‘Home Is Where I Want To Be’: Watch Greensky Bluegrass & Holly Bowling Debut ‘This Must Be The Place’ Cover In Kalamazoo

Greensky Bluegrass returned to their hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan to end a three-city, four-night New Year’s Run featuring keyboardist Holly Bowling with concerts at the State Theatre on December 30 and New Year's Eve. #6reensky unveiled a cover of the Talking Heads classic “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” early in the second set on the 30th.

After opening the second set on Saturday, December 30 with “Better Off,” the six musicians lit into “Tarpology.” Greensky often uses the instrumental from dobroist Anders Beck‘s pre-GSBG outfit Wayword Sons as the bread for a song sandwich. “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” was the filling on the penultimate night of the ensemble’s 2023 New Year’s Run. Over 12 minutes of “Tarpology” jamming followed the cover debut.

Talking Heads originally released “This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)” as the closing track on their fifth studio album, 1983’s Speaking In Tongues. Frontman David Byrne wrote the lyrics with the music credited to all four original members of the band. Greensky joins a long list of jam acts who have covered the song that includes The String Cheese Incident, Big Something, Perpetual Groove, Keller Williams, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Lotus, moe., Umphrey’s McGee and more.

Mandolinist Paul Hoffman handled lead vocals on the premiere. The crowd responded with huge roars to the “Home, is where I want to be” lyric that starts the song.

Check out fan-shot video of #6reensky’s “Naive Melody” captured by Max Berde below:

#6reensky kicked off Saturday’s show with the “New Barnes” arrangement of “Old Barns.” phoff’s “Reverend” was then followed by train songs “Stop That Train” and “Train Junkie.” Following “Can’t Make Time” and “Take Cover,” fan-favorite “Jaywalking” bled into “Solstice,” a tune Bowling and the quintet wrote and recorded in Iceland last year. The second set on the 30th was an improv-heavy affair that ended with a +33-minute pairing of “What You Need” and “Don’t Lie.” After “Born Again” opened the encore, the five members of GSBG headed to Bowling’s rig towards the end of “Windshield” to end the night on keys.

Watch the “Windshield” featuring GSBG’s version of “Keyboard Army” here:

Greensky Bluegrass will embark on a winter tour between January 11 and March 9. The band recently announced support acts for the select shows. Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, Melt, Molly Tuttle (solo), The High Hawks and Daniel Donato‘s Cosmic Country have signed on to open select dates.

Official Audio (via nugs.net)

Audience Recording (Taped by Sam Lincoln)

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Notes: Full show w/ Holly Bowling (keys) #6reensky

Set One: Old Barns, Reverend, Stop that Train > Train Junkie, Can’t Make Time, Take Cover, Jaywalking > Solstice

Set Two: Better Off, Tarpology > This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) [1] > Tarpology, The Radio Blues, Monument, Hit Parade of Love, What You Need > Don’t Lie

Encore: Born Again, Windshield [2]

• [1] – first time played
• [2] – full band on keys to end song

Notes: Full show w/ Holly Bowling (keys) #6reensky