Greensky Bluegrass Paints The Anthem With Colossal Sound and Color

Greensky Bluegrass brought their annual multi-night extravaganza to The Anthem in Washington, DC, on February 9-10, 2024, coinciding once again with the excitement of the Super Bowl weekend and the Wharf's Mardis Gras celebration.   The weekend was packed with excitement as a number of events marked the calendar with a parade, fireworks and Superbowl being only a few on the long list.  Greensky Bluegrass came to town for their annual late winter two-night run that has become a fan favorite over the past few years and this go around they brought with them the one-and-only Molly Tuttle, still high from a Grammy win just a little over a week prior.  Add to the list, Melt, an up-and-coming indie-soul band from New England to add depth to the weekend and throw in a special sit-in from Cris Jacobs to make it extra exciting and we had ourselves quite a weekend on the South West waterfront of the Nation’s Capital.  

Kicking Friday off with Tuttle opening and sharing the stage at times with both Anders Beck and Mike Devol, it was easy to see how her latest album Crooked Tree earned her that first Grammy Nod.  Tuttle would also return the favor later in the night, joining the full band onstage to lend a feminine touch to the atmosphere and entrance the already enamored fans standing on all three floors of the venue.  Later she and Dave Bruzza shared a moment together for “I Told Them All About You” that proved to be a great twosome and way to impress the audience.   Tuttle would start with an athematic "She'll Change," fully commanding the stage from the second she walked on with her guitar. This was Tuttle's first performance since winning her second Grammy, and with a beaming smile shared how she spent the day walking along the Wharf, taking in the sights and how special it was to be back in DC, having only performed at the 9:30 Club in November and expressing how DC remains one of her favorite cities to perform in. Tuttle would continue with the first track from her 2024 Grammy Award-winning City of Gold, "El Dorado," before dedicating her next song to all the girls in the audience with "Side Saddle" as she encouraged the women in the audience to sing along with her. We listened as the cavernous venue echoed with thousands singing to Tuttle's feminist anthem. Tuttle would deviate from her catalog by performing "She's A Rainbow" by The Rolling Stones and "White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane before bringing out Anders Beck to join her for "Big Sciota".

When Greensky Bluegrass took the stage, they wasted no time delivering a performance that surpassed all expectations. With their trademark blend of traditional bluegrass roots and electric psychedelic flair, the band had the crowd on their feet from start to finish. Alongside their impeccable musicianship, the towering and vibrant light display, curated by lighting director Andrew Lincoln, added an extra layer of spectacle to the night, enhancing the mood of each song and captivating the audience's attention. From the first chord of "Stress Dreams," the audience erupted in euphoria as the walls of The Anthem dripped with masterful colors of the accompanying light show. Fingers thoroughly limber, the band would show why they continue to be one of the best progressive bluegrass touring bands as they explored the musical chasms of "Stress Dreams" and "Reuben's Train." To punctuate the first set, Greensky brought Molly Tuttle back to the stage to sing "Castilleja" and "All About You." After a brief intermission, the band would come back to the stage with renewed vigor, starting off with fan favorite "New & Improved." Having the audience fully hooked, the band turned up the musical heat as Paul Hoffman's voice pierced the venue with "Bring Out Your Dead."

With a spectacular second set under their belt, the band continued to surprise and astound the audience when they brought Baltimore's beloved son Cris Jacobs to the stage for "Bone Digger." Not uncommon, Jacobs who resides just a bit north of where we all spent the weekend, came and showed why we love Bonedigger no matter who does it but why, when done together, has us foaming at the mouth and dancing til our own bones are achy!  In recent years, Greensky has made Jacob's song one of their staples, but tonight, in front of a DMV crowd, they truly elevated this song. Greensky would end the night with the infectious "Who is Frederico?" which added some shoulder-shaking swagger to everyone leaving the venue. Fans poured out onto The Wharf with beaming faces, shoulders shimmying, and preparing for another night of music that lay ahead at The Anthem.

On the second night, the stage was again set ablaze by the up-and-coming band Melt.  Melt is known for their breakout single "Sour Candy", but in this appearance they showed why they were touring with Greensky Bluegrass.  With infectious energy they captured the hearts of the surging crowd.  NPR described the as a collaboration between band members where each  member of the band “expresses themselves like one groovy superorganism."  True to this description, the band surpassed all of our expectations.  Their energetic performance—highlighted by the belting vocals of Veronica Stewart-Frommer—set the perfect tone for the evening, drawing in the audience and building excitement for what was to come.

The fireworks show prior to the band taking the stage Saturday night wasn’t the only amazing showing of lights and sounds that we would see that evening as folks who make this Greensky run a tradition know that when Anthem and the band get together the light are hypnotizing and other-worldly.  When Greensky Bluegrass took the stage, they wasted no time delivering a performance that surpassed all expectations, starting off where they had ended the night before.  Straight out of the gate, they started with  "Solstice" - immediately having the audience hooked and thirsty for more. They seamlessly weaved through their extensive repertoire throughout the night, treating fans to beloved classics like "Wish I Didn't Know" and "Murder of Crows." Their rendition of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears featuring Veronica Stewart-Frommer on vocals had the crowd roaring with applause. At the same time, the haunting beauty of "Screams" left a lasting impression.

The band's impeccable musicianship was displayed as they effortlessly transitioned between fast-paced instrumentals and soulful ballads.  Paul Hoffman's dynamic vocals soared through the venue, captivating listeners with every word.  Dave Bruzza's masterful guitar solos, Anders Beck's electrifying dobro playing, and Michael Bont's majestic bando playing added layers of depth to each song, while Mike Devol kept the tight and steady bass rhythm keeping the energy levels high.

Set two started with the crowd-favorite "Old Barns," followed by the electrifying "Broke Mountain Breakdown." The band continued to impress with soulful renditions of "Demons" and "Room Without a Roof" featuring vocals by Dave Bruzza, before picking up the pace with the lively "Run or Die." The inclusion of "While Waiting," performed by only Paul Hoffman and Anders Beck (more affectionately known as the pHab Duo), added a unique twist to the set.  Audiences rarely see the elusive pHab Duo during a Greensky Bluegrass as this dynamic duo is reserved for off-tour appearances.  Paul Hoffman, rarely without his mandolin, picked up his acoustic guitar as he quipped about everyone else in the group abandoning him except for Anders, whom he convinced to stay. Despite Paul Hoffman stating that he hates being the center of attention, he was quick to embrace the audience and tell the capacity crowd how it was easy to talk into things and embrace the spotlight.  

After a heartfelt “While Waiting,” Beck was quick to pump up the intensity of the evening, yelling, “Let’s Go… Come on… Let’s f*cking go” before the band erupted into a euphoric and frenetic “Ain’t No Breadbox in The Breadbox” by the Jerry Garcia Band before allowing the musical wheels to come off with an animated and set ending “Leap Year.”   The night concluded with an encore featuring "Born Again" and "Grow Together," leaving the audience with euphoria that would linger long after the final notes faded.  There is something cathartic and blissfully euphoric when over six thousand fans sing together, “No matter how far we've come / Still the same thing on my mind / That we can grow old together / If we can find the time.”  No matter how many times Greensky Bluegrass performs in DC, this sentiment holds true, as we are grateful for each and every opportunity we have to embrace them and their music under the county’s biggest indoor concert venue.

Throughout both nights, Greensky Bluegrass proved why their annual run is a highlight for bluegrass fans—many of whom travel from across the country to attend. With each song, the band showcased their passion for their craft and their ability to captivate audiences with their infectious energy. Playing songs that spanned multiple albums, we were also the lucky auditory recipients of new Greensky Bluegrass tunes, which anyone at the show can admit, we were very happy to hear and eventually left the venue content knowing that there will be more to come soon enough.  While these performances are not Camp Greensky Music Festival - they are, in our opinion,  the next best thing. We are sure the venue walls are still dripping wet from an unparalleled light show and reverberating with the vibrations of bluegrass music as we eagerly await their next appearance at The Anthem.  

For those who cannot wait until February 2025 to see Greensky Bluegrass perform at The Anthem, you can see them at DelFest in May and at 4848 Festival in July.

(Writing Credits: Karin McLaughlin, Gary Jared, Jason Herman)