Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Greensky Bluegrass, Ct. Yankee, SF

If you're a bluegrass fan and you aren't familar with these guys...you're missing out! Last night's show at the Yankee was hot! By far the best $10 show I've seen in a long time!

A little bit of background: These guys are a young, four piece--mando, guit, bass, banjo--out of kalamazoo, michigan. Winners of the '06 Telluride Bluegrass band contest, last years album, Tuesday Letter was produced by RRE's Tim Carbone, I was hooked instantly.

It's been a year since they last came through SF, happily this show was much better attended than last years stop at the Yankee, next time they come through (rumored to be august '08), the tables are gonna hafta go! The crowd was energetic and on it's feet. I intended to have a mellow evening but at the beginning of the second set I had to abandon my knitting and dance! I did manage about 3/4's of a hat first though!

Set One:
Old Barn
Inst
No Bread & Butter (a guess)
?? a new waltz
Address in Heaven
These Old Hills
??
White Freightliner
Tuesday Letter
I'm a Worried Man (a johnny cash tune, right?)
Jesus on the Mainline
200 Miles from Montana
Inst
Land of Confusion (Genesis)

Set 2:
??
??
Bottle Dry
Radio Blues
??
Grow Bananas
just when you think it can't get no better then it does (a hartford tune who's name escapes me)
Sitting on Top of the World
Bloomberg County (a guess)
Less Than Supper
Cassidy>Cryptical Envelopment>Other One>Cassidy

E: Tied Down

The only bummer of the evening is the lack of tapers. Although, there were several video cameras in the small crowd, including one that looked pretty professional!

The choice of covers is phenomenal! Big fun all around, the GD choices were a delight, a bluegrass band doing cryptical??? HELL YES!

The mandolin player stood out as a driving force last night, although there is no weak link in this band, the picking is tight and lightening fast. Their songwriting is strong--the covers are fun, but the songs they've written themselves are the standouts, they give a very centered, comfortable, downhome vibe--about things like rivers and farms, daily life and it's everyday turmoil. The emotion of the music connects on very real level, no contrived songs of dispair, not whiny and sad, but honest and from the heart, easy to relate to.

I was happy to hear Tuesday Letter--it's got one of my favorite first verses out there:

To see the world in a grain of sand
To find God in a wildflower
Hold forever in the palm of your hand
And eternity inside of an hour

If you're into bluegrass, do yourself a favor and check these guys out, they're on the archive and the live show can't be beat. After last night, I'm left saying Railroad who?

Nice glad you had fun!!

>>After last night, I'm left saying Railroad who?

I say that every night. Show or not!!

>>I say that every night.<<

Then you got too much free time on your hands, spacehed!


I almost forgot, super duper, extra special thanks to the charming, delighful, well dressed and musically intellectual boognish, from the board that shall not be named for recognizing Land of Confusion as a Genesis tune. I spaced on where that one was from... (is that enough for ya? ;O)

>>>After last night, I'm left saying Railroad who?

You may not know them. Its Railroad Earth. They are a a NJ band with some bluegrass roots but are more a rock band than anything. Many people including me think that they are the best band in the world.