Ryan Montbleau Joins Greensky Bluegrass For ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ Cover In Burlington

Greensky Bluegrass returned to The Flynn Theatre last night for their third January concert at the Burlington, Vermont venue in the past four years. While Thursday was a rare 2023 Winter Tour performance without a support act, the band brought out Ryan Montbleau towards the end of the show for a pair of choice covers.

The quintet opened the night with “Fixin To Ruin” off their 2016 album, Shouted, Written Down & Quoted. Guitarist Dave Bruzza then led the band down “Broken Highways” after which GSBG found “Courage For The Road” with dobroist Anders Beck delivering a killer solo. The first rarity of the concert followed as mandolinist Paul Hoffman helmed a take on Steppin’ In It’s “Ghost Of Richard Manuel,” a song last played 196 shows prior on September 25, 2019. After performing a tune honoring Richard Manuel GSBG fittingly covered The Band’s “Shape I’m In.”

A quick romp through “Burn Them” from 2014’s If Sorrows Swim continued last night’s first set. Greensky then treated the Vermont crowd to a lengthy “Tarpology” featuring multiple spacey jams. The five-piece went on to wrap the frame with “Monument” off their latest album, 2022’s Stress Dreams.

Greensky Bluegrass stretched out Stress Dreams’ title track to start the second set in Burlington. Next came a cover of “How Mountain Girls Can Love” and All For Money standout “Do Harm.” From there “Train Junkie” was followed by Hoffman shouting out an audience member playing air guitar. “I love that enthusiasm, I love vibe. That’s what I do when I go to shows,” phoff said. Other members then chimed in about their “wook days” and their favorite “instruments of air.”

Hoffman fronted the ensuing pairing of “In Control” and “In For Money” before the collective harmonized on “200 Miles From Montana.” The band then treated fans to the evening’s final Stress Dreams number, “Worry For You.” Greensky went on to welcome Ryan Montbleau to the stage.

Montbleau was sans guitar for his appearance. Ryan sang the set-closing take on Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary.” The singer-songwriter returned to the stage as the encore began with GSBG’s first cover of Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” since Montbleau joined the band for the song at the Levitate Festival in 2018. Last night’s “Gangsta’s Paradise” featured hints of David Grisman’s “E.M.D.,” aka “Eat My Dust” and Greensky transitioned into a more fleshed out version to end the encore and concert.

Greensky Bluegrass performs at Boston’s MGM Music Hall at Fenway tonight with Neighbor opening. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.com.

Setlist (via GSBG PT)

Set One: Fixin To Ruin, Broken Highways, Courage for the Road, Ghost of Richard Manuel, Shape I’m In, Burn Them, Tarpology > Monument

Set Two: Stress Dreams, How Mountain Girls Can Love, Do Harm, Train Junkie, In Control, All for Money, 200 Miles from Montana, Worry for You > The Wind Cries Mary [1]

Encore: Gangsta’s Paradise [1], E.M.D. (Eat My Dust)

[1] – w/ Ryan Montbleau (vocals)