Acoustica!

That inherently colorless Northwest winter is coming. There’s no vitamin D to be had, and likely you’ll feel like sitting inside drinking tea until your body gets used to the cold. What an interesting turn of events it is, though, that Greensky Bluegrass (pictured) should come through town just as the chills and rain begin to set in. This band’s music sounds like looking out a window at the rain beating everything around it into soggy oblivion; but there’s a plucky twang in the background to remind you that this is just a seasonal thing.

The smoothness of bluegrass is often hard to wrap the mind around — especially considering the fact that much of the genre’s subject matter is as coarse and croaky as a night of cigarettes and bourbon. Greensky Bluegrass manages to keep alive all the charms of traditional bluegrass in the very act of destroying it — in a good way. Seriously, when was the last time you heard a bunch of orchestral horns backing a traditional bluegrass song?



Greesky Bluegrass continues the contemporary, cascading waterfall sound that groups like the Flecktones and Dave Matthews Band made popular, while still penning lyrics like “I’d probably kill you if I wasn’t already wasted.” And even when the smoothness gets a little heady and you’re starting to feel like you might be getting cold again, the band manages to get the crowd out of their seats and stomping around, so no worries, yo.

On a note more pertinent where stomping is concerned, The Devil Makes Three also make an appearance in Eugene this week, and if any of you are outside braving the rain and want to stay warm, this band knows how to throw down a rabble-rouser.

So what do the cold and the damp mean for your winter listening? It shouldn’t change a thing. Get off your couch and go jig to some smooth-ass bluegrass. The rain will still be waiting for you when the shows are over.

Greensky Bluegrass and Hot Buttered Rum play 8 pm, Thursday, Nov. 17, at McDonald Theatre; $17 adv., $20 door. The Devil Makes Three plays 8:30 pm, Friday, Nov. 18, at McDonald Theatre; $17.50 adv., $20 door.

EW 11/17