders Drew Emmitt and
Vince Herman.
This unique merging also led to the band’s one-of-a-kind sound, a blend of classic bluegrass instruments with the drums of rock.
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“They were more of a bluegrass band in the beginning,” Thorn noted. “But [the band] wanted to be able to play the bars and ski towns, so they added drums to sort of rock out at bars. It wasn’t very common at the time.”
Arguably, it is still a unique sound with each instrument played in tandem with the others, adding their energy to the concert. The familiar, fast-paced notes of bluegrass mixed with the high, electric energy of rock pulsed through the floor and pounded in audience members’ chests.
In a profound moment, Thorn, along with lead singers Herman and Emmitt, walked offstage and let the drums, keyboard, and bass guitar continue the show. Even with just those three instruments, the audience continued dancing energetically.
“[I like] their improvisation,” attendee Josh Warner said. This was the second time he’d seen the band perform. “They’re just a fun band to watch and listen to.”
Eventually, when the three did return, they slowly added their harmonies back into the show, bringing the tempo and rhythm back to almost a fever pitch that had the audience gleefully cheering and dancing once more.
“I just hope they have fun and escape the stress of their daily life,” Thorn said.