Greensky Bluegrass is an American bluegrass band originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan. The band was formed in 2000 and has since gained a large national following, regularly playing festivals around the country. Greensky Bluegrass is known for their unique blend of traditional bluegrass instrumentation and sound with the energy and improvisation of a rock band.
The band consists of 5 members:
- Paul Hoffman – Mandolin, Vocals
- Michael Arlen Bont – Banjo, Vocals
- Dave Bruzza – Guitar, Vocals
- Mike Devol – Upright Bass, Vocals
- Anders Beck – Dobro, Lap Steel, Guitar, Vocals
These 5 musicians all have interesting backgrounds and currently reside in different parts of the country when not on tour together. Knowing where the members live can give fans insight into their influences and personal lives outside of performing. This article will explore where each Greensky Bluegrass band member calls home.
Paul Hoffman – Northern Michigan
Paul Hoffman handles mandolin and vocals for Greensky Bluegrass. He is originally from New Jersey and moved to Michigan as a student at Kalamazoo College. This is where Greensky Bluegrass first formed and got their start playing college parties and local bars. Even after the band gained popularity regionally and began touring nationally, Hoffman chose to remain based in Michigan.
Specifically, Paul Hoffman now lives in the Traverse City area in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Traverse City sits on the shores of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay. It is known for its scenic beaches, orchards, wineries, and natural beauty. This area clearly inspires Hoffman and allows him opportunities to enjoy the outdoors when not on the road with Greensky. The Traverse City region has also provided a welcoming home base for Hoffman as Greensky Bluegrass has achieved more mainstream success in recent years.
Key Takeaways
- Paul Hoffman is originally from New Jersey.
- He moved to Michigan to attend Kalamazoo College.
- Hoffman currently lives in the Traverse City region of northern Michigan.
- This area provides a peaceful home base between tours.
Michael Arlen Bont – Central North Carolina
Michael Arlen Bont is the banjo player and vocalist for Greensky Bluegrass. Originally from Iowa, Bont found his way to Kalamazoo, Michigan for college like the other early members of the band. He graduated from Western Michigan University and was living in Kalamazoo when Greensky came together in 2000.
In more recent years, Bont relocated to the Greensboro, North Carolina area. Greensboro is one of North Carolina’s major cities and part of the central Piedmont region. It’s home to several universities and known for diverse cultural offerings like music and food. For a touring musician like Bont, Greensboro provides a more central East Coast location with easy access to airports and major highways. And the bluegrass hotbed of North Carolina offers plenty of inspiration.
Bont has said he enjoys exploring the natural beauty of central North Carolina when not playing shows. There are opportunities for hiking, boating, and other outdoor activities in the many parks and lakes in the region. The amenities and culture of a mid-sized city like Greensboro also offer a nice home base for Bont when not on the road with Greensky.
Key Takeaways
- Michael Arlen Bont is originally from Iowa.
- He moved to Michigan for college and co-founded Greensky Bluegrass in Kalamazoo.
- Bont now lives in the Greensboro, NC region.
- Central North Carolina provides a convenient East Coast home base.
Dave Bruzza – Asheville, North Carolina
Guitarist and vocalist Dave Bruzza is another member of Greensky Bluegrass who now calls North Carolina home. Originally from Indianapolis, Bruzza went to college at Eastern Michigan University where he met future bandmates Hoffman and Bont. After graduating and touring with the band’s early stages, Bruzza eventually relocated to Asheville, North Carolina.
Situated in the Appalachian Mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville is well-known as an arts and music destination. With a lively downtown and robust local music scene, it’s no wonder Bruzza settled there as a touring bluegrass musician. The beautiful natural landscapes surrounding Asheville also make it an inspiring place to live. When not on tour with Greensky, Bruzza can enjoy hiking and camping in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mix of music and outdoor activities Asheville offers make it an appealing home base.
Interestingly, Bruzza’s Greensky bandmate Anders Beck also lives in Asheville. The two musicians both settled in this arts-focused mountain town, which is a fitting home for world-class bluegrass players. Bruzza has said the thriving local music community is a huge benefit of living in Asheville.
Key Takeaways
- Dave Bruzza is originally from Indianapolis.
- He went to college at Eastern Michigan University.
- Bruzza now lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
- Asheville’s music scene and natural beauty make it an ideal home.
Mike Devol – Grand Rapids, Michigan
Mike Devol may not be a founding member of Greensky Bluegrass, but he has held down the upright bass role in the band for over 10 years. Devol is originally from Ohio and went to school at Ohio University. He migrated north to Michigan after college, settling in the Grand Rapids area.
West Michigan and Grand Rapids in particular have long been hubs for bluegrass music. Legendary bluegrass guitarist Dan Hicks was from the Grand Rapids region. The Hicks family and others helped nurture a strong regional bluegrass community around Grand Rapids. For an upright bass player like Devol, Grand Rapids provides the perfect adopted home with a deep roots music history.
The relatively low cost of living and easy access to Midwest markets are other factors that likely keep Devol based in Grand Rapids. While maybe not as flashy as some Greensky members’ North Carolina homes, Grand Rapids seems to provide an ideal home for Devol between tours. He has consistently remained based there even as Greensky Bluegrass’s popularity has skyrocketed.
Key Takeaways
- Mike Devol is originally from Ohio.
- He lived in Michigan after attending Ohio University.
- Devol still calls Grand Rapids, Michigan home.
- Grand Rapids has a strong bluegrass music community.
Anders Beck – Asheville, North Carolina
Similar to his Greensky bandmate Dave Bruzza, dobro player Anders Beck also lives in Asheville, North Carolina. Originally from Colorado, Beck studied music at the University of Colorado Boulder. He then relocated to Michigan which is where he met and began playing with Greensky Bluegrass.
After a few years performing with the group, Beck eventually moved to Asheville alongside Bruzza. The same natural beauty, artistic spirit, and live music community that appealed to Bruzza also attracted Beck. Having two members of Greensky Bluegrass living in the same city is likely beneficial when rehearsing material and working on new songs between tours.
Beck has said the shared music passions and collaborations within Asheville’s tight-knit scene really inspire him as an artist. When not on the road with Greensky, he enjoys writing and recording music locally in addition to the usual outdoor activities. For a serious musician like Beck, Asheville seems like an ideal place to live, create, and recharge.
Key Takeaways
- Anders Beck is originally from Colorado.
- He went to school at University of Colorado Boulder.
- Beck later moved to Asheville, NC with bandmate Dave Bruzza.
- Asheville’s music community inspires his continued growth as an artist.
How Each Member’s Home Influences Their Musicianship
While Greensky Bluegrass came together as students in Kalamazoo, the band members later relocated around the country after gaining more exposure. Where each member chose to settle down provides insights into their musical styles and growth.
For Paul Hoffman and Mike Devol, staying rooted in Michigan keeps them connected to the band’s Midwestern bluegrass roots. Hoffman’s homebase in northern Michigan offers a peaceful but inspiring setting to recharge between touring. And Devol remains tied to the strong West Michigan bluegrass community that first nurtured Greensky.
Michael Arlen Bont, Dave Bruzza, and Anders Beck all migrated south and settled in North Carolina. The Greensboro and Asheville areas provide convenient East Coast locations with easy access to touring routes. And North Carolina’s rich musical heritage and thriving local scene influen ces their songwriting and collaborations.
While rooted in different regions, all the band members’ homes provide inspiration that powers their creative energy and musicianship. The environments allow them to recharge and continue advancing Greensky Bluegrass’s unique style.
Key Takeaways
- Hoffman and Devol staying in Michigan connects them to Greensky’s origins.
- Bont, Bruzza, and Beck’s North Carolina homes provide musical inspiration.
- Their different home regions all influence Greensky’s sound.
- But they come together while touring to create cohesive music.
Conclusion
While Greensky Bluegrass came together as college students in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the band members later dispersed around the country as touring musicians. Paul Hoffman stayed rooted in northern Michigan, providing a peaceful home base. Michael Arlen Bont, Dave Bruzza, and Anders Beck all migrated to thriving music towns in North Carolina. And Mike Devol continues to call Grand Rapids, Michigan home.
Their various home regions all provide inspiration that keeps Greensky Bluegrass producing exciting new music year after year. The band seamlessly combines the members’ different backgrounds and approaches into a cohesive sound. This blend of roots and contemporary style resulted in their unique brand of bluegrass. Although Greensky came out of Michigan, their music has clearly been influenced by where each member eventually chose to settle down and live between tours.
Key Takeaways
- The band members live in Michigan, NC, and CO.
- Their homes provide musical inspiration between tours.
- Each region influences their playing and songwriting.
- This creates Greensky’s distinctive blended sound.