Lightning-fingered guitarist Billy Strings and his trusty band kicked off their spring tour with an impressive show last night, marking the first of two at Tampa, Florida’s Yuengling Center.
From the show-opening Bill Monroe tune “My Florida Sunshine” to the last notes of the show-closing Arlie Duff number “Y’all Come”, Strings, along with his backing band, displayed a combination of talent, trust, and “awe shucks” humility that is just so rare these days. In a world where social media has made everyone think they’re the main character, Strings—an actual once-in-a-generation guitar player—went out of his way to share the spotlight.
Stand-up bassist Royal Masat served as the rock-solid core at the center of the band’s sound, providing an axis point for his more melodic friends to revolve around. The epic instrumental break in first set closer “Hide And Seek” illustrated how he not only can ground and propel a song, but also knows where and when to pull back and let the psychedelia flow freely.
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Banjo maestro Billy Failing is a gifted and versatile player who can fit his sound neatly into any genre or style, whether it’s on modern pieces like “Wargasm”, where he contributed some crisp counterpoint to the flurry of bent notes and peels from his cohorts, or traditional bluegrass standards like The Stanley Brothers‘ “Down The Road”, on which he sang lead vocals.
As capable of shoring up the pocket as he is of taking the lead, Jarrod Walker has a full tool shed of styles and sounds and knows just how to use them. From the second set-opening Chris Henry-penned “West Dakota Rose” through the “While I’m Waiting Here” > “Pyramid Country” twofer, his intricate melodies and percussive rhythms were undeniable, and the Florida native even handled lead vocal for another Stanley Brothers classic, “Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine”.
Though fiddler Alex Hargreaves joined the band last chronologically, his combination of traditional sawing and psychedelic bowing is like the band’s secret weapon that it deploys to add sweetness and depth. Whether on more mournful tracks like the traditional “Give The Fiddler A Dram”, popularized by Doc Watson, or on more modern pieces like “Richard Petty”, Hargreaves was in his comfort zone Friday night.
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With this embarrassment of sonic riches to back him, bandleader Billy Strings has every resource a player of his caliber needs to shine. Freed by the talent surrounded him, the mercurial Strings proved himself a reverential bluegrass practitioner with tunes like Bill Monroe‘s “Big Mon” and showcased his own contributions to the genre with his Willie Nelson collaboration “California Sober” and the narrative tale of “Catch And Release”, documenting his fateful fishing trip with Leftover Salmon frontman Vince Herman.
While Strings’ fingers flew up and down the frets at astonishing speeds, he also demonstrated his ability to settle down at times. Add to that his sweet voice and refreshing lack of ego and you have the makings of a real superstar. No one song or moment defined Strings’ performance last night because everything he did was electric.
Together, Billy Strings and his band kicked off their spring tour proving they are truly a force to be reckoned with. The more closely you listen to each individual player and how they all come together, the more impressive the final product is—plus, it’s a good chance to smile, scoot your boots, and forget your troubles for a solid three hours, and they’re gonna do it all again tonight!
Nugs subscribers can tune in to Billy Strings’ spring tour with complimentary livestreams here. The bluegrass powerhouse also recently added summer tour dates to his 2024 itinerary. For tickets and a full list of upcoming shows visit his website.
Billy Strings – “My Florida Sunshine” (Bill Monroe), “Red Daisy”, “While I’m Waiting Here” – 4/12/24
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Setlist [via Billy Base]: Billy Strings | Yuengling Center | Tampa, FL | 4/12/24
Set 1: My Florida Sunshine (Bill Monroe), Red Daisy, While I’m Waiting Here > Pyramid Country, Big Mon (Bill Monroe), Secrets, Watch It Fall, Stone Walls & Steel Bars, New Camptown Races, Fire Line > Taking Water, My Love Come Rolling Down (Doc Watson) > Hide and Seek
Set 2: West Dakota Rose (Chris Henry), Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine (The Stanley Brothers), Hellbender, Down The Road (Flatt & Scruggs), Hello, City Limits (Red Allen and The Kentuckians), California Sober, Wargasm (Red Allen & The Kentuckians), Give The Fiddler A Dram (Traditional), Whistling Rufus (Doc Watson), Ragtime Annie (Doc Watson), Catch and Release, Feast Here Tonight (Rabbit In A Log) (Bill Monroe & Doc Watson), Richard Petty, Home, Sally Goodin (Traditional) > Little Maggie (The Stanley Brothers)
Encore: Y’all Come
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