The Travelin’ McCourys will tear up the Tower

Published 12:00 am Thursday, November 22, 2018

When four-fifths of your band also backs bluegrass great Del McCoury (and when two of those members are McCoury’s sons), it can be hard to find time to record. The Travelin’ McCourys’ mandolinist and vocalist, Ronnie McCoury, hinted as much when he chatted with GO! Magazine earlier this year: “We did about 70 shows with The Travelin’ McCourys last year and almost 70 with my dad,” he said. After nearly a decade of performing, the band finally released its self-titled debut album in May (though the band released a collaboration album with Keller Williams in 2012, this is the first album credited solely to The Travelin’ McCourys). The 14 songs include Grateful Dead covers, grassed-up modern pop (opening track “Let Her Go,” originally by British songwriter Passenger) and originals that demonstrate Ronnie and brother Rob McCoury’s bluegrass pedigree. The band returns to Bend for a show at the Tower Theatre on Monday. Yonder Mountain String Band mandolinist Jacob Jolliff will open the show with his eponymous band.

The Travelin’ McCourys, with The Jacob Jolliff Band: 7:30 p.m. Monday; $27, $37 or $42 plus theater preservation fee; Tower Theatre, 835 NW Wall St., Bend; towertheatre.org or 541-317-0700.