Greensky Bluegrass XXV
Buried in the Southeast at the turn of this century, I missed out on the beginning of the bluegrass revival. While the string band aspect may have resonated with some of my native-born neighbors, the “progressive” part probably scared ‘em off. While I was residing in what should’ve been a hillbilly music haven, that wave was starting to build on Halloween 2000 in, of all places, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The members of what would eventually become Greensky Bluegrass played their first show together. In the quarter century since, the quintet has become internationally known for their musically intricate shows, including 20 appearances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre. To celebrate their anniversary, the band assembled a baker’s dozen of their favorite songs, along with 10 of their best musical pals, all appearing on XXV, a career retrospective that shares the spotlight with some of the best pickers alive.
XXV begins by welcoming true string band royalty, as Sam Bush brings his fiddle to “Can’t Stop Now,” a song (penned by Gary Nicholson and Wendy Waldman) that winds its origins back to a performance by New Grass Revival (for whom Bush played). Bush leads off an avalanche of solos, followed by Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Dave Bruzza (acoustic guitar) and Anders Beck (dobro) – the rapid-fire chemistry on the tune is the kind of thing that results from several past live performances together.
Of course, no 2020s jamgrass offering would be complete without an appearance from Billy Strings, and XXV makes that happen on “Reverend,” a track from the band’s 2008 album, Five Interstates. Here, the fellow Michigander takes the second verse, as well as offering a scorcher of a guitar solo. Other guests include Lindsay Lou, who chips in gorgeous harmonies on crowd favorite “In Control” (from the band’s 2014 If Sorrows Swim), Nathaniel Rateliff on the deceptively upbeat “Past My Prime” (2016’s Shouted, Written Down & Quoted) and pianist Holly Bowling on a sumptuous rendition of “Windshield” (from If Sorrows Swim). But my favorite track on XXV might be the guest-less “Broken Highways,” originally found on 2006’s Tuesday Letter. Penned by Bruzza, this moody track about loss slows down the band’s usual breakneck pace, instead favoring introspection – “My records are scratched, my tapes are unwound/Trying to find a song to ease my mind/Boxes and pictures, scattered on the floor/With a tear in my eye I go through them all/Trying to find just who you were” (proof, if it’s needed, that this band, underneath all the musical wizardry, can craft a damn good song). Of course the tune still shows off the band’s chops (Hoffman’s mandolin here stands out, as well as some extra-eerie guitar and dobro work), but it’s the all-five-in harmonies that make it sing. 25 years in, these guys don’t miss a note.
Song I Can’t Wait to Hear Live: “Last Winter in the Copper Country” – My first GSBG concert experience was (of course) at Red Rocks in 2024. The highlight of the night was Bowling’s virtuosic piano playing as Hoffman scaled all 70 rows of the amphitheatre during “Windshield.” On this record, the Joshua Davis-penned “Last Winter” has that kind of extended life, stretching into 14-plus tension-building minutes of the most gorgeous music you’ll hear this year.
XXV was produced by Glenn Brown and Greensky Bluegrass and recorded, mixed and mastered by Brown. Greensky Bluegrass is Anders Beck (dobro, resophonic guitar, vocals), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo, vocals), Dave Bruzza (guitar, vocals), Michael Devol (bass, vocals) and Paul Hoffman (mandolin, vocals). Guests on the album include Sam Bush, Lindsay Lou, Billy Strings, Holly Bowling, Nathaniel Rateliff, Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Jason Hann, Aoife O’Donovan and Ivan Neville.
Go here to order XXV (out October 31): https://greenskybluegrass.redstarmerch.com/
Check out tour dates here: https://greenskybluegrass.com/tour/
Enjoy our previous coverage here: Show Review: Greensky Bluegrass w/Margo Price at Red Rocks