Leftover Salmon returns to opera house

Leftover Salmon with new addition Billy Payne returns to the Mauch Chunk Opera House in Jim Thorpe at 7 p.m. Sept. 20.

During its 25-year tenure, the face of the beloved jam band has evolved in every way possible. Formed in 1989, Leftover Salmon began as a mismatched group of talented musicians. Members from the bands "The Salmon Heads" and "Left Hand String Band" came together, realized their potential for a unique blend of bluegrass, rock, country, and Cajun, (which the band now calls "Polyethnic Cajun Slamgrass"), and have been molding their classic sound ever since.

Despite frequent changes in the band's lineup over the years, the three founding members - Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman and Mark Vann - toured together up until Vann's untimely death from cancer in 2002.

Although they attempted to recover from the blow over the course of the next two years, Leftover Salmon announced a hiatus beginning at the end of 2004. Two years later, the award-nominated Leftover Salmon documentary "Years in Your Ears" was released on DVD. Just a year after the band (although at the time called "Drew Emmit and Vince Herman and Friends") began touring again.

In 2012, the band released its first album since its 2004 hiatus, "Aquatic Hitchhiker," and is now preparing to release a second, which will be available Nov. 28, called "High Country."

Billy Payne, a 2014 addition to the band, will also be appearing at next week's show. Payne, co-founder of the band "Little Feat" and renowned rock and blues pianist, has a heavy influence on the band's new sound and recording.

"He's just amazing, and he's a veteran at this, so you can really learn a lot from him about being on the road and working with people", says Andy Thorn, who's played banjo with Leftover Salmon since 2008.

Thorn said Payne had been frequenting the Leftover Salmon circuit for awhile, up until his formal induction into the band.

"I think he did almost all of our shows for a year, so it sort of felt like he was in the band … He's been great, and he's actually producing the new (album) we're going to be doing this fall."

Thorn appears optimistic about the new project.

"I don't know if we're even really talking about it much yet … but we're excited to see it come together."

Leftover Salmon's upcoming release, "High Country," is a 12-song masterpiece. It features 10 new tracks written by the band's fresh lineup, including Thorn's title track and Herman's "Get up and Go." In addition to these new favorites are two covers: "Six Feet of Snow" by Lowell George and Keith Godchaux, and a tune called "Bluegrass Pines" by Payne and Robert Hunter.

As for the band's upcoming lineup, Thorn expresses excitement.

"We have a new drummer. He has been with the band over two years but it's all coming together right now with this lineup, so it's pretty exciting."

Emmit, original co-founder of Leftover Salmon, couldn't agree more.

"The time is right for this band to come back on a lot of levels. It's taken us a little while, but I think we're finally there."

Thorn is excited to be returning to the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

"We've played there one other time … it was really fun. I remember, a super-good crowd and a good time," Thorn says enthusiastically. "We're excited to be back!"

Coming up:

• Friday: The Stranger, Tribute to Billy Joel

• Saturday: Frank Sinatra Tribute by Tony Sands

• Sept. 17: Marshall Crenshaw, Jonathan Edwards, and Garland Jeffreys

For more information visit mcohjt.com or call 570-325-0249.