26 NOVEMBER 21-27, 2024 westword.com WESTWORD | MUSIC | CAFE | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | LETTERS | CONTENTS | Colorado has always been a welcoming stop for bluegrass music, especially with the an- nual celebration of the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, which was started in 1973. That’s led to other celebrations of the genre in the state, including Rocky- Grass in Lyons and the Durango Bluegrass Meltdown. Colorado is also home to some of the country’s best-known bluegrass acts, including the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Hot Rize, Leftover Salmon and Yonder Mountain String Band. The clear mountain air, the rugged outdoor spirit and the crossroads of folk music, coun- try, rock and what’s come to be known as Americana make for a potent musical brew for visiting modern bluegrass bands like Greensky Bluegrass. The band has already played Red Rocks this year, but it’s returning to Denver for two special nights: Greensky Bluegrass will per- form December 30 and 31 (New Year’s Eve) at Mission Ballroom. Greensky is a jam/bluegrass band formed in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 2000. The group is known for blending traditional bluegrass with rock-and-roll el- ements, creating an innovative progressive bluegrass sound. The current lineup comprises Dave Bruzza (guitar), Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Anders Beck (dobro). The musicians are known for their energetic live perfor- mances and improvisational style, which has earned them a strong following in both the bluegrass and jam band scenes. Some of their notable albums include Shouted, Written Down & Quoted (2016), All for Money (2019) and their lat- est, Stress Dreams (2022). The Greensky sound isn’t purely acoustic, like that of ............................ band plugs in for electric .......................... with its mostly bluegrass instrumentation, setting it apart from more traditional groups. But while you might see a keyboard or an electric guitar on stage to give the sound a rock-and-roll boost, the textures are built on an acoustic foundation. The song- writing and ensemble singing — not to mention the killer precision picking on guitars, banjo and mandolin — are all hallmarks of classic Appala- chian bluegrass. Greensky Bluegrass started out playing a more traditional sound. Early albums such as Tuesday Letter (2006) had classic bluegrass instrumenta- tion and sensibilities, with tight harmonies and virtuosic instru- mental work. But over time, the players began incorporat- ing more rock and jam-band ............................. This progressive bluegrass sound really started to emerge on albums like Five Interstates (2008) and If Sorrows Swim (2014). On these records, you can hear the band experimenting with electric guitars, effects pedals and extended improvi- sation sections. The songwrit- ing also became more adven- turous, blending bluegrass storytelling with more abstract lyrical themes. By the time albums like Shout- ed, Written Down & Quoted and All for Money came along, Greensky Bluegrass had fully developed its unique hybrid style. The group had taken traditional bluegrass instru- ments like mandolin, banjo and dobro and was using them ................................ enced way. The solos got longer, the grooves got funkier, and the overall sound became bigger and more atmospheric. But Greensky never fully aban- doned its bluegrass roots. You can still hear the speed, virtu- osity and high harmonies that ................. Stress Dreams continues this evolution, with the band sounding more assured and ............................. .............................. showcases the bandmembers’ ability to write catchy hooks and melodies alongside their improvisational skills. Colorado has a deep fan base for bluegrass music, both the old-school and newer progres- sive styles, as well as an ap- preciation for country music, singer-songwriters and the alt-country Americana scene. So heads-up to Greensky fans: The band played at Red Rocks two nights in September, and they’re coming back for a show on December 30 and a party for New Year’s Eve, December 31, with Fruition opening both nights. The concerts will be a way to usher in 2025 and will feature the band’s greatest hits from over its career. Tickets available at www.axs.com. LIVE MUSIC LIVE MUSIC ADVERTORIAL GREENSKY BLUEGRASS RETURNS TO DENVER TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR’S EVE
