In the midst of a winter tour Anders Beck, Dobro player of Greensky Bluegrass took some time to answer a few questions about the band and their music, some influences and what life as a touring musician entails.
Greensky Bluegrass will be at the Town Ballroom this Wednesday, February 5th. If you already plan on going, tell a friend who might not know, if you are on the fence or aren’t familiar, then read this interview and hopefully that will sway you. This show will be a step up in venue size so lets fill it up for them and bring some energy!
Check back after the concert for photos and a write-up.
Q: For anyone out there who isn’t familiar with Greensky Bluegrass, can you say a little bit about the band/stage setup/ instruments. How and when it all began?
A: There are five of us in the band. banjo, mandolin, acoustic guitar, dobro and upright bass… while we play these traditional bluegrass instruments, we use them to create our own music. While we pay homage to traditional bluegrass our focus has evolved more towards our original material with a rock and roll vibe at the live shows
Q: As a bluegrass band do you ever feel confined by the style? How have you been able to take that style and make it your own? What makes Greensky Bluegrass different than some other current string bands?
A: I don’t feel confined by the style, but i feel comfortable saying that since we have left behind the confines of the genre. we play loud, we use effects usually reserved for electric guitars, we write songs that do not sound like they came out 50 years ago. We all love bluegrass but we also love jam bands and rock and roll and jazz equally as much and i think that that comes through in the overall vibe of the band
Q: Do you think that your geographic roots and the music scene there had any influence on band or its sound.
A: I do think it plays a roll in the songs and the sound of the band. We aren’t particularly “lonesome” or “blue”… two traditional bluegrass qualities. That being said, i think the fact that we are from Michigan comes through in a certain darkness in our music. There is a certain rustbelt sensibility to the songs… the long dark cold winters and socioeconomic create a certain palate for music to be made on
Q: Have you been bluegrass fans for most of your lives? What are some early musical influences?
A: Speaking for myself and not the other guys, i come from a more jamband background as far as my influences growing up. the Grateful Dead and Phish are two bands that particularly influenced my musical education and approach to improvisation. Ironically enough, i got into bluegrass through both of those bands and then began the backwards evolution back to the bluegrass fathers like Bill Monroe and Flatt and Scruggs.
Q: Do you remember a specific moment when a piece of music struck you and changed the course of your life, or your thoughts on the limits of music; a moment when you realized that you want to be a musician or that you were allowed, maybe better off breaking some “rules.”
A: There was a Leftover Salmon show that i saw in in Rico, Colorado in ’99 or 2000 which was a real game changer for me. i was just getting into bluegrass and they basically flying elbow dropped my notions of what you were allowed to do with bluegrass. The show ended in a conga line out the door to a party in the middle of the street where the band kept playing.
Q: As a band that plays nearly 175 shows a year, how would you describe your work ethic? Do you get burnt out? What keeps you going and motivated?
A: We work our asses off but it doesn’t feel like it to me because what we do is so fun. i don’t get burned particularly burned out because each night, even if i’ve been tired all day, i get to rock out to a bunch of people that are fired up.
Q: Are there any acts that you travel with, have met or become friends with on the road or at festivals? Memorable moments sharing the stage?
A: We’ve had some amazing guests sit in with us. Perhaps the most memorable was having both of the Grateful Dead drummers, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann, come up and play with Greensky a few years back at the Hoxeyville Music festival in Michigan. Surreal, to say the least.
Q: What concert might we find any of the band members at together when you have a chance to catch a show?
A: Phish
Q: What are the things you enjoy most about life on the road?
A: I like eating delicious foods in each city we play. i love Pho and Ramen and delicious Asian foods the most. i have a bunch of foodie musicians buddies that will text me where to eat when we are at a new venue.
Q: One last question for Anders, what is your favorite IPA?
A: trick answer: PBR and bourbon
Buy tickets at www.TownBallroom.com