Photos & Review: Greensky Bluegrass Returns To New York City

Images by: Adam McCullough

Words by: Scott Bernstein

Greensky Bluegrass :: 1.30.16 :: Irving Plaza :: NYC

If Michigan’s Greensky Bluegrass hadn’t already shown they are far from your typical bluegrass band at a sold-out Irving Plaza in New York City on Saturday night, it was plainly evident when the band inserted a jam on Chuck Brown’s go-go hit “Bustin’ Loose” into their second set. Greensky may look like your run-of-the-mill bluegrass act, but they certainly don’t sound like one as they work a bevy of disparate influences into their musical stew. Fans have been picking up what the five-piece has been laying down with growing crowds in many cities around the country.

Each time Greensky Bluegrass returns to New York City they move to a bigger venue. Just five years ago they drew a small but devoted crowd to the tiny and now defunct Sullivan Hall, and after stops at the Gramercy Theater, Music Hall Of Williamsburg and Brooklyn Bowl, moved up to the 1,025 capacity Irving Plaza which they sold-out in advance of the show. Greensky built their audience the old fashioned way: by impressing audiences at each stop and by word-of-mouth, including an ever-growing Facebook group Camp Greensky that brings together fans from around the country.

Saturday’s show was opened by Wisconsin’s Horseshoes & Hand Grenades who are more of a traditional bluegrass band. A five-piece, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades play acoustic instruments and gather around a lone vocal mic to present a mix of originals and covers. The youngsters had a party vibe to their music which was just perfect for a Saturday night in the Big Apple and the quintet couldn’t hide their enthusiasm at touring with Greensky and playing in front of a large crowd.

As the years roll on, Greensky Bluegrass continues to add well-crafted originals and a wide-range of covers to an already extensive repertoire. The ever-building catalog has led to many fans catching multiple shows on a run, a great sign for a band developing an audience within the jam scene. Greensky showed off the breadth of that repertoire on Saturday night by mixing fan-favorites with more rare originals and a handful of choice covers. The capacity crowd was with the Michigan band at every step and the audience exploded with glee when Greensky lit into their take on New York native Billy Joel’s “Big Shot” within the first set.

[Big Shot | Captured by Sean Roche]

As fun as the covers are, it’s the band’s original material that sets them apart from their peers. Mandolin wiz Paul Hoffman infuses heaps of emotion into each song. Early in the show “Fixin’ To Ruin” showed off Hoffman’s range and presence, while the gorgeous “In Control” within the second set also displayed Paul’s ability to melt hearts with his vocals. Greensky also knows how to take jams deep, with the first set closing “Don’t Lie” standing out as one of the evening’s improvisational high points. Anders Beck shreds on dobro in a way you don’t see much of these days, while both guitarist Dave Bruzza and banjoist Michael Bont can pick with the best of ’em.

If history is a guide, Greensky Bluegrass’s next visit to New York City will find them playing an even bigger venue and probably selling it out in advance too. The secret is out on these guys and their success is well deserved.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”170″ gal_title=”20160130 Greensky Bluegrass NYC Adam McCullough”]

Setlist (via Camp Greensky)

Set One: Dustbowl Overtures, Wheel Hoss, Fixin’ To Ruin, Broken Highways, Just To Lie, Big Shot, Through The Trees, Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Don’t Lie

Set Two: No Idea, King Of The Hill, Take Cover, Georgia Mail, In Control, Can’t Stop Now, Bring Out Your Dead, Old Barns, Leap Year

Encore: Forget Everything, One Way Out