Watch Greensky Bluegrass & Duane Betts Cover The Allman Brothers Band In Raleigh

Greensky Bluegrass continued their winter tour last night in Raleigh, North Carolina. Guitarist Duane Betts opened the concert at The Ritz with his Palmetto Motel ensemble and then joined GSBG for two songs including a The Allman Brothers Band classic.

The jamgrass quintet played plenty of staples on Thursday but also fit a few rare numbers into the mix. Greensky started their first of two sets by performing fellow bluegrass artist Robin Davis’ “Prom Night,” which was last played on January 26, 2023 in Pittsburgh as per Phantasy Tour stats. The band consisting of mandolinist Paul Hoffman, banjo player Michael Bont, bassist Mike Devol, dobro player Anders Beck and guitarist Dave Bruzza then ran through a string of originals highlighted by a well-jamed “All Four.”

Greensky Bluegrass delivered their take on the 1985 Talking Heads hit “Road To Nowhere” to close the first set last night. The song off the legendary band’s Little Creatures LP was previously performed by GSBG on August 3, 2023, their only other version since November 2022.

Upon returning from the setbreak, Dave Bruzza fronted the five-piece on The Stanley Brothers’ “How Mountain Girls Can Love.” Next came an expansive “Stress Dreams,” the titular track featured on Greensky’s latest studio album. The group brought out Duane Betts after a string of originals “Fixin’ To Ruin,” “Bottle Dry” and “Better Off.” Anders Beck introduced the son of Allman Brothers co-founder Dickey Betts and said it felt like he had known Duane for a long time despite just meeting him.

Duane Betts was plugged in and let it rip on fan-favorite “I’d Probably Kill You.” Betts stuck around to add his electric guitar to a cover of ABB’s “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” sung with authority by Paul Hoffman. The Gregg Allman-penned song was originally released on The Allman Brothers Band’s iconic Eat A Peach album in 1972.

Greensky Bluegrass went it alone to end the set with instrumental “33433” and the beloved “Kerosene.” Beck pointed out a fan hoisting a “China Cat Sunflower” sign at the start of the encore. While GSBG said farewell to Raleigh with “Old Barns,” the band worked in plenty of teases of the Grateful Dead song.

Enjoy official video of the Betts/GSBG “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” collaboration below:

Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel conclude their time supporting GSBG tomorrow (January 20) in Atlanta following a show in Charlotte tonight (January 19). Greensky then returns to the road on February 1 in New Haven, Connecticut. Scroll below for both acts’ upcoming tour dates.

Official Audio (via nugs.net)

Setlist

Set One: Prom Night, Run Or Die, Room Without A Roof, Cut A Tooth, In Control, All For Money, All Four, Road To Nowhere

Set Two: How Mountain Girls Can Love, Stress Dreams, Fixin’ To Ruin, Bottle Dry, Better Off, I’d Probably Kill You*, Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More*, 33433, Kerosene

Encore: Old Barns

* – w/ Duane Betts on electric guitar