The Billy Strings band setup camp for a three night run at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary NC and they came to play! Many folks, including myself, attended all three nights knowing that there wouldn't be any repeats and a few surprises along the way. And we did get some, including debuts of some new covers. The first song of the first set was just that. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues was played for the first time. Written by Cliff Hess - but Billy probably picked it up from Bill Monroe or Doc Watson. Doc got another nod shortly after with Black Mountain Rag. On the second night they debuted Sadie, a Watson performed song written by T. Michael Coleman. On the third night they'd also play Doc's version of Ernest T Grass. The band was showing their appreciation for the great state of North Carolina, home of many of their influencers.
We also got a wide range of covers and teases: Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Widespread Panic, Pink Floyd, Tony Rice, Black Sabbath, Little Feat, Blackfoot, The Beatles, & Pearl Jam to name a few. Plus plenty of originals. The band cranked through at least twenty songs each night. Some getting extended jam treatment. The Turmoil & Tinfoil on night three sticks out as one of the great jam vehicles of this run. The group is touring with top notch production as well (sound, lights, & video), enhancing every aspect of the performance.
My daughter, and aspiring guitar player, attended night three and experienced this group for the first time. Afterwards I asked her what she thought about it. She simply replied "Mind blown!".
So if you're still new to Billy Strings, simply go to a show. Or even better, a run of shows, and prepare to have your mind blown. This group is the most exciting jamgrass act touring right now.
Check out the setlists below. We've added a few links of some songs you can watch on YouTube.
June 23, 2022
Set 1
1. Blue Ridge Mountain Blues 1, 2 (click for video)
2. This Old World >
3. Black Mountain Rag
4. While I'm Waiting Here 3, 4 >
5. Ole Slewfoot
6. Show Me The Door
7. Fire Line >
8. End Of The Rainbow >
9. Ice Bridges
10. Thunder
11. Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor
Set 2
1. Heartbeat Of America
2. In The Morning Light
3. All Time Low 5 >
5. Thirst Mutilator 6 >
6. Hollow Heart
7. Enough To Leave
8. Tipper
10. Shady Grove
Footnotes
1. First Time Played
2. Billy Strings on harmonica and guitar
3. Pyramid Country intro tease
4. Hell in a Bucket tease
5. All Apologies tease
6. Brain Damage tease
June 24, 2022
Set 1
2. Bronzeback
3. Hellbender
4. Sadie 1 (click for video)
5. Everything's The Same 2
6. Away From The Mire
7. Long Forgotten Dream
8. Rank Stranger
9. Doin' Things Right
10. Southern Flavor 3 >
11. Dealing Despair
12. Home
Set 2
1. Tom Dooley
2. On The Line >
3. Train 45
4. Nothing's Working
6. Taking Water
7. Running
8. Train, Train 4
9. Watch It Fall
10. West Dakota Rose
11. Secrets
12. Planet Caravan >
13. Wargasm
Encore
1. And Am I Born To Die?
2. Run Down
3. Willin'
4. Don't Let Your Deal Go Down
Footnotes
1. FTP- T. Michael Coleman and Byron Hill/Doc Watson
2. Cary lyric change
3. Circus Fanfare tease
4. Shout out for Kristen's 100th show
June 25, 2022
Set 1
1. Likes Of Me >
2. Pyramid Country >
3. Know It All
4. In Case You Ever Change Your Mind
5. Slow Train
6. Love & Regret
8. I'm Still Here >
9. Dust In A Baggie
10. Gone A Long Time 1
11. Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town
12. Running The Route
13. Red Daisy
14. June Apple
15. Pretty Daughter
Set 2
1. Highway Hypnosis
2. Love Like Me
3. Ernest T. Grass 2 >
4. Drifter's Escape
5. Old Train
6. Turmoil & Tinfoil
7. Rosa Lee McFall
8. Doin' My Time
9. Leaders
10. Red Rocking Chair 3
11. Must Be Seven
12. Hide & Seek
Encore
1. Katy Daley
Footnotes
1. "Three Nights in Carolina" lyric change
2. Third Stone from the Sun tease
3. Doc and Merle Watson arrangement
Setlists courtesy of BillyBase
Words by: Lee Crumpton
Photos by: Tim Hobert, Jerry Friend
