Greensky Bluegrass Welcomes Marco Benevento In Coney Island

At the intersection of rock and bluegrass is the five-piece Greensky Bluegrass. The band may have formed in Michigan, but New York City has become a home away from home for the group. Last night’s GSBG show took place at Ford Amphitheather At Coney Island Boardwalk, the tenth different venue the band has headlined in NYC since the start of 2012. Thursday’s show was a special affair for many reasons including multiple guest appearances from pianist Marco Benevento.

Venue Segues – Greensky Bluegrass Headlining Shows In New York City 2012 > 2017: Sullivan Hall 1/19/2012 > Highline Ballroom 7/13/12 > BB King’s 4/17/2013 > Bowery Ballroom 9/21/2013 > Music Hall of Williamsburg 1/30/2014 > Gramercy Theatre 9/13/2014 > Brooklyn Bowl 1/28 & 29/2015 > Music Hall of Williamsburg 9/12/2015 > Irving Plaza 1/30/2016 > PlayStation Theater 1/28/2017 > Ford Amphitheater At Coney Island Boardwalk 8/3/2017

Benevento and his trio featuring bassist Karina Rykman and drummer Andy Borger opened for Greensky. The concert in Brooklyn came in honor of The Waterwheel Foundation’s 20th anniversary. In 1997 Phish created the WaterWheel Foundation to oversee the band’s charitable activities. Greensky wound up performing two sets for NYC Campers with Benevento appearing as part of each one as well as during the encore.

The five-piece kicked off Thursday’s first set with beloved original “Windshield” ahead of more recent numbers “Burn Them” and “Take Cover.” Golden oldies “Train Junkie” and “In Control” came next along with Dave Bruzza’s “A Letter To Seymour.” Dobroist Anders Beck then welcomed Marco to the stage for the original “Lose My Way” and covers of Bill Monroe’s “I’m Working On A Building” and The Traveling Wilburys’ “Handle With Care” to end GSBG’s first set.

Greensky began last night’s second set with “The Four” followed by a tip of the hat to New York’s own Billy Joel in the form of a “Big Shot” cover. Later in the set, Benevento returned to add to “I’d Probably Kill You” and “Leap Year.” The quintet then ended the set by their lonesomes with “Old Barns” and “Kerosene.” For the encore, Greensky Bluegrass brought out Marco Benevento to add to a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Atlantic City.”

Taper Z-Man’s recording can be downloaded here. Stream “Handle With Care” and “Atlantic City”:

Setlist (via Camp Greensky)

Set One: Windshield, Burn Them (1), Take Cover, Train Junkie, In Control, A Letter To Seymour, Lose My Way (2), Working On A Building (2), Handle With Care (2)

Set Two: The Four > Big Shot (3)(4), Past My Prime, Room Without A Roof, Living Over (5), I’d Probably Kill You (2)(6)(7), Leap Year (2)(8)(9), Old Barns (10) (11), Kerosene (12)(13)

Encore: Atlantic City (2)

• (1) Keith Kinnear on tambourine
• (2) with Marco Benevento on piano
• (3) lyric change “? he’s such a big shot”
• (4) post-song Happy Birthday shout out
• (5) lyric change “Wish I had more hands”
• (6) pre-song When Doves Cry intro. tease
• (7) pre-song Shakedown Street tease
• (8) Shakedown Street teases
• (9) Help On The Way teases
• (10) Miss September teases in intro
• (11) “New Barns” arrangement
• (12) pre-song War Pigs tease
• (13) Let It Grow teases