Beneath the Sky Down Yonder: Music of the Black Hills
It was a beautiful day in October when Beneath The Sky Down Yonder released their new single, “Pass Me a Light.” The stage had been set at Bear Butte Gardens, which was hosting their Harvest Festival, an event that was a great way to kick off the autumn season.
Bear Butte Gardens was possibly the perfect place for Beneath The Sky Down Yonder to have a release party. Owned by Michelle and Rick Grosek, Bear Butte Gardens has helped bring the community together by allowing an outlet for many locally produced items. Their Harvest Festival helped highlight some of those producers, all the while focusing on local.
Beneath The Sky Down Yonder is definitely local. The influences of the Midwest clearly have a play in their music, which some have described as “apocalypse rock,” but also feels very much like folk music. One could say it’s the music of the Black Hills.
The Music
Currently Beneath the Sky Down Yonder has released three singles, including “Pass Me a Light.” An album is in the works, expected to drop in December. They describe themselves as a “Rock N’ Roll/Crossroads Blues” group, but one with a broad “list of musical influences.”
Those influences greatly shine through, making the music quite eclectic. It’s that aspect that truly makes Beneath the Sky Down Yonder a creation of the Black Hills. The music is a little weird, in a good way. It draws you in, and makes you want to stay. And if that doesn’t describe the Black Hills, I don’t know what does.
They aren’t a traditional band, as they are picking pieces from this and that genre, and mashing it together into something that works. It allows for the music to be connected to, because even though it’s a bit different, it’s also familiar.
It’s music that could fit in a small-town bar, that welcomes in the weary stranger. Music that would fit into festivals, that gives an audience almost a hypnotic sensation. Or, a music that could fill a large stadium, that brings people of many backgrounds together.
The Performance
Traveling back to October 2nd, Bear Butte Gardens hosted their amazing Harvest Festival. While the day would start out a bit windy, the wind would quickly die down, providing for a beautiful fall day. Local producers and vendors were set up, showcasing a bit of what the area provides, something that Bear Butte Gardens does an excellent job of doing.
As the sun was beginning to set, Beyond the Sky Down Yonder took the stage. The day had already been filled with great music by Blind Bard and Lacy Nelson, who were very talented in their own right. So expectations were high.
For my 6-year-old son, Kyle, this would be his first concert. Simply, it will be a concert he remembers for the rest of his life. It will be a concert that other concerts are judged against. It set a high standard.
The performance itself wasn’t over the top. There wasn’t the use of theatrics to hide behind, to disguise poor talent. And there was no reason to hide, as each member is highly talented. They didn’t need anything overly showy, as they filled the venue themselves.
Alex Nold, on guitar and vocals, came off as quite charismatic. When addressing the audience, it was like a friend, and he wasn’t afraid to also promote other activities that were going on during the Harvest Festival, even if that would take people away from the stage. The performance wasn’t just about them, but about the event as a whole.
Having kept the performance simple though, it meant the band really had to shine, and that they did. While they did perform covers, they also made the songs their own. They lent themselves to the music, which was a breath of fresh air.
Overall, it was intimate performance. Almost as if you were invited into someone’s living room to relax and enjoy some good company and music.
What may have put it over the top though was what the band did after the show. They made themselves available. My 6-year-old son had the opportunity to actually meet the band, and get a signed poster from them. Something he was super excited about, and just helped add to the overall joy of the night at Bear Butte Gardens.
Right now, Beneath the Sky Down Yonder have 3 singles that can be found on your favorite music app, and if you like their music, check them out on Facebook, where you can keep up with where they are performing.
