Special to mixer

Last month, Holy Ghost Tent Revival (aka HGTR) returned to Greenville for an encore performance at The Tipsy Teapot.

Since their inception in 2007, HGTR has been busking on street corners, living out of a tour van, playing show after show and sharing their music with anyone who will listen. Over the years, they have worked on polishing their sound while keeping the process as organic as possible. In charting their course and expanding their musical wings, they have carved out a genre and following all of their own.

A band of brothers in the figurative sense, most members of HGTR began playing together while attending Greensboro College. The remaining members were carefully hand-picked to make the band's sound complete. To date, they have released three albums and an unmixed collection of songs entitled “The Living Room Sessions” which is available at their live shows.

Their sound is nearly impossible to define, and that is how HGTR prefers it. In listening to their songs, one can pick up rock, bluegrass, folk, punk, jazz, ragtime, country, ska and pop influences, to name a few. Though they have yet to be signed, their time to shine is undoubtedly on the horizon, and the right record label will get a hold of these boys and let them do what they do best — write great music and put on frantic, unforgettable live shows.

The live show at The Tipsy Teapot was no exception.

Before even taking the stage, members ofHGTR meandered through the side room, visiting with family, friends and fans, both old and new. These young men showed themselves to be down-to-earth, friendly and grateful people who clearly enjoyed the band/fan interaction, as it added to their overall experience of the night. Performing isn't simply about going through the motions on stage, but rather feeding off and contributing to the energy of the entire evening.

Six of seven bandmates crammed themselves and equipment onto Tipsy's small stage and the show began with a gospel-like feverish energy. Stephen Murrage (banjo, guitar), Matt Martin (guitar), Patrick Leslie (bass), Ross Montsinger (drums), Kevin Williams (keyboard) and Charlie Humphrey (trumpet) played favorites like, “Hammer Fell,” “Lovinman,” “Walking Over my Grave” and “Down the Street,” while throwing their bodies around each beat, creating the image and sound of a runaway freight train coming straight at the audience. The passion in their sweat-drenched faces never waned as they connected over and over with the audience. Hank Widmer, who plays trombone and euphonium, wasn't at this particular show.

Overall, HGTR put on an uplifting and jovial performance that had fans, young and old, dancing and singing along. The evening closed with a powerful acapella performance on the back outdoor patio surrounded and supported by their appreciative fans.

Visit www.holyghosttentrevival.com.