Courtesy Jamie VanBuhler DBA: VisualLife Photography
In an industry that favors heavy electronic beats and mindless lyrics over true artists, it can be difficult for genuine musicians to find their voice. Michigan based Greensky Bluegrass, however, has perfectly embodied the roots of bluegrass music with a modern twist and turned it into something that is appreciated and enjoyed by folk music lovers across generations. Oxford residents will have the opportunity to be a part of this Americana experience tonight as Greensky Bluegrass takes on The Lyric Oxford at 7 p.m.
Beginning in the early 2000s out of Kalamazoo, Michigan, the quintet was already deeply rooted in musical ability even at their inception.
“We got started, and our banjo player, guitar player and mandolin player were all learning their instruments along with what they already knew how to play,” bass player Mike Devol said. “Those guys had already started to play, and I joined in 2004.”
After a few lineup changes and setbacks, the core group finally came together with Paul Hoffman on mandolin, David Bruzza on guitar, Anders Beck on dobro and lap steel and Devol on upright bass. Since then, the group has worked on honing their technique and defining their progressive bluegrass sound.
With five studio albums under their belt, Greensky Bluegrass is no stranger to the recording process. Having such an impressive repertoire and significant experience in their craft, the group has been known to push the envelope and veer off into heavy jams reminiscent of Phish or Widespread Panic, which makes for an all-around improvisational romp when it comes to live performances.
“I think in general over the years we’ve been honing our live sound really well,” Devol said. “While we love albums, we really feel that our true experience is a live show and the energy that we bring.”
The group is unique in the fact that they fuse their personal brand with spontaneous folk-rock.
Though some artists go through the sophomore slump, the quintet has been able to stick to their roots while also maturing their sound over the course of their records.
“The last two albums we recorded pretty similarly,” Devol said. “We extrapolated on the same ideas as our other albums, but I would say that these two are a departure into a new sound.”
The release of their fourth record “Handguns” in 2011 marked a removal of the middleman as the group produced the album on their own.
“We didn’t have an outside influence,” Devol said. “We went into the studio trying to capture that same energy from our live shows.”
After another whirlwind tour, Greensky Bluegrass was eager to get back into the studio and record their fifth and latest album “If Sorrows Swim.”
“This new album is different texturally,” Devol said. “It’s a little less dark than our last album, but it’s hard not to record a dark album when you’re recording in the dead of winter in Michigan.”
This latest creation is far from ordinary. It combines the warm undertones of traditional bluegrass with profound lyrical arrangements.
As they are at their pinnacle when touring, Greensky Bluegrass is thrilled to be on the road again and headed for Oxford.
“I mean a Wednesday night in a college town where we haven’t really played before should be a good time,” Devol said. “It’s going to be really freaking fun.”
