Greensky Bluegrass with The California Honeydrops and Andy Frasco & The U.N.
Red Rocks Amphitheater – Morrison, CO – September 13, 14, 2024
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
I think we’d all agree beauty is subjective. Who hasn’t heard, “Beauty is in the eye of th
e beholder?” With that being said, regardless of my limited experience with musical venues throughout the US, I’m convinced there’s no place as spectacular as Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado. In my corner of the Northeast, NY/NJ/PA, I’ve seen some incredibly beautiful theaters, almost a century old, that have been refurbished to their original glory. While I’ve been awed by the beauty of their soaring ceilings and grand architecture, there’s nothing that compares to the incredible majesty of mother nature’s red rocks, two 300-foot monoliths, boldly towering over a 9,500+ seat amphitheater and it’s seemingly diminutive stage below. The first time you witness this astonishingly dramatic sight it’s breathtaking and a bit shocking. While a repeat visit might not invoke the same level of shock that a first experience brings, I’m certain that Red Rocks Amphitheater could never not be breathtaking or awe inspiring.
Having traveled to Red Rocks for the first time in September 2023 for Greensky Bluegrass’ two-day performance, I knew as I boarded the return flight home that I’d be back in 2024. Throughout the year I eagerly anticipated my return. Not only would I be back to experience the magic and grandeur of Red Rocks but I’d be returning for another spectacular Greensky Bluegrass performance. Greensky Bluegrass, including Paul Hoffman (mandolin), Michael Arlen Bont (banjo), Dave Bruzza (guitar), Mike Devol (upright bass) and Anders Beck (dobro), puts on a phenomenal show anywhere they perform, weaving their individual sounds into a beautifully vibrant multicolored tapestry. However, a Greensky Bluegrass concert at Red Rocks reaches another level. As band members have expressed to the crowd, playing at Red Rocks is an incredibly powerful experience, “It’s terrifying to play here!” and their exhilaration electrifies the audience, from those seated in front to those 70 rows up (over 200 stairs.) The dynamic music is made that much more dramatic as the stage is continuously filled with a phenomenal display of vividly colored lights in fantastical designs. With these sights and sounds remaining in my head for a year, I was thrilled to return to Morrison, Colorado this September for what I knew would be another extraordinary weekend of Greensky Bluegrass’ progressive bluegrass music, surrounded by the glory of Red Rocks.
While Greensky Bluegrass was the main event and the draw for most in attendance, each night there was an opening act with many of their enthusiastic fans in the crowd. Friday evening brought The California Honeydrops to the stage to perform their dynamic mix of jazz, blues, and R&B. The Honeydrops just released their 9th studio album and is led by the charismatic Lech Wierzynski, a skilled vocalist, trumpeter, and guitarist, who formed the band in 2007 with percussionist Ben Malament. Currently joining Wierzynski and Malament on tour are five additional band members, including saxophonist and clarinetist Yanos “Johnny Bones” Lustig (who’s played on every album with Lech and Ben), keyboardist Lorenzo Loera, saxophonist Leon Cotter, trombonist Oliver Tuttle, drummer Beaumont Beaullieu, and bassist Miles Blackwell. Together these seven musicians create a vibrant, compelling, multi-layered sound that filled the amphitheater with positive energy and high spirits.
While the jazz influences of The Honeydrops created an undertone of musical sophistication, the mood created by Saturday night’s opening band, Andy Frasco & The U.N., was in sharp contrast. Frasco and his bandmates, Shawn Eckels, guitar, Floyd Kellogg, bass, Andre “Beats” Avila, drums and Ernie Chang, sax, brought party energy from the moment Frasco burst onstage with exuberant, frenetic exhilaration. Initially, I was surprised to see bare feet beneath Frasco’s keyboards. However, as I watched Frasco perform, from opening number “The Walk,” to “Try Not to Die,” and “Love, Come Down,” it became no longer surprising as being barefoot seemed connected to Frasco’s overall sense of openness. Whether he was expressing happiness at having moved to Denver and finally finding his crowd, “weird people like me,” reflecting on getting signed to a record deal after 15 years, sharing about his mother’s ongoing battle with cancer and performing his song “Somedays” for her or alternately, singing jubilantly from atop his keyboard, passionately jamming on the keys or racing about the stage, Frasco bares himself to the audience.
Frasco and his bandmates kept the spirted pace going throughout the set as Eckels showcased impassioned rock and roll facial expressions to match his equally impassioned guitar playing, while Kellogg bounded about the stage and jumped atop the keyboard to jam on his bass as Frasco played the keys below. As enthused as the band members were onstage, there was another guitar player watching from the wings, equally eager to perform. This guitarist was none other than the 3 year old son of Holly Bowling, pianist for Greensky Bluegrass. Wearing his miniature guitar, a backwards cap and protective headphones, this pint-size musician was fixated on his protégés, watching them perform. When Frasco invited him onstage to jam with the band during “Slam Piece” there was no hesitation, he walked onstage and performed like a rockstar. Additional songs in the set included, “Ugly on You,” “Train in Vain” (The Clash cover), “Dancin’ Around My Grave and “God at a Festival.” It didn’t matter whether you knew Andy Frasco & The U.N. or their music before that evening. It was a great rocking time and the perfect springboard for a Greensky Bluegrass performance.
This year Greensky Bluegrass had one incredible difference than last year’s shows, the inclusion of virtuosic pianist, Holly Bowling. Bowling periodically accompanies Greensky Bluegrass during performances and recorded their recently released EP with them, The Iceland Sessions (feat. Holly Bowling). As a solo pianist, Bowling is well known for her instrumental performances, has collaborated with a range of musical artists, as well as released eight albums. Adding a piano to Greensky Bluegrass’ five string instruments does alter the music, adding an additional layer of depth. However, the piano did not overpower the strings, it complimented the sound and energy. And, when you have a pianist like Bowling performing she can’t do anything or than add more richness to the music.
Watching Bowling play her multiple keyboards was mesmerizing as her fingers flew up and down the keys at lightning speed. During Friday night’s show the audience was treated to an unexpectedly breathtaking solo piano performance. As the stage darkened piano music was heard wafting throughout Red Rocks’ night sky. Audience members craned their necks and looked around, wondering where the music was coming. Suddenly, the lights shone on Bowling, playing a baby grand piano from a platform behind the soundboard, in the lower section of the amphitheater. Surrounded by a sea of fans, Bowling played an incredible three-minute piano solo before the performance became a duet with Hoffman, who began singing “Windshield” as he made his way through the crowd to join Bowling on the platform. For the next twelve minutes the crowd was transfixed, as Bowling and Hoffman performed a monumental version of “Windshield” with immense passion and ferocity. While the music itself was incredible, it was the entirety of the scene that was breathtaking. As spotlights shining on the platform bathed Hoffman and Bowling in a sea of light, the towering rock beyond Hoffman was illuminated a majestic red, and thousands of fans joined in to sing the song’s “Oh-oh-oh-oh, Oh-oh-oh, Oh-oh-oh-oh, Oh-oh-oh.” If the performance wasn’t already electrifying, Hoffman left the platform and continued to sing while climbing to the top of the amphitheater. What a fantastic feat!
At most Greensky Bluegrass concerts Hoffman sings lead on the majority of the numbers. This evening Bruzza took lead vocals on several songs, including “Worried About the Weather.” The two and a half hour set included a range of songs from the band’s catalogue, including “Born Again” and “Entirely Mine” from The Iceland Sessions (feat. Holly Bowling), “Just to Lie” and “Reverend” from Five Interstates, “Take Cover” and “Miss September” from Shouted, Written Down & Quoted and “Screams”, “Monument” and “New & Improved,” from Stress Dreams. During “Miss September” and “New & Improved” The Honeydrops horn section returned to the stage, before the band broke into “In the Morning Light,” a number Hoffman wrote with friend Billy Strings. The evening’s encore brought all members of The Honeydrops on stage for a grand performance of the Grateful Dead’s “Man Smart, Woman Smarter.” A electrifying way to end the evening.
Returning to Red Rocks for the Saturday night show, I wondered if there’d be a repeat performance of the Bowling-Hoffman “Windshield” duet. However, I knew Hoffman wouldn’t be climbing to the top of the amphitheater as upon his return to the stage he’d exhaustedly stated, “I’m never doing that again!” Saturday evening’s performance opened with “Past My Prime” followed by “Do No Harm,” “Reuben’s Train” and “Worry for You.” It was clear there’d be no duet when no piano was on the platform. However, the five microphone stands made it obvious something special would be happening. As the stage darkened the five bandmates arrived atop the platform for a rousing performance of “Burn Them,” “Bottle Dry,” “My Love Will Not Change” and “Leap Year,” surrounded by adoring fans, glowing red rocks and a backdrop of warm amber stage lights in the distance.
Beyond this platform performance and an changed set list there was nothing specifically different about Saturday’s show. However, there seemed a slightly different spirit than the prior evening. Maybe it was the combination of songs, the increased energy of a larger crowd, a warmer night. But, whatever brings an even higher level of passion to an already euphoric Greensky Bluegrass performance it’s always welcomed. Songs in the second set included “Demons,” “Distracted,” “Murder of the Cows,” and “Reasons to Stay, as well as covers of the Grateful Dead’s “Feel Like a Stranger,” REO Speedwagon’s “Roll With the Changes,” and Garth Brook’s “Friends in Low Places,”
the latter of which was an onstage party with Andy Frasco & The U.N. This incredible night of music ended with the perfect spirited but heart-touching number, “Grow Together.” In a world where everything can feel tense and uncertain, how wonderful would it be if everyone believed and worked towards the goal, “That we can grow old together, If we can find the time.” As I boarded the plane to return home I felt both a sense of peace, from an amazing musical experience in the spectacular as Red Rock, but also an already an urgency to return. It’s no surprise as soon as the Red Rocks/Greensky Bluegrass schedule for 2025 is announced I will be planning my return!
