While 2020 forced Greensky Bluegrass off the road, it would take a lot more than a global pandemic to keep the jamgrass juggernauts from performing. Prior to the mass proliferation of drive-in and pod concerts, the group went live for an eight-week run of The Leap Year Sessions livestreams from August to September 2020.

Since then, the band has issued an audio compilation of the first two installments—The Leap Year Sessions: Volume 1—with a sequel set to arrive on Friday. Ahead of the release of The Leap Year Sessions: Volume 2 tomorrow, Greensky Bluegrass has shared footage of the band’s take on John Prine‘s “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness”.

Recorded live from an empty The Pageant in St. Louis, MO, this cover of the German Afternoon track sees GSBG playing things pretty straightforward. With the wounds of Prine’s loss still tender in fall 2020, the reverence shines through guitarist Dave Bruzza‘s performance while Anders Beck contributes understated Dobro phrasing and the lyrics do the talking.

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“John Prine’s music has always inspired us,” Bruzza told Rolling Stone. “We wanted to do some different covers during these shows, and since he passed away in April we thought this would be a nice tribute to him and his music. I originally thought we should play ‘Souvenirs,’ but this one was a better fit for us to play as a band. It also happens to be one of my brother’s favorite songs.”

Watch Greensky Bluegrass cover “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” from The Leap Year Sessions livestream series. The Leap Year Sessions: Volume 2 is available to pre-save here.

Greensky Bluegrass – “Speed of the Sound of Loneliness” (John Prine)

[Video: GreenskyBluegrass]

[H/T Rolling Stone]