Greensky Bluegrass

Greensky Bluegrass
From left to right: Michael Bont (banjo/vocals), Paul Hoffman (mandolin/vocals), Mike Devol (bass/vocals), David Bruzza (guitar/vocals), Anders Beck (dobro).
Background information
Origin Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Genres Progressive bluegrass, jam band
Years active 2000–present
Website www.greenskybluegrass.com
Members Dave Bruzza
Paul Hoffman
Michael Bont
Anders Beck
Mike Devol
Past members Chris Carr
Al Bates

Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass/Country band founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in Mid-2000. The band has evolved over the years, growing from 3 to 5 members, adding electric effects and touring with a full light show. "The whole notion of “traditional bluegrass” strangely remains a sticking point for plenty of the genre's faithful. Partly because of their name, every article written about the band addresses the fact that what Greensky does is “not quite” bluegrass. These depths have been plumbed. In fact, in their own promotional material, GSBG describes their sound as “their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a stringband with the rule-breaking spirit of rock & roll.”[1]

Career

The band was formed in the fall of 2000 by Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), and Paul Hoffman (mandolin). As newcomers to the bluegrass scene, the three drew upon an array of influences and varied musical backgrounds, reflected in their May 2004 release of Less than Supper, recorded with bassist Chris Carr and dobro player Al Bates. Both Bates and Carr left the band shortly thereafter. Classical cellist Michael Devol had approached Greensky with an offer to assist in management, but ended up joining the group as bassist in the fall of 2004.[2]

In the summer of 2006 the band were winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition,[3] earning them a spot on the main stage of the 2007 festival. Soon thereafter they released their second studio album, Tuesday Letter, produced by Tim Carbone of Railroad Earth.

Greenksy Bluegrass at the 8x10 Club in Baltimore, January 2012

On September 23, 2016 Greensky Bluegrass released their latest studio effort Shouted, Written Down & Quoted produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos. The bulk of this album was recorded in Asheville, North Carolina in October, 2015.[2]

Collaborations

On-stage collaborations have paired Greensky Bluegrass with:

Discography

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Grass US US Indie
Less Than Supper
  • Release date: 2004
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Tuesday Letter
  • Release date: August 2, 2006
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Live at Bell's
  • Release date: 2007
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Five Interstates
  • Release date: September 9, 2008
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
All Access Vol. 1
  • Release date: 2009
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
All Access Vol. 2
  • Release date: December 14, 2010
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — — —
Handguns
  • Release date: October 2, 2011
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
 — —
If Sorrows Swim
  • Release date: September 9, 2014
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
Shouted, Written Down & Quoted
  • Release date: September 23, 2016[9]
  • Label: Big Blue Zoo
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

  1. ↑ "Fear, Doubt, and Responsibility: A Conversation with Paul Hoffman of Greensky Bluegrass". No Depression. 2017-02-07. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
  2. 1 2 Yarborough, Chuck (January 6, 2017). "Classical cellist's road to bluegrass". Cleveland Plain Dealer. p. HA-P1.
  3. ↑ "Green Sky upset". Festival Preview Roots. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
  4. ↑ http://www.jambase.com/Articles/124445/Phil-Lesh-Guests-With-Greensky-Bluegrass-At-Terrapin-Crossroads
  5. ↑ "Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Greensky Bluegrass and Papa Mali 8.03.09 "Friend of the Devil"".
  6. ↑ "LAY DOWN SALLY Cornmeal Greensky Bluegrass rock covers Eric Clapton song 2011 Harvest Fest".
  7. ↑ "Greensky Bluegrass with Larry Keel - King of the Hill - Horning's Hideout - String Summit 2012".
  8. ↑ "Greensky Bluegrass w/ Sam Bush - full set WinterWonderGrass Avon, CO 2-22-14 HD tripod".
  9. ↑ "Greensky Bluegrass Announces New Album & Share First Single". 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
General references

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