With my crazy schedule these days, it’s not very often that I get to start and finish a ballpoint pen sketch in the same evening! But it happened this night…My latest piece of completed sketchy behavior captures Greg Burley as he entertained at Altoona’s Iron Pint Brewing Co. on Friday evening (April 15). This was the first I had seen Greg perform since the last in-person Patched Together benefit in 2019.

Greg was in good form this night; his strong and rugged voice worked well over the expanse of the song material he performed, spanning classic rock and hits, folk and country numbers. Greg has forged his own distinctive style and sound over his years as a solo performer, and I enjoyed his unique arrangements on a number of songs – such as his take on 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up” he was performing when I first entered the Iron Pint, as well as his versions of Peter Frampton’s “Baby I Love Your Way,” Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain,” R.E.M.’s “Man on the Moon,” the Doobie Brothers’ “Jesus Is Just Alright” and “Black Water” and more. He also did numbers from Jason Aldean, Led Zeppelin, Jackson Browne, Chris Stapleton, Bob Seger, Steve Earle, Radiohead, Allman Brothers, Crosby Stills & Nash, Grateful Dead and others. In addition, he pulled out a few tunes you don’t often hear, such as Warren Zevon’s “Carmelita,” Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” and his finisher this night, Willie Nelson’s “Roll Me Up.” Also impressive is that Greg played the entire three-hour gig without taking any breaks! His performance was well-received by the Iron Pint onlookers, and it didn’t take me long to break out the pad and sketch pens and begin to capture Greg’s show in ballpoint ink!