Greensky Bluegrass with Cris Jacobs, The Riverside Theater 3/17/17

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Greensky Bluegrass brought their foot stompin' sounds to the Riverside Theater for a St. Paddy's Day hootenanny.  The five piece outfit from Kalamazoo, Michigan plays a fast-paced style of bluegrass with quick-timed interplay between the musicians.  The band consists of Dave Bruzza (guitar). Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Michael Bont (banjo), Anders Beck (dobro), and Mike Devol (bass).  Greensky Bluegrass is a high energy live act whose varied set lists, clever covers, and lengthy improvisational jams make them a fan favorite for folks who enjoy traditional bluegrass music as well as those who enjoy rock jam bands.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Greensky played a robust show, performing two sets of music and playing more than two and a half hours. While Greensky has released some quality studio albums, most notably, 2016's Shouted, Written Down and Quoted and 2014's If Sorrow's Rain, their live performance far eclipses their studio efforts.  Drawing heavily on the energy and enthusiasm of the continually bopping crowd, numbers like "The Four," "Miss September," "Past My Prime," and "Demons" were all well-received and stretched out beyond their studio lengths, much to fans delight.

As with many stellar bluegrass outfits, Greensky also performs a number of reinterpretations of others' music.  A show highlight was an over thirteen minute rendition of Bob Marley's "Small Axe," a daring move to take a reggae song and strip it down into a bluegrass number.  Robert Palmer's "Simply Irresistible" was another stand-out cover, as was the second set closer, "Ain't No Bread in the Bread Box," by Roy Rodgers and Norton Buffalo, which was later popularized by the Jerry Garcia Band.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Opening the evening was Cris Jacobs, a Baltimore based singer songwriter who recently was reviewed by Rolling Stone Country as one of the ten new artists to watch in 2017.   Jacobs combines elements of blues, country, bluegrass and soul into his music.  His music has drawn comparisons to Sturgill Simpson, Chris Stapleton, and even Nathaniel Rateliff.  Jacobs's set drew heavily from his 2016 debut solo release Dust to Gold.  Jacobs's affable demeanor and high energy set made him a great pairing for Greensky Bluegrass.  In fact, Jacobs guested with Greensky during the second set during "I'd Probably Kill You," and "Simply Irresistible."  Jacobs's strong performance makes him a great candidate to return to Milwaukee for a show at Collectivo or Anodyne Coffee.

photo courtesy of Gigshotz by Stephen Bloch

Greensky Bluegrass Setlist:
Set I:
The Four
Wheelhoss
Lose My Way
Small Axe (Bob Marley Cover)
Please Don't Bury Me
Demons
Pig In A Pen
Take Cover
What's Left of the Night
Miss September

Set II:
Tied Down
I'd Probably Kill You (with Cris Jacobs)
Simply Irresistible (Robert Palmer cover with Cris Jacobs)
Keroscene
In Control
A Letter to Seymour
Past My Prime
Frederico
Wings for Wheels
Ain't No Bread in the Breadbox (Roy Rodgers cover)

Encore:
For Sure Uh Huh
Run or Die