Even for those who believe bluegrass doesn’t get nearly enough attention, it’s hard to comprehend the skyrocketing success of Billy Strings. Over the course of a few years (the bulk of which were during a pandemic, remarkably), the guitarist has gone from a respected presence in the jam grass scene to an artist selling out amphitheaters and arenas. There is perhaps no other bluegrass act in history that has blown up so fast and played to crowds this large, which makes Strings either a fascinating anomaly or the dawn of a new era for bluegrass music. All of this has created a die-hard fanbase while also attracting bluegrass enthusiasts curious to find out what makes Strings so special. On a crisp and beautiful summer night on Friday, August 12th, Strings and his band set out to satisfy both groups for the first of two sold out shows at Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon just outside Portland.
Opening with a fiery take on the old timey instrumental “Sally Goodin,” Strings and his band immediately set an energetic tone for the evening. The first set found the band getting comfortable as they kept things tight with a mix of slower songs, darker material, and the occasional bust-out. The contrast between these elements led to standout moments, including fine solo work from Jarrod Walker on mandolin and Billy Failing on banjo during “Streamlined Cannonball,” the slow country ballad “Love and Regret” showcasing Strings’ skills as a troubadour, and the dark lyricism of Eddie Loack’s “Psycho” with a playful tone injected. Following the downhome instrumental of “Running The Route,” the band dove into a fast and loose take on the old standard “John Hardy.” Towards the end of the set, they would start to drift into far out territory and give the audience a taste of what was coming in set two. “Wargasm” took off with a dark and sinister jam that found the band leaning into eerie atmospheric elements and Strings using his pedals to achieve a haunting and blues electric effect during a full-on shredding solo. “Doing My Time” found him channeling the bluegrass greats Lester Flatt and Earle Scruggs on vocals while performing acoustic gymnastics on his guitar.
If the first set was notable for its songs, the second set would shine for its picking, starting with the opener “Hide and Seek” that saw Strings playing with his effects pedals again and morphing his guitar into a full-blown electric solo machine. This was complemented by the viciously psychedelic solo swapping of Walker on mandolin and Failing on banjo that took the jam into sweet oblivion. The saucy interplay would continue into “Thirst Mutilator” with Strings and Alex Hargreaves letting the guitar and fiddle lead to one of the most dramatic build-ups of the show before dropping into “Running.” The country-bluegrass tune “All of Tomorrow” offered a cozy intermission in between the ferocious jamming before the band ramped things up for “This Heart of Mine,” showcasing the kind of full band harmonies and precise playing that reminded you there is no gimmick behind their success. “Dealing Despair” and “Fire Line” saw the band shifting back into dark and cosmic territory that also brought some of the best group jams of the night. As many Billy Strings shows come with guest appearances, it was fitting that Samson Grisman joined the band on a pair of Bill Monroe songs, lending his bass playing and harmonizing to “Highway of Sorrow” and “Close By.” The band would close the night with one of their longtime favorites “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” dropping into a frenetically wild jam that more than compensated for the lack of an encore.
As the great Del McCoury said in a recent interview with this writer, “this kid can sing, he can play the guitar, he can play lead, he can play rhythm, and what he [has] over most young guys at that age…he [can] entertain!” Besides his sheer level of talent, it is the innate ability to entertain that sets Strings apart from his peers. Onstage at Edgefield, Strings exuded the kind of magnetic charisma possessed by only the best artists. Even more impressive was that he did this while also demonstrating mouth-dropping skills on the guitar. These factors, along with his incredibly tight and polished band, explain the obsession of legions of fans who allow Strings to continue selling out larger and larger venues. Not since the late Jeff Austin has a bluegrass musician brought so much rock and roll bravado to the genre, and one can only hope that Strings continues to take this music to new heights.
All photos by Greg Homolka
One Response
Billy Strings is mesmerizing! Once I start listening and watching his videos I can’t just cut it off. He and his band are phenomenal.