In the first of three straight sold-out shows, the Michigan-bred progressive bluegrass heroes on Thursday proved their roots are still strong in Kalamazoo. (Review, photo gallery)
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A tradition unlike any other in Kalamazoo, the first weekend of June means the art fair, the Do-Dah Parade and, for the past 13 years now, Greensky Bluegrass opening up the Bell’s Brewery Beer Garden for the summer.
What started in 2005 as one-night stands in the Garden, soon morphed into two-nighters, and over the past few years, has transitioned into memorable, sold-out three-night runs that have turned into a family reunion for the band’s camper fan base, from near and far.
The band, which heralds from Kalamazoo, but — with the exception of the banjo-picking Michael Bont who still calls K-Zoo home — now resides in California and Colorado, has exploded on the national scene in recent years.
But Greensky reminded everyone in attendance Thursday that its roots are not only still strong but seeing them in their hometown in the venue that they came up in is about as special as it gets.
After an opening set from Port Huron’s Whistle Stop Revue, Greensky kicked things off with a cover of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” (on the eve of the 50th anniversary of the release of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”) with guitarist Dave Bruzza and mandolin player Paul Hoffman trading vocals. Bruzza then took the lead as the band launched into a scorching “Kerosene,” setting the pace for what was to be a heater of a show, leaving fans wondering what could possibly come next.
NO SLOWING DOWN, UNFURLING SONGS NEW AND OLD
There was no slowing down as Hoffman grabbed vocals on an emotional “New Barns” followed by fan favorite “Tied Down,” the first of a handful of songs that paid homage to the band’s Michigan roots.
Bruzza’s “Cold Feet” followed and Greensky later tipped a hat to Kalamazoo with an obscure cover of James Taylor’s “Knocking ’Round the Zoo” and Bruzza’s “Out and Under,” the latter of which is an ode to Kalamazoo dive bar Up and Under.
The show featured a handful of songs off the band’s latest release “Shouted, Written Down & Quoted,” including a first-set closing “Living Over,” as well as three tunes from 2014’s “If Sorrows Swim,” four tracks from 2011’s “Handguns,” and one each from earlier albums “Five Interstates” and “Less Than Supper.”
Sound engineer Greg Burns had things dialed in from the word go, and as the lights went down, lighting director Andrew Lincoln showed once again just how far he has come, as he lit up the Garden, basking the fans and the band in an array of lights.
GSBG will hit the Bell’s stage again Friday night, with Grand Rapids’ Mark Lavengood and the Bluegrass Bonanza opening things up. The Lil’ Smokies, 2015 winners of the Telluride Bluegrass Contest, will get things started on Saturday evening at Bell’s as Greensky closes out its hometown run. Both shows are sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: Greensky Bluegrass, Whistle Stop Revue at Bell’s Beer Garden
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Greensky Bluegrass Set List (June 1, 2017)
Bell’s Beer Garden
Set 1: With a Little Help from My Friends, Kerosene, New Barns, Tied Down, Cold Feet, In Control, Can’t Stop Now, Just to Lie, Hold On, Living Over
Set 2: Pig in a Pen, Merely Avoiding, While Waiting, Broke Mountain Breakdown*, Knocking ’Round the Zoo, Broke Mountain Breakdown, Before Bring Out Your Dead, Bring Out Your Dead, Fixin’ to Ruin, No Idea, Shape I’m In, Worried About the Weather
Encore: Out and Under, Broke Mountain Reprise
* Smells Like Teen Spirit and Girlfriend is Better teases
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