Guitarist Billy Strings joined forces with Billy & The Kids and saxophonist James Casey for memorable concerts at Red Rocks on July 12, 2021 and July 13, 2021. Relix recently shared pro-shot video featuring the “U.S. Blues” that brought the first night to a close on YouTube.
Billy & The Kids features Grateful Dead drummer Bill Kreutzmann along with bassist Reed Mathis, keyboardist Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits) and guitarist Tom Hamilton (Ghost Light/Joe Russo’s Almost Dead). Strings had previously performed with the band the prior May as part of “Grateful Mahalo: Billy Kreutzmann’s 75th Birthday Pa’ina.” The ensemble’s “Tangled Up In Blue” cover won JamBase’s March Madness Live Covers Tournament Championship earlier this year.
Grateful Dead guitarist Jerry Garcia wrote “U.S. Blues” with lyricist Robert Hunter. The song underwent a number of lyric changes before the pair settled in on the final version. Originally performed as “Wave That Flag” in 1973, “U.S. Blues” was debuted by the Dead on February 22, 1974.
Billy & The Kids featuring Billy Strings and James Casey ended their show at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado on July 12, 2021 with “U.S. Blues.” The ensemble was also augmented by percussionists Jeff Franca and Jason Hann on “U.S. Blues” at Red Rocks.
See Strings front Billy & The Kids on “U.S. Blues” here:
Click below for Billy Strings’ full touring itinerary:
