Pop Break Live: Greensky Bluegrass at The Beacon Theatre in NYC
Words & Photos by Allison Socol
It’d been a long time since I went to a concert on a Saturday night. I forgot how much of a difference having the day after a show be a Sunday — especially after this show — a three-hour Beacon Theatre debut from Greensky Bluegrass.
Since seeing that three hour show, I seriously now wish every concert was just as long of a set. It’s just not enough for me anymore. I always hear people saying “you wouldn’t want to have your favorite band play for so long, it would be overkill.” But I strongly disagree! It was just the right amount of time, though somehow still too short, all at the same time.
Greensky Bluegrass’ 2019 tour, titled after the new album – ‘All For Money,’ would be doing two show dates at The Beacon Theatre, NYC. It’s been previously said that the new music on the album was made with a strong focus on the band wanting to create music they intended to play on stage. This would would give the audience music that would be longer in song length, stronger in sound and rhythm, and faster tempo. All of the above was definitely shown, live on stage, and I would say is a really unique and amazing way to create an album.
This was the first night of the two shows, and before the concert was even over, during a brief intermission, I was doing a Google search of when the next time Greensky Bluegrass would be coming to my city.
As I looked around the theatre I noticed there was a guy on the upper level of the mezzanine, right up against the railing, who was rocking out so hard that I was truly afraid he would head-bang himself over the railing. Though it brought the biggest smile to my face just watching someone totally immerse themselves and their whole ‘being’ into the music and just let their body dance to the rhythm, and truly ‘lose it’ to the music around them.
“We’re not for money, we’re for fun! Maybe we should rename our new album “All for Love, Glory, and Fun!” Though some of you might be cringing out there haha” said Paul Hoffman; who plays the Mandolin.
The band took to the stage at 9:15 pm and they didn’t leave till it was 12:00 am. Talk about a great way to bring in your new day! The band seemed to be digging it to. “I hope you’re having a great time. I hope you’re having a damn good time!” said Dave Bruzza, who plays the Guitar.
I will admit it was pretty nice having an intermission in the middle of a long concert. Yet, once the lights dimmed and went out again, you could somehow feel in the air that here would be even more in store for you.
The night went on, and the songs just kept coming, one after the other. Then the final song came, and it was ‘Gumboots’ by The Allman Brothers. I don’t think there was a single person, who I could see, that wasn’t singing along. There was a row in front of me that all the people who were sitting there had walked down to find a closer seat, (no comments on me encouraging or discouraging one to do that, I’ll stay out of that debate ha) but that row now empty, and the ones who didn’t follow suit, took advantage of the new found space and used the area to dance up and down it. The smile on my face grew bigger, and my heart became overcome by this warm feeling of witnessing the great ‘powers’ that great music has on the human body. It can transform your whole mood, and take you into a new feeling. To get truly lost in a song and truly living in a live moment, is incredible to experience and to see.
The last note was played and Paul used the final opportunity to connect with the audience. You could really tell he was in awe from the crowds vibes and excitement, and he began to say in a very humbling way “We used to play the dumpiest bars in NYC. This is pretty cool! Thank you, and good night!”
Set One:
Demons
What you need
Wings
Time/Breathe
Kerosene
Ashes
Leap
Do it Alone
INTERMISION
Set Two:
All For The Money
Prime
More Me
Steam
Murder
Kill
Don’t lie
Gumboots – The Allman Brothers
