One of my New Year’s resolutions that has been tough to keep, is to post a review of a favorite show each month. I think the bar is set at 6 monthly reviews. Let’s see if I can top that this year. It’s not for a lack of shows to choose from. No more excuses so here goes.

I was fortunate to take in six performances this past month. Among the shows were local faves Forty Mile Detour, the Traveling McCourys’ and the Jeff Austin Band, Bela Fleck and Abagail Washburn, Black Jacket Symphony’s performance of Queen’s, Night at the Opera and Neko Case. This was a month of stellar performances that are tough to separate. But the best of the best to my soul was Greensky Bluegrass at the Charleston Music Hall. If you’re not familiar with the band, here’s what you want to know. The band originates from Kalamazoo, MI, forming in 2000. They just released their seventh album of original music, “About the Money.” The band is a prodigious performer, doing up to 175 shows annually. The lineup includes Michael Bont (banjo and vocals), Anders Beck (Dobro), Paul Hoffman (mandolin and vocals), Mike Devol (bass and vocals), and Dave Bruzza (guitar and vocals). It was nice to have a band who can sell out Red Rocks in Colorado perform in the intimate setting of the Music Hall (965 seats).

The band makes a mighty sound with bluegrass instruments. Yes, they can sound like a bluegrass band at the Grand Ole Opry for a few tunes; then they put the instruments in overdrive and can soar high and wide, as loud as any rock band. The vocals blend well and are enjoyable to listen to. Song titles mean little when introducing a band to a varied audience, but suffice is to say that the songs are well-crafted, the lyrics are fun, and the sound runs the gamut from blue to sonic grass. This band loves to perform and it showed. They gave the sold-out audience two one hour plus performances and an encore! Two and one-half hours of high energy rock and bluegrass is what awaits you. If this band comes to your town, be there…and buckle up!

#GreenskyBluegrass #CharlestonMusicHall #Januaryconcertreview