Greensky Bluegrass & Fruition Pair Up For Wild Double Encore In Pittsburgh

Greensky Bluegrass is currently on tour with their friends Fruition. While there have been a handful of sit-ins between the two acts so far this run, they took it to a new level to end last night’s show at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh.

Fruition opened the show ahead of two sets from Greensky Bluegrass. Members of both bands then paired off into two different ensembles that each played a pair of covers as two separate encores. The first group called themselves “Tyrannosaurus” and featured Tyler Thompson and Jay Cobb Anderson of Fruition along with Paul Hoffman, Michael Bont and Mike Devol (on electric bass!) of Greensky. Tyrannosaurus performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Go Your Own Way” followed by Sam & Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin’.” Watch the first fan-shot video to emerge (warning: the quality is rough) thanks to David Ely:

The rest of Fruition and GSBG then emerged for a second encore. Mimi Naja, Kellen Asebroek and Jeff Leonard of Fruition and Greensky’s Anders Beck and Dave Bruzza (on drums!) performed under the moniker “Headliners.” Up first for the newly assembled five-piece was a take on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Headliners ended the evening with the oft-requested Lynyrd Skynrd classic “Free Bird.” Here’s footage of the Headliners encore:

https://www.facebook.com/michelle.a.fincham/videos/10211819153136496/

Beck told the story behind the coming encore during the “Casual Wednesday” that ended the second set. Anders revealed each group’s bassists picked their band mates for the encores. He told fans they would witness “perhaps the ‘funist’ fucking encore you’ve ever seen in your life” as the members of both bands loaded the stage and sang the “Casual Wednesday” refrain. Another highlight came at the end of the first set, when Greensky worked a cover of Traffic’s “Light Up Or Leave Me Alone” into “Tweezer Reprise” by Phish complete with Hoffman singing “Weekapug Groove” lyrics. Check out footage of the entire first set and the second set through “Windshield”:

https://www.facebook.com/michelle.a.fincham/videos/10211817938746137/

Setlist (Compiled by Christopher Nagel)

Set One: Demons, Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Send Me Your Address From Heaven, Forget Everything (1), Kerosene, Better Off, Hold On > Miss September, Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (2)

Set Two: Letter To Seymour, In Control > Can’t Stop Now (3), Against The Days, Tied Down, I’d Probably Kill You, Windshield, Run or Die, Casual Wednesday (4)

Encore: Go Your Own Way (5), Hold On I’m Comin’ (5)

Encore 2: What’s Going On (6), Free Bird (6)

• (1) Mimi supports
• (2) Tweeprise tease *Paul sings Weekapaug lyrics
• (3) Shout tease
• (4) Fruition Supports
• (5) Tyler Thompson and Jay Cobb of Fruition with Bont, Phoff, and Ricky Lightning on electric bass
• (6) Mimi, Kellen, Jeff of Fruition with Anders Beck and Dave Bruzza on drums