Greensky Bluegrass Cashes In With ‘Money For Nothing’ Revival In Fort Wayne

After a month-long break, Greensky Bluegrass returned to the stage on Thursday to launch the second leg of their summer tour with a concert at the Clyde Theatre in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The biggest surprise of the night came at the end, when the Michigan-birthed band broke out their cover of Dire Straits’ “Money For Nothing” as the lone encore.

GSBG — mandolinist Paul Hoffman, dobro player Anders Beck, guitarist Dave Bruzza, bassist Mike Devol and banjo player Michael Arlen Bont — opened with a double dose of structures: “Monument” and “I’m Working On a Building.” From there, “Just To Lie” led into “Bottle Dry,” which gave way to a take on the David Grisman-penned instrumental “E.M.D.”

Dave Bruzza stepped into the vocal spotlight for the subsequent “200 Miles From Montana.” The band then pulled “Give A Shit” off their 2022 album Stress Dreams and sealed the first set with fan-favorite “Worried About The Weather.”

Greensky began the second set with standalone versions of “Born Again,” “Courage For The Road” and “Can’t Make Time.” The quintet followed by linking traditional bluegrass tunes “Ground Hog” (The Dillards) and “Wheel Hoss” (Bill Monroe). “All For Money” then foreshadowed the encore. “In Control” emerged out of the title track to the band’s 2019 LP and led into the New Grass Revival-popularized “Can’t Stop Now” ahead of a set-closing “Run Or Die.”

The show came to a close with the “Money For Nothing” encore. Greensky Bluegrass debuted their rendition of Dire Straits’ chart-topping hit in 2012. The Brothers In Arms cut was a setlist staple for the five-piece through November 16, 2024, the last time GSBG played cover before last night.

GSBG performs tonight in Columbus before appearances at the 4848 Festival in West Virginia on Saturday and at Montana’s Under The Big Sky festival on Sunday. Dates across the Northeast follow next week.

Watch Greensky Bluegrass break out “Money For Nothing” in Fort Wayne thanks to footage shot by Max Berde:

Setlist (Compiled by Max Berde)

Set One: Monument, I’m Working on a Building, Just To Lie > Bottle Dry > E.M.D. (Eat My Dust), 200 Miles From Montana, Give A Shit, Worried About The Weather

Set Two: Born Again, Courage For The Road, Can’t Make Time, Groundhog > Wheel Hoss, All For Money > In Control > Can’t Stop Now, Run or Die

Encore: Money For Nothing