Billy Strings brought out ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro during a concert held last night in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The extended sit-in took place in the second set of the show at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.
Shimabukuro emerged in the middle of the second set. The guest spot began with “Smokin’ Strings,” a song that appeared on Shimabukuro’s recently released studio album Jake & Friends that featured Strings on the recording. Strings and Shimabukuro were the only ones on stage for “Smokin’ Strings,” as banjoist Billy Failing, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and bassist Royal Masat left ahead of the debut performance.
The collaboration continued with the rest of the band coming back for “Nothing’s Working,” followed by covers of John Hartford’s “All Fall Down,” Pearl Jam’s “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town” and lastly, New Grass Revival’s “This Heart Of Mine,” which closed out the show.
The second set began with Strings and his bandmates donning Pittsburgh Penguins sweaters and playfully playing “I’m a Lucky Girl! Hooray! Oh Boy!,” which was a jingle for the nearby Van Scoy Diamonds jewelry store. Shimabukuro also wore a Penguins uniform during his sit-in.
Listen to full show audio taped by Rich Stoler and Keith Litzenberger, and watch audience-shot video footage via Wizzo of Jake Shimabukuro joining Billy Strings last night in Wilkes-Barre below:
Setlist (via Billy Strings Setlist Page)
Set One: Ol’ Slewfoot, This Old World, While I’m Waiting Here, Heartbeat of America, Katy Daly, Ice Bridges, In the Morning Light, Libby Phillips Rag, Unwanted Love, Leaders, Wargasm
Set Two: I’m a Lucky Girl! Hooray! Oh Boy! [1], Thunder [2], Know It All > Ernest T. Grass > Little Maggie, Smokin’ Strings [3], Nothing’s Working [4], All Fall Down [4], Elderly Woman Behind the Counter In A Small Town [4], This Heart of Mine [4]
Notes:
- [1] FTP – Van Scoy Diamonds Jingle
- [2] I Can See Clearly Now tease
- [3] FTP – duo with Jake Shimabukuro
- [4] with Jake Shimabukuro
