Photos by Dylan Langille courtesy of Camp Greensky, Inc.

Last night, Greensky Bluegrass and the Wood Brothers performed at The Caverns Above Ground Amphitheater in Pelham, Tenn. Ahead of their set at the adored amphitheater, an hour outside of Nashville, and following several collaborative performances the week before around the Southern region of the United States fans were buzzing about a sit-in from Nashville resident, Billy Strings. The excitement ended up being warranted as the 29-year-old joined Greensky Bluegrass towards the tail end of the set, adding his ebullient musicianship on the final five tracks and two-song encore with The Wood Brothers.

Greensky Bluegrass kicked off their show with “Reasons to Stay,” a cut off their 2022 LP Stress Dreams, establishing the mellifluous tone and electric effects that would remain through the evening. The ensemble–comprised of Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass), and Paul Hoffman (Mandolin)–took a step back into their discography with 2014’s “Leap Year,” which contained to an ever playful cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady.” Next, the ensemble moved into “Blood Sucking F(r)iends,” which was followed by two songs off Stress Dreams, “Grow Together” and “Screams.” Greensky Bluegrass then moved into “Burn Them,” followed by their nomadic 2019 release “Courage for the Road.” The Kalamazoo, Mich. group then moved into a logical pairing of “Before Bring Out Your Dead” and “Bring Out Your Dead” before they welcomed out their special guest of the evening, who was very much alive.

Before welcoming Strings on stage, Greensky Bluegrass’ Hoffman reminisced on their first meeting with the young musician, who at the time was wearing a suit, with just a few tattoos showing and his hair pulled up and tight. Strings, all those years ago, came up to them and shared his unabashed desire to jam with them, to which they said, “hell yeah.” Greensky Bluegrass and Strings started off with the bluegrass staple “I’ll Stay Around,” locking in an easy addition to their musical equation. Next, Greensky Bluegrass broke into their live debut of Strings’ song “In the Morning Light,” off his album Renewal which was co-written by Hoffman – during the rendition, Hoffman handled vocals. They continued with “Reverend,” which saw Strings take over vocals for the first time of the evening. They closed the set with Strings on guitar with “Worry for You” and “Don’t Lie.”

For the encore, Greensky Bluegrass returned with not just Strings in tow but also The Wood Brothers. They opened with The Wood Brothers’ “Luckiest Man,” the collective ensemble tracked the raw and emotionally complex tune with ease. They furthered the feeling with the show closer, “Second That Emotion.”

Watch “In The Morning Light” below.

Greensky Bluegrass
The Caverns Above Ground Amphitheater – Pelham, Tenn.
Aug. 19, 2022

Set I: Reasons to Stay, Leap Year, Foxy Lady, Leap Year, Blood Sucking F(r)iends, Grow Together, Screams, Burn Them, Courage for the Road, Before Bring Out Your Dead, Bring Out Your Dead, I’ll Stay Around 1, In the Morning Light 1,2,3, Reverend 1,4, Worry for You 1, Don’t Lie 1

Enc.: Luckiest Man 1,5, Second That Emotion 1,5

Notes:

1. w/ Billy Strings (guitar)

2. Phoff on vocals

3. first time played 

4. Billy Strings (vocals)

5 w/ Jano Rix (drums, keys), Chris Wood (bass, vocals), Oliver Wood (guitar, vocals)