Mona Shores Grad Amazes Hometown Crowd With Solo Show
Live Music
By Jon E. Haney
Paul Hoffman (who goes by the moniker phoffman), the lead singer of the band Greensky Bluegrass, has come a long way since his early days playing gigs at small venues in Kalamazoo. But on June 10, he was back in his hometown of Muskegon, ready to play a solo gig at The Deck, a local venue with a growing popularity among live music fans.
(Greensky Bluegrass played Frederik Meijer Gardens the night before with a surprise appearance by Billy Strings, a mid-Michigan native.)
As Hoffman stepped onto the wooden stage, the crowd welcomed him home with applause and cheers. The energy was buzzing as friends, family, and loyal fans packed the venue to support their hometown musical hero. Hoffman may have felt a strange surge of energy as he looked out at the familiar faces in the audience − some he had known since junior high, others who had followed his musical journey from the beginning.
He paid particular tribute to his high school choir teacher, Shawn Lawton, who will retire at the end of the 2024-25 school year. Hoffman designed T-shirts that were for sale during the show and all proceeds went to the Mona Shores High School choir program.
With just his guitar and his soulful voice, Hoffman played a mix of Greensky Bluegrass tunes and some of his solo material. He shared personal and heartfelt lyrics that resonated with the audience. His songwriting reflects his journey − the struggles, the triumphs and the love for his hometown of Muskegon and Lake Michigan.
As the night went on, Hoffman became more casual with the atmosphere and his connection with the crowd grew stronger. At times, he played with an intense emotion that captivated everyone in the venue. Other times, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself when he forgot a lyric or missed a chord.
One of the night's best songs was a rendition of Bruce Hornsby’s “The End of the Innocence.”
Throughout the performance, Hoffman expressed an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the support of his hometown community. The love and energy radiating from the audience helped fuel his performance. He poured his heart and soul into every note, every lyric and every moment on the small wooden stage set in a shipping container.
Hoffman’s final song was a rendition of Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” As the final chords of his last song echoed through the venue, the crowd clapped with appreciation.
After the show, Hoffman took the time to say hello to fans and thank those who had come to support him. Playing a solo gig before a hometown crowd in Muskegon must have been a significant experience and I hope it stays with him until he comes back and plays again. I think it might.