GREENSKY BLUEGRASS SOARS LIKE EAGLES IN PHILLY

E-A-G-L-E-S! EAGLES! I heard this chant so many times on Saturday night that I began questioning if I was at Lincoln Financial Field, where the Eagles were hosting a playoff game, or the Fillmore, where Greensky Bluegrass was set to take the stage.

Mikaela Davis opened the show on this stop of Greensky’s 23 date winter tour and joined them onstage for “Living Over” to close out the first set.. A singer-songwriter from Rochester NewYork, Davis wheeled a harp to center stage and sat to the left of it. Trained as a classical harp player from the age of 8, Davis now uses her instrument to add layers, rhythms and complexities normally reserved for a guitar to the psychedelic folk rock songs that her and her band, Southern Star, play. Do yourself a favor and go listen to her now. This was her last night with Greensky but I have no doubt that she’s going to be headlining bigger venues very soon. Her new album is scheduled for release later this year and I can not wait!

In a straight line from left to right, Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Mike Devol (upright bass), Dave Bruzza (guitar), and Anders Beck (dobro), took their places in front of their signature, half-moon light bar, as the crowd welcomed them to stage with the all too familiar favorite chant of the Philadelphia crowd.

Throughout the night, people were checking the score of the game and providing updates to the people around them. After “Hit Parade of Love” the crowd proved again they could spell and Beck told them, “Ya know, I’ll be honest with you folks. We thought about doing all Eagles tunes tonight just to fuck with you.” Hoffman and Devol were ready for it. They immediately jumped into the chorus of “Take It Easy” while Beck begged them to stop. Hoffman also threw in a little “Desperado” and “Tequila Sunrise” saying he learned all the Eagles songs.

Hoffman’s rich voice was captivating and without drums or percussion, Bont’s upright bass drove the songs, and being a little higher in the mix, kept everyone dancing all night. (even while checking the score) For me, the highlight of the night was the last song of the second set. Joined by Philly’s own, Tom Hamilton, GSBG jammed through a fifteen minute version of”Run Or Die”.

Greensky Bluegrass has toured heavily since the band was formed in Kalamazoo Michigan and is known for their impressive light show. One person I talked to before the show described it as a slightly toned down version of Pink Floyd’s lights. Being backlit much of the time and colored lights swirling around the room, the lighting director uses spotlights to direct your eyes to the member singing or playing a solo. Definitely not Pink Floyd -or even close- it was very entertaining and added to the energy of the night.

SET ONE