Kalamazoo’s Greensky Bluegrass brings its progressive bluegrass prowess to Grand Rapids Saturday. To whet fan appetites, Paul Hoffman offers up a batch of his favorite songs. Some selections will surprise you.
The Local Spins Guest Playlist: Paul Hoffman
When mandolinist Paul Hoffman formed Greensky Bluegrass in Kalamazoo along with banjoist Michael Arlen Bont and guitarist Dave Bruzza lo so many years ago, the future was bright but uncertain amid the group’s humble beginnings as it plunged into the world of bluegrass.
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Paul Hoffman (Photo/Eric Fischer)
Some 15 years later, the band has established itself as a pre-eminent force in the progressive bluegrass scene, with the group’s latest album, 2014’s “If Sorrows Swim,” soaring to the top of the U.S. bluegrass chart and even cracking the Billboard 200.
As the band wraps up the current leg of its winter tour with a return Saturday to one of its favorite haunts, The Intersection in Grand Rapids, Local Spins asked Hoffman to offer up his Top 10 playlist of favorite songs. He “couldn’t help it” and came up with 12 instead, noting he took great care in assembling his roster. It’s a surprisingly diverse and intriguing list which includes a couple of Michigan gems: Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys and Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.
Check out the playlist here, then check out the band at the ‘Section on Saturday, with details online here.
FROM PAUL: Generally, I prefer a playlist to embody a theme or a mood. In the interest of diversity, this will loosely center around music I like. That’s simple right? I’ll intentionally throw in what I believe to be some, “I didn’t expect that from him” cuts also. So, here goes …
1. “Hot Hands,” Lindsay Lou & The Flatbellys — Local spin! From their upcoming release “Ionia” (Feb. 14 at Founders). The soul and intention put into this track floor me. The interplay between instruments is so deliberate and tasty.
http://vimeo.com/111033157)
2. “Olivia,” Rayland Baxter — Our next leg of the tour includes this great writer and we are ecstatic. He writes beautiful songs. And sad songs. So good.
3. “I’m Into You,” Chet Faker — Discovered this Australian smooth tunester recently and can’t get enough. It’s all great. He released an album in 2014 that went large on the Australian charts. That led me to this from his older album.
4. “When I Get My Hands On You,” from “The New Basement Tapes” (Marcus Mumford/Bob Dylan collaboration) — Part of the project involving a bunch of bad assess to compose music to unused Dylan lyrics. This song is so simple. So sexy and so good.
5. “Nothing But Our Love,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. — Local spin! Detroit boys with a stranger band name than ours and an awesome vibe.
6. “From Eden,” Hozier — From out of nowhere, this guy is popular as all heck and he deserves it. creative melodies, unique arrangements and passionate delivery. I’m a fan.
7. “New Theme,” The Shouting Matches (with Justin Vernon) — Better known for his success as Bon Iver. This side project features him not singing falsetto and it’s got a Motown feel that’s rad.
8. “Song for Zula,” Phosphorescent — My capacity to hear this song over and over again is unbelievable. The beat. His voice. It makes me want to cry and spin in circles all at once. I can’t decide.
9. “Style,” Taylor Swift — I’m going there. This one won’t make the Spotify playlist cause Tay has pulled her music to try and help change the rules for how artists are compensated. I’m a huge fan of that and of her new non-country pop album.
10. “Mother & Father,” Broods — I love electronica music. For real. This band delivers thoughtful moods with soundscapes that make dancing and singing along irresistible. I might have listened to this song every day for 60+ days.
11. “Same Emotions,” Strand of Oaks — I discovered this guy because the album cover looks like me. No. Really. It’s hard to pin down Tim’s style: folky, trancey, heavy. I like it.
12. “It’s Not My Fault, I’m Happy,” Passion Pit — Yup. I love a repetitive down beat. This song makes me dance down the sidewalk in cities across America. I don’t care who’s watching.
PAUL HOFFMAN: THE LOCAL SPINS GUEST PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY
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