Alternative music with alternative instruments

At some point in their lives, many people harbor a dream of becoming a rock star. Usually these visions revolve around electric guitar, bass or drums. But increasingly, instrument preferences seem to be getting more diverse. Artists such as the Punch Brothers, Sufjan Stevens and Bela Fleck are re-popularizing lesser-used instruments such as mandolin and banjo. At Mass Street Music, 1347 Massachusetts St., employee and local musician Jason Jones says he’s seen more interest in the instruments from college-age customers. The ukulele, too, appears to be making a comeback, being used by musicians ranging from Youtube phenomenons such as Jake Shimabukuro to mainstream artists such as Jason Mraz. With artists like these getting attention for playing different instruments, people are making the choice to start learning alternative instruments themselves.

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