Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass jam band founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in mid-2000. The band has evolved over the years, growing from 3 to 5 members, adding electric effects, and touring with a full light show. Partly because of their name, many articles written about the band address the fact that what Greensky does is "not quite" bluegrass. In their own promotional material, GSBG describes their sound as "their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a string band with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll".[1]
Greensky Bluegrass | |
|---|---|
 From left to right: Michael Bont (banjo/vocals), Paul Hoffman (mandolin/vocals), Mike Devol (bass/vocals), David Bruzza (guitar/vocals), Anders Beck (dobro). | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Big Blue Zoo Records |
| Members | Dave Bruzza Paul Hoffman Michael Bont Anders Beck Mike Devol |
| Past members | Chris Carr Al Bates |
| Website | www |
Career
editThe band was formed in the fall of 2000 by Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), and Paul Hoffman (mandolin), who initially played together at an open mic night.[2] As newcomers to the bluegrass scene, the three drew upon an array of influences and varied musical backgrounds,[specify] reflected in their May 2004 release of Less than Supper, recorded with bassist Chris Carr and dobro player Al Bates. Both Carr and Bates left the band shortly thereafter. Classical cellist Michael Devol had approached Greensky with an offer to assist in management, but ended up joining the group as bassist in the fall of 2004.[3] The group explains their cohesion to being more of a brotherhood than a band.[4]
In the summer of 2006 the band were winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition,[5] earning them a spot on the main stage of the 2007 festival. Soon thereafter they released their second studio album, Tuesday Letter, produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth. They rounded out their line-up in 2007 when they added Dobroist Anders Beck.[6]
On September 23, 2016 Greensky Bluegrass released their album Shouted, Written Down & Quoted produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and Co-Produced/Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Glenn Brown. The bulk of this album was recorded in Asheville, North Carolina in October, 2015.[3] Greensky Bluegrass continued touring, and on January 10, 2020, they released Courage for the Road: Fall 2019 (Live), the first part of two live albums released that year. They followed it with Courage for the Road: Winter 2020 (Live) in March 2020.[7]
On Jan 21st, 2022 they released their latest studio effort "Stress Dreams" produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Glenn Brown.[8]
Collaborations
editOn-stage collaborations have paired Greensky Bluegrass with:
Discography
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Grass | US | US Indie | ||
| Less Than Supper |
|
— | — | — |
| Tuesday Letter |
|
— | — | — |
| Live at Bell's |
|
— | — | — |
| Five Interstates |
|
— | — | — |
| All Access Vol. 1 |
|
— | — | — |
| All Access Vol. 2 |
|
— | — | — |
| Handguns |
|
— | — | |
| If Sorrows Swim |
|
— | — | — |
| Shouted, Written Down & Quoted |
|
— | — | — |
| All For Money |
|
— | — | — |
| Stress Dreams |
|
— | — | — |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
References
edit- ^ "Fear, Doubt, and Responsibility: A Conversation with Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass". No Depression. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
- ^ Kenny-Cincotta, Raffaela http://relix.com/articles/detail/greensky-bluegrass-courage-for-the-road/ Relix
- ^ a b Yarborough, Chuck (January 6, 2017). "Classical cellist's road to bluegrass". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. HA-P1.
- ^ Zimmerman, Lee https://jambands.com/features/2019/01/29/greensky-bluegrass-delivers-all-for-money/ Jambands.com
- ^ "Green Sky upset". Festival Preview Roots. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ Newby, Tim (17 July 2020). "Americana Roots: Greensky Bluegrass". AmericanaUK. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ Union, Wonderful. "Greensky Bluegrass". Greensky Bluegrass. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ^ "Stress Dreams - Greensky Bluegrass | Release Info". AllMusic.
- ^ "Phil Lesh Guests with Greensky Bluegrass at Terrapin Crossroads".
- ^ "Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Greensky Bluegrass and Papa Mali 8.03.09 "Friend of the Devil"". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
- ^ "LAY DOWN SALLY Cornmeal Greensky Bluegrass rock covers Eric Clapton song 2011 Harvest Fest". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass with Larry Keel - King of the Hill - Horning's Hideout - String Summit 2012". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass w/ Sam Bush - full set WinterWonderGrass Avon, CO 2-22-14 HD tripod". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13.
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Welcomes Holly Bowling & Others in Atlanta".
- ^ "Tom Hamilton Joins Greensky Bluegrass In Charlotte".
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Announces New Album & Share First Single". 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- General references