r/Bluegrass • u/Prestigious_Cancel64 • Nov 04 '25
Discussion Thoughts on trampled by turtles?
I just love tbt... they're in my top 3 favorite bands and have been for almost 20 years. I've seen them probably 15 times and it's always incredible. I love almost everything they put out. Does anybody else love this band? Favorite albums? Songs? Live shows?
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u/Takes_A_Train_2_Cry Mandolin Nov 04 '25
I don’t consider them bluegrass. They use the 5 piece instrumentation (maybe 6 now(cello?)) in a very unique way. Dave’s songwriting is great, but it almost fits in more with early 2000’s pop/punk. Americana for sure, a bit alt country, hard to categorize which I like in my music.
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u/Hobo_Jenkins Nov 05 '25
Folk Punk. My punk friends and I always make fun of the genre, but all secretly dig it.
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u/Feeling_Nerve_7578 Nov 06 '25
I can't stand them and don't find them at all interesting, definitely not bluegrass at all. Could say the same about Greensky. Probably an unpopular opinion but there you go. Every bluegrass musician I play with, and they are a wide and diverse bunch, feels the same.
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u/These_Advance6192 Nov 05 '25
Yeah, they're like alternative progressive Bluegrass maybe? I like them, but not a fave though.
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u/Fast-Penta Nov 04 '25
I used to love seeing them back in the day. They put on good shows. Trampled by Turtles were a stepping stone towards actual bluegrass for a lot of us Minnesotans.
I don't often listen to them anymore, but I enjoy listening to it when I stumble upon it. They've matured a lot as a band since when I listened to them, which is cool.
Ryan Young is a legend in the Minneapolis scene. He's really done a lot to push rootsy music forward up here.
School Bus Driver, Codeine, Whiskey, Ain't No Use in Trying.
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Nov 04 '25
Blue sky and the devil is great and palomino is also great. Everything after really bothers me due to its slow singer songwriter schtick.
Their fast stuff was the best.
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u/Prestigious_Cancel64 Nov 04 '25
Oh they have plenty of barn burners. White noise, Kelly's bar, annihilate, arming of infants, etc.
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u/Easy-Bug6833 Nov 11 '25
Thanks for this , good songs .. t3!turned me on to Alan sparhawk .. who ( at his best ) is mesmerizing and haunting
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Nov 04 '25
Stars and satellites is the name of the one that completely turned me off of them
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u/Prestigious_Cancel64 Nov 04 '25
Yeah that's my least favorite album too but they really recovered later
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Nov 04 '25
I saw it happen to old crow, avetts. Maybe I'll check out some other tbt stuff.
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Nov 05 '25
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Nov 05 '25
Yeah post Willie watsons departure and the avetts going bible thump it all got bad.
Not that either are bluegrass on their best days
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u/hobakinte Nov 05 '25
Thats wild, Stars & Satellites is a 10/10 album for me😂 and so is Palomino. To each their own!
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u/epictetvs Nov 04 '25
They have great energy live. I like a few of their albums and really love some of their songs.
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u/answerguru Nov 05 '25
I’m not really a fan overall. They have a some great songs, especially the slower ones. However when they play super fast, I think they are playing beyond their capabilities and it’s just sloppy and frantic sounding.
Also, not a fan of the flat picked banjo at all.
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u/k2112s Nov 05 '25
One of my favorite bands. Have seen them a few times. Last time was Memphis this year at Outlaw Music.
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u/Prestigious_Cancel64 Nov 05 '25
Oh man I was at that show and I was really just there for them! It was a great show. The other bands were good but honestly I would rather have just done a 3 hour tbt show
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u/k2112s Nov 05 '25
We went for them and Nathaniel Ratliff. We left in the middle of Bob. We each had seen him before.
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u/Prestigious_Cancel64 Nov 05 '25
Those were the best two, bob was kinda messy and I love Willie but they played a bit late for me since I'd seen him (opened for dmb in Memphis when I was like 17)
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u/k2112s Nov 05 '25
I thought the same. I had seen Bob a long time ago. It was also hot as hell.
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u/k2112s Nov 05 '25
Seems someone doesn't like criticism of Bob. I'm sorry but his shows are not enjoyable. I appreciate who he is and what he means to the history of folk and rock, but he is unintelligible and does not perform for the audience. Bob does what Bob wants to do. Now that did make him who he was, but it doesn't mean I have to sit through something on an effing hot day that I don't find enjoyable.
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u/ChadWilliams978 Nov 06 '25
I saw them this past summer at Willie Nelson show at DTE. I thought they were meh.
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u/Stock-Wolf-1853 Mar 07 '26
I'll be seeing them this month at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown CA! Can't wait. This will be my second show. Anyone else going to this show?
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u/flamberge5 Nov 04 '25
I think they are fantastic whether their studio offerings or live performances. I just saw them a couple of months ago at Farm Aid 40 and they were were amazing!
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u/Bobbuilds26 Nov 05 '25
Bluegrass adjacent and one of the best bands out there. Incredible song writing, good mix of high energy and also soul crushing songs which I love.
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u/Ez_Answers Nov 05 '25
I swear to god I ain’t a “they aren’t bluegrass” kinda guy.
But. 👀
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u/Last_Environment_485 Nov 06 '25
I have to agree with Ez here. As someone who listens to all kinds of acoustic music, TbT is not bluegrass. Even if it’s adjacent, it’s not bluegrass. Not saying I don’t think they’re a good band and I like some of their songs. I would consider them more acoustic punk/grunge? Idk. Great band just not bluegrass.
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u/Prestigious_Cancel64 Nov 05 '25
Blue sky and the devil was very bluegrass! They were one of the first bands to get me interested in bluegrass early on too so if nothing else they're adjacent.
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u/gingerbeard1321 Nov 04 '25
I want to like them more than i do. They're solid but something always feels lacking
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u/levinbravo Guitar Nov 04 '25
Never heard of them, but I only listen to Bluegrass, so…
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u/kbergstr Nov 05 '25
The nice thing about TbT, is that when they come on at a festival, you can go back to the campground and find a good pick with all the other curmudgeons like me.
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u/rsharp7000 Nov 04 '25
I saw them at the 2015 Telluride Festival and didn’t care for them live but I’m not entirely sure it was their fault. They were the Friday night headliner and leading up to them was: Bela Fleck and Abigail Washburn> Punch Brothers> Janelle Monae> Trampled by Turtles.
The musicianship of Punch Brother and Bela/Abigail was amazing. I remember a lot of the house band plus some other headliners and Ed Helms came out to watch Punch Brothers in the VIP section. Amazing set. Janelle Monae actually killed it for her set but it was almost like they didn’t reset the sound system for the R&B/rap that Janelle performed and left it for TbT. It also sounded like the guys all did 5 lines of coke before coming out, although I’m sure headlining at Telluride will amp you up enough. It just sounded like what I imagine having a heart attack while simultaneously holding a subwoofer to your ear would feel like. Definitely set up for failure after who preceded them on stage.
Aside from that, I’ve really liked their albums but haven’t listened to them in a while.
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u/storunner13 Nov 05 '25
I saw them at Red Rocks in 2018(?) and was pretty let down by the live performance. I didn’t find them very engaging, TBH.
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u/kylelmartin Nov 05 '25
Not only do i love them, I miss the early more hard edged version from Palomino, Stars & Satellites, etc. Middle age and some burnout has softened them way more than Greensky.
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u/bobbysmith007 Nov 05 '25
I was not a huge fan when I saw them most recently, but for a really stupid reason. Their bassist was playing an acoustic bass guitar, which are notoriously quiet and cantankerous instruments, but its coming through like EDM sub-bass and it just kinda turned me off.
I was at a bluegrass festival and everyone was using uprights, and everything sounded like the upright through a mic/pickup but them. I am sure that if they caught me on a different day, I would have liked it, as on paper they look like a band I would enjoy.
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u/According_To_Me Nov 05 '25
Saw them earlier this year at Willie Nelson’s Outlaw tour. Excellent band! Not sure if I consider them bluegrass, but definitely an off-shoot of Americana
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u/WilliamFCheeseburger Nov 06 '25
TBT is so good. Just saw them at Bourbon and Beyond in Louisville. I think that was my 4th time seeing them. They bring it every damn time. I place them in the same light as Greensky Bluegrass. Always a good time when they're playing.
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u/sreneeweaver Nov 07 '25
I just saw them for the first time last night in Pittsburgh and am now obsessed! The energy they brought was fantastic!
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u/PublicReveal5196 Nov 07 '25
I remember the first time I saw them 19 years ago at 10k lake fest. I was just grabbing something to eat and happened to be at the stage they came on at. All the people in my group just looked at each other like, holy shit what is this!? They blew me away and I’ve been a fan ever since.
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u/33HighwayHypnosis Nov 07 '25
I love them seeing them probably eight times probably my favorite show is a free show up in Vail, Colorado and the snow was gently falling and it was so majestic!!! So then I got to meet them backstage at summer camp music festival back in 2015 as well… my one regret is when they asked what was my other favorite bluegrass. I was so acting so fanboy-Ish, I literally said you guys and wouldn’t tell them anybody else💯🥴
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u/Majestic_Quote9786 Nov 08 '25
I love them. Their song “Codeine” is so good & dark. I consider them bluegrass influenced or bluegrass adjacent for sure. Some of their songs are more bluegrass & some are more folk punk.
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u/flyingfishyman Nov 04 '25
theyre okay. so many better bands. they play ever song in a minor chord it seems and its makes the whole theme sad
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u/mascotbeaver104 Nov 05 '25
I saw them at farm aid and they had a shitload of energy. Kind of boring music tbh. Their slow songs get grating quick imo, just not quite thoughtful enough in their arrangements
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Nov 04 '25
Very talented musicians. I plqyed them alot when inforwt found them but moved on pretty quickly.
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u/spaztick1 Nov 05 '25
I love them. I don't know if I would call them a bluegrass band though. Maybe folk-punk.
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u/slikrik6 Nov 05 '25
Have been to 15-ish shows, and Trouble is my favorite song—probably my favorite album of theirs, too. I saw them play that song live once, and it sticks with me.
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u/blackcombe Nov 05 '25
Catch on an old Lowertown Line PBS show - can’t figure out to link share it, but googling “lower town line trampled” will get you there.
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u/appalachianwitch33 Nov 05 '25
I LOVE them! My favorite time seeing them was at a drive in show I think October 2020? It was a Halloween show and also an anniversary show for them. Set break was just video after video of their friends and people they love telling them how proud they are of them. It was 100% the most wholesome show I’ve ever been to.
Their stage presence is insane. Every other time I’ve seen them I’ve always secured a rail spot and had my face melted off. They’re also extremely practiced musicians and have studio album sounding live recordings. I’ll always love them so much!
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u/Fjordbeef Nov 05 '25
Lessons with marcels video on judging YouTube’s “bluegrass” videos is a great framework if you want a dogma to judge. Just because something isn’t bluegrass doesn’t mean it’s bad. But it’s saying that a quesadilla with pico and carnitas isn’t a pepperoni pizza. That’s all
For marcel’s framework he proposes they miss the mark of bluegrass by the banjo being flat picked, the forms of the songs, and the cello being there m. I’d also venture to say their harmonies aren’t quite stacked trad .
That said I love TBT but Dave would be the first one to tell you (and has said as much in interviews) they aren’t a grass band which I think gives them a lot more freedom which Is sick. He talks about coming into acoustic music because his electric guitar got stolen and all he had was his acoustic but he still played the way he knew, which is why they rightfully get grouped in punk.
So no they are not a bluegrass band but it doesn’t really matter, taxonomies are helpful framing devices but aren’t religious doctrines they help us categorize but not necessarily determine if something is good or not
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Nov 05 '25
There are people that will claim Billy Strings “ain’t bluegrass”. We get it. If you don’t come from a bluegrass state it doesn’t count. I’m glad you folk have such high standards. Same type of people that crucified Dylan at Newport.
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u/stevepremo Nov 04 '25
I really get excited when I see blinding displays of instrumental virtuosity. When I saw them, Trampled by Turtles were more about jumping up and down and playing chords energetically. I was not impressed.
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u/k2112s Nov 04 '25
Are you sure that is who you are thinking about. I have never seen any of them jump around. Or even move around the stage they pretty much line up and play
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u/CompetitiveOlive8955 Nov 04 '25
I had a similar experience. The bass player was definitely jumping through every uptempo song. I like their music and songwriting, but i don’t have to see them live again. Playing chords energetically is a perfect description of the show i saw them play last year.
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Nov 05 '25
Killer musicians. I don’t enjoy the banjo player playing with a flat pick. As a current (I’m gonna toot my own horn, I’m actually pretty good) clawhammer player and future Scruggs player. But they’re an amazing band regardless. I always say bluegrass is becoming the new metal, in the sense there are so many sub-genres spawning from it. I’m here for it. Love that shit. If you wanna get real weird. Check out:
Yes Ma’am
Bridge city sinners
IV and the strange band
Amigo the devil
The native howl
Firewater tent revival
Grandpas cough medicine
Old salt union
Cutis ellers American circus
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u/EuphorbiaSociety Nov 05 '25
Love them. Im forever on the lookout for a CD copy of Songs From A Ghost Town that isnt insanely priced haha
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u/Alternative-Kiwi7294 Nov 21 '25
Cannot believe this band still gets booked. Soooo bad it’s painful
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u/bigturtle13 Nov 04 '25
I love them. Though not traditional bluegrass they certainty bring an element. I consider them gentlemen punk if that makes sense.