Greg Koch & The Koch-Marshall Trio

When Greg Koch and the Koch-Marshall Trio finally arrived at the Crazy Horse Saloon in July 2023, it was a union that had been years in the making. The experience that unfolded in this intimate space was more than worth the wait for those who came from far and wide. The band had such a good time, they returned again in February of 2024. Now almost three years later, Greg and the guys are back to complete the trilogy and blast us off into the future!

For those familiar with Greg Koch, just the mention of his name elicits looks of starry-eyed awe. For those who aren’t, it’s time to find out what the fuss is all about. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native was named one of the “Top Ten Unsung Guitarists” by Fender Guitars. However, there are plenty of heavy hitters who will sing his praise like Steve Vai, who says, “Greg Koch is one of those rare guitarists that can blend various styles with a light-hearted approach and a tremendous amount of technique. Hearing him play is inspiring to a guitar player to try and achieve greatness on the instrument.” If that’s not convincing enough, try Joe Bonamassa describing him as, “scary good.” Better yet, come up with your own adjectives and superlatives after you pick your jaw off the floor.

Koch has forged his whole career as “a guitar player’s guitarist.” He’s a fiercely creative player with a whole bag of tricks, ranging from Albert Lee chicken-pickin’ to Albert King string-bending to all-out Hendrixian abandon. His take on Zeppelin’s “Since I’ve Been Loving You” would definitely make Jimmy Page go wide-eyed. His wildly popular “Guitar Test Drive” videos (over 4,000 to date) for Wildwood Guitars of Louisville, Colorado have generated over 50 million views. You’ll see Koch wielding his signature axe which was released in 2019 by Reverend Guitars, named the Greg Koch Signature Gristlemaster. He practically has a trademark on the word “gristle” as his operative descriptor. While typically labeled as a blues guitarist, Koch is really a genre unto himself. On his previous visits, we have been pleasantly surprised with the heavy infusion of jazz influences.

Naturally Greg gets the lion’s share of attention, but the other two members of his band are monsters in their own rite. The Koch-Marshall Trio features Greg’s son Dylan who has been playing drums since he could walk. He has performed alongside his father with such artists as Robben Ford, Little Feat’s Paul Barrere and Jon Cleary. The elder Koch has this to say about his playing: “You can’t touch the grease. He gets it. He gets the filth.”

It’s not all that often we get a Hammond B3 organ in the Crazy Horse and on this special occasion we’ll see it played by a stone-cold killer in Toby Lee Marshall. You’ll hold your breath as he unleashes torrents of swirling notes across a range of blues, funk, jazz and rock. In contrast to the extreme ferocity of their playing, these three midwestern musketeers emanate a notable warmth in their presence. An evening with the Koch-Marshall Trio is an invitation to let down your guard and connect with your fellow humans in a collective appreciation for extraordinary artistry.