Greensky Bluegrass will be releasing their new album “Stress Dreams” Friday January 21. It is a vibrant high charged album that almost ignores the fact that we have been in a pandemic. Not that they are in denial, and in fact some lyrics address separation and loneliness. However, the arrangements emanate positive vibes as is typical of Greensky and especially their energetic live shows. Since their 2000 formation in Kalamazoo, MI, the quartet—Anders Beck (dobro), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass), and Paul Hoffman (mandolin) have amassed a cult like following through relentless touring. They are indeed fan favorites on the festival circuit. This release should certainly keep the momentum going for fans new and old.
When touring ceased in 2020 in the face of the pandemic, the band used the down time to be creative in the absence of live shows. They assembled demos, individually at first, but eventually began sharing them via multiple channels. In July 2020, they got together for the first time in four months, dedicating rehearsals to the development of the new material. Once circumstances safely permitted, they recorded what would become “Stress Dreams” during a session in Guilford, VT and two sessions in Asheville, NC with frequent collaborator Dominic John Davis as producer and Glenn Brown as engineer. They used their time together to celebrate jamming and restore hope in the future. If anything, they expanded their sound as time away from the road allowed them to stoke the creative fires. “Stress Dreams” is truly a marvelous album and is fast becoming my favorite record of theirs with each listen.
For a sample they have released several songs I am sharing below:
About the author: Chip and his family live in Birmingham, AL. Roll Tide!