Greensky Bluegrass

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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).
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
OriginKalamazoo, Michigan, USA
GenresProgressive bluegrass, jam band
Years active2000–present
Websitewww.greenskybluegrass.com
MembersDave Bruzza
Paul Hoffman
Michael Bont
Anders Beck
Mike Devol
Past membersChris Carr
Al Bates

Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass/rock 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 addresses 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]

Career[]

The 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 Bates and Carr 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 describes their commendatory as 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]

Greenksy Bluegrass at the 8x10 Club in Baltimore, January 2012

On September 23, 2016 Greensky Bluegrass released their latest studio effort Shouted, Written Down & Quoted produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. 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]

Greensky Bluegrass performs at WinterWonderGrass in Steamboat Springs, Co. on Feb. 22, 2020.

Collaborations[]

On-stage collaborations have paired Greensky Bluegrass with:

Discography[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Grass US US Indie
Less Than Supper
  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Tuesday Letter
  • Release date: August 2, 2006
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Live at Bell's
  • Release date: 2007
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Five Interstates
  • Release date: September 9, 2008
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
All Access Vol. 1
  • Release date: 2009
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
All Access Vol. 2
  • Release date: December 14, 2010
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Handguns
  • Release date: October 2, 2011
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — —
If Sorrows Swim
  • Release date: September 9, 2014
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
Shouted, Written Down & Quoted
  • Release date: September 23, 2016[14]
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
All For Money
  • Release Date: January 18, 2019
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References[]

  1. ^ "Fear, Doubt, and Responsibility: A Conversation with Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass". No Depression. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  2. ^ Kenny-Cincotta, Raffaela http://relix.com/articles/detail/greensky-bluegrass-courage-for-the-road/ Relix
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Yarborough, Chuck (January 6, 2017). "Classical cellist's road to bluegrass". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. HA-P1.
  4. ^ Zimmerman, Lee https://jambands.com/features/2019/01/29/greensky-bluegrass-delivers-all-for-money/ Jambands.com
  5. ^ "Green Sky upset". Festival Preview Roots. 18 June 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  6. ^ Newby, Tim (17 July 2020). "Americana Roots: Greensky Bluegrass". AmericanaUK. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  7. ^ Union, Wonderful. "Greensky Bluegrass". Greensky Bluegrass. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  8. ^ "Phil Lesh Guests with Greensky Bluegrass at Terrapin Crossroads".
  9. ^ "Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Greensky Bluegrass and Papa Mali 8.03.09 "Friend of the Devil"".
  10. ^ "LAY DOWN SALLY Cornmeal Greensky Bluegrass rock covers Eric Clapton song 2011 Harvest Fest".
  11. ^ "Greensky Bluegrass with Larry Keel - King of the Hill - Horning's Hideout - String Summit 2012".
  12. ^ "Greensky Bluegrass w/ Sam Bush - full set WinterWonderGrass Avon, CO 2-22-14 HD tripod".
  13. ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Welcomes Holly Bowling & Others in Atlanta".
  14. ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Announces New Album & Share First Single". 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
General references

External links[]

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