Greensky Bluegrass
Greensky Bluegrass | |
|---|---|
.jpg) From left to right: Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Bont (banjo/vocals), Paul Hoffman (mandolin/vocals), Mike Devol (bass/vocals), David Bruzza (guitar/vocals) | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA |
| Genres | Progressive bluegrass, jam band |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Members | Dave Bruzza Paul Hoffman Michael Bont Anders Beck Mike Devol |
| Past members | Chris Carr Al Bates |
| Website | greenskybluegrass.com |
Greensky Bluegrass is a five-piece American bluegrass band founded in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 2000.
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,[specify] 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. In the fall of the same year, bassist Michael Devol joined the group.
In the summer of 2006 the band were winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition,[1] 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.
In November 2007 the band released its first live recording Live At Bell's, documenting two shows at Bell's Brewery in their hometown of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Just over a month later Greensky Bluegrass added Anders Beck of Wayword Sons to the line-up, replacing Al Bates on dobro.
In August 2008 the band released their third studio recording Five Interstates, also produced by Tim Carbone.
A live series, All Access was released in 2010 with volumes 1 & 2, featuring live performances in their entirety.
Their fourth, and most critically acclaimed album,[citation needed] Handguns, made its debut on Billboard's Bluegrass Charts at No. 3 in October 2011, and spent nine weeks on the chart, landing at No. 33 for 2011 on Billboard's Year End Bluegrass Chart.[citation needed]
Collaborations
 |
On-stage collaborations have paired Greensky Bluegrass with:
- Phil Lesh[2]
- Bill Kreutzman & Papa Mali,[3]
- Cornmeal,[4]
- The Hackensaw Boys,
- The String Cheese Incident,
- Del McCoury,
- Fruition,
- Larry Keel,[5]
- Railroad Earth,
- Sam Bush,[6] and
- Steppin’ In It.
- Billy Strings
Some of the acts the band has also shared bills with include:
- Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
- Darrell Scott
- David Grisman Quintet
- Hot Buttered Rum
- Jeremiah Birnbaum and The Ramblers
- Keller Williams
- King Wilkie
- The Mammals
- New Monsoon
- Peter Rowan and The Tony Rice Quartet
- Ralph Stanley
- Sam Bush Band
- The Avett Brothers
- Tumbleweed Wanderers
- Vince Herman
- Yonder Mountain String Band
- Widespread Panic
Discography
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Grass | US | US Indie | ||
| Less Than Supper |
|
— | — | — |
| Tuesday Letter |
|
— | — | — |
| Live at Bell's |
|
— | — | — |
| Five Interstates |
|
— | — | — |
| All Access Vol. 1 |
|
— | — | — |
| All Access Vol. 2 |
|
— | — | — |
| Handguns |
|
3 | — | — |
| If Sorrows Swim |
|
1 | 127 | 22 |
| Shouted, Written Down & Quoted |
|
|||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
References
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (May 2013) |
- Specific citations
- ^ "Green Sky upset". Festival Preview Roots. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
- ^ http://www.jambase.com/Articles/124445/Phil-Lesh-Guests-With-Greensky-Bluegrass-At-Terrapin-Crossroads
- ^ "Grateful Dead's Bill Kreutzmann, Greensky Bluegrass and Papa Mali 8.03.09 "Friend of the Devil"".
- ^ "LAY DOWN SALLY Cornmeal Greensky Bluegrass rock covers Eric Clapton song 2011 Harvest Fest".
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass with Larry Keel - King of the Hill - Horning's Hideout - String Summit 2012".
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass w/ Sam Bush - full set WinterWonderGrass Avon, CO 2-22-14 HD tripod".
- ^ "Greensky Bluegrass Announces New Album & Share First Single". 2016-08-12. Retrieved 2016-08-17.
- General references
- Kalamazoo Gazette
- Greensky Bluegrass at CMT.com