David Bromberg Quintet

Station Inn

Nashville, TN

September 19

The Station Inn is famous for its intimate bluegrass shows – it’s seen the likes of such artists as Bill Monroe, Gillian Welch, and Allison Krauss to name a few. Now David Bromberg can be added to that list as he started off the second night of the Americana Music Association Festival at the Station Inn.Not only was this the first time David had played the Station Inn, it was also his 68^th birthday.

When the David Bromberg Quintet hit the stage they wasted no time going into the traditional “Nobody’s Fault But Mine” which set the mood for this special showcase.“I’ll Take You Back” from Bromberg’s newly released album Only Slightly Mad was one of the longest Blues jams of the set with Bromberg on slide, trading parts with fiddler Nate Grower. Grower is a top-rated fiddle player which was proven throughout the set.The biggest moment of this set came during “Drown My Own Tears” that started off with David on acoustic accompanied by longtime bassist Butch Amiot.

Then, from behind the audience, the AngelBand came in with Nancy Josephson and Tracy Nelson – they stunned the crowd with their angelic voices.The Angel Band stayed for the Tom Rush classic, “Driving Wheel” that had to have been the best version of the song this writer has heard.Ending the short but powerful set was “The New Lee Highway” that had a lot of bluegrass undertones to it which was fitting considering the Station Inn is mainly considered a bluegrass venue.

As David and the band walked off the stage they received a standing ovation and came back out in front of the stage unplugged for the encore.David and the band played “Roll on John” to a silent crowd, which is a track that they typically close on.After they ended there was another well-deserved standing ovation. David Bromberg’s birthday proves he may be getting older, but his music is still fresh and alive, as proven by this rockin’ set at the Station Inn.