UPDATE: With Video Billy Strings, 11/09/2022, Blue Cross Arena, Rochester, New York

[SpruceTop]

Billy Strings is better than I thought he was! Is Billy strings the new direction of Bluegrass? Who cares as Billy takes off on his own musical journey that combines songs from Bluegrass, Newgrass, Spacegrass, Psychedelicgrass, Anykindograss, Country, Folk, Jazz, Rock, and Old-Timey, with sometimes elements of all these genres within one song. Billy can go from an all-out burner with improvised, multilayered-looping, electric-guitar effects, and then on next to a Stanley Brothers song delivered with reverence for traditional Bluegrass, and all while his audience follows and rejoices in his song choices! Billy's shows feature rock-concert-style lighting and effects along with three big screens to zero in on what each player is doing when soloing.

Okay, I'm 72, and now I know what aging hippies my age look like when attending a Billy Strings show. I saw folks from 14 to 80+ in the audience and this made for a nice sense of community. In the tradition of Dead Heads, a sizeable number in his upfront, on-the-floor audience follow Billy show to show. Most of the audience (including myself) at one time or another was either dancing or bopping along to Billy's performance--Need I say we all loved the show!

Billy's band is exceptionally tight while looking loose on stage. He has Jarrod Walker on mandolin, John Mailander on fiddle, Royal Masat on upright bass, and long-time member Billy Failing on 5-string banjo. He needs to keep these guys with him no matter what!

Billy played his Preston Thompson sunburst dreadnought equipped with a K&K Pure Mini, and a magnetic soundhole pickup (see photo at the top of the post to determine the brand). Considering the volume levels Billy and his band play at, I heard no feedback. Yes, at times the guitar can sound a bit nasally but overall his amplified tone is good!

This was my first Billy Strings show and I'm looking forward to when he comes around again to Rochester!

See below, "Love And Regret" from the Billy Strings show at The Blue Cross Arena, in Rochester, New York on November 9, 2022.

Thanks For Looking In!



Set 1:
Old Train (The Seldom Scene cover)
Turmoil & Tinfoil
Running the Route
Stone Walls and Steel Bars (The Stanley Brothers cover)
Fire Line
Running
Ashland Breakdown (Bill Monroe cover)
The Train That Carried My Girl From Town (Doc Watson cover)
Black Mountain Rag (traditional cover)
Love and Regret
Bronzeback
Must Be Seven
In the Morning Light
Everything's the Same

Set 2:
Heartbeat of America
Red Rocking Chair (traditional cover)
Hollow Heart
While I'm Waiting Here
Pyramid Country
And Your Bird Can Sing (The Beatles cover)
Been All Around This World (traditional cover)
The Fire on My Tongue
Air Mail Special (Jim and Jesse cover)
Hellbender
John Deere Tractor (Larry Sparks cover)
Tipper (Tony Rice cover)
Dust In A Baggie (Billy Strings & Don Julin cover)
Cold, Cold World (Blaze Foley cover)
Roll On Buddy Roll On (Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys cover)
Gold Rush (Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys cover)

[warfrat73]

I really wanted to go to that, but an hour and a half each way and then having to work in the morning was a bit much. On a weekend I would have been there.

He's so talented, and while I don't love everything he does, I do love quite a bit of it.

It was his cover of "Red Rocking Chair" that really got my attention initially.

[JB200]

No disagreement here. When someone says "new music these days sucks" I point them to to Billy. I've never even been much of a Bluegrass aficionado and he's at the top of my playlist lately. Music is definitely subjective, but he's one of my favorite artists of the last few years in any genre.

[fitness1]

Saw him last Friday - it reminded me why I don't go to big venues any longer!

I'm glad to say I got to see him, extremely talented. If it would have been 50% of the volume I would have enjoyed it a lot more!

I noticed in the parking ramp the high percentage of "out of state" license plates there were.

Here's the Nugs video of the first couple songs (music starts at 12:00)



While all the musicians were wonderful - I'd rather see him in this kind of setting, but he's too famous now, not going to happen.

[KalamazooGuy]

I saw him a week ago in Kalamazoo and I had about the same experience as OP. Just tremendous.

[Godfather]

I have been fortunate to follow Billy’s career since the humble beginning in Traverse City, MI when he was busking and playing small clubs around the area.
I have seen him literally more times than I can remember. Many of those shows were at the Hoxeyville music festival which is literally (in) my backyard.

His shows have evolved into some of the best, high energy, high tech, spectacles you can imagine. The fact that he plays all styles of blue/new/jam/progressive/rock and traditional bluegrass, and more is a true testament to his creative talent….. not to mention the great band he has put together.

Sadly, he has outgrown small venues like Hoxeyville…. but I get it. He is making hay while the sun shines. Good for him.

[Steve-arino]

I’m going to see him tomorrow night at the good old Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY, about 20 minute drive for me.

I learned about him on AGF, and saw the piece on one of the “newsmagazine” tv shows a couple of weeks ago. Definitely excited! My job is to find free parking. I think event parking is $30, and that’s not happening.

[Arapaho G]

Seen him 3 times now in small and large venues. He never disappoints. Best flat picker I've ever seen.

[fitness1]

Just stumbled on this from a couple of years ago....

[SpruceTop]

Has anyone determined the brand of magnetic soundhole pickup Billy is now using in his guitars?

[Dogma]

This is the set that made me a fan. Talk about a tight band!!

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Dogma

This is the set that made me a fan. Talk about a tight band!!

Ah - pure acoustic!! Thanks for posting this, just what I was looking for!!

[woodenstrings]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Has anyone determined the brand of magnetic soundhole pickup Billy is now using in his guitars?

The magnetic soundhole pickup is a K + K Double Helix
Great Pickup I partially retired my Sunrise for a Double Helix

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by woodenstrings

The magnetic soundhole pickup is a K + K Double Helix
Great Pickup I partially retired my Sunrise for a Double Helix

Thank You, Very Much For That Information!