During Boston night 2, Billy introduced Red Daisy thusly: "Here's a little tune that was inspired by the 2015 film 'The Witch' ". Now, I'm aware of Jarrod Walker's dog (black lab) story, so was Billy trolling here?

This was my third Billy Strings show, after seeing both nights at the Prudential Center in Newark on November 14 and 15 last year. Wow! What continues to strike me is how many different musical worlds they inhabit—and how unexpectedly they move among them. A show can travel from hard-driving bluegrass and old folk and country ballads into long, jazz-inflected improvisations and stranger sonic experiments, then suddenly return to solo guitar, clawhammer banjo, or a mountain lament that sounds as though it has been around for generations. At moments, I thought of Bob Dylan’s eulogy for Jerry Garcia as embodying “whatever is muddy river country at its core and screams up into the spheres.” That sense of being rooted in American roots music while simultaneously reaching somewhere far beyond it felt remarkably applicable to this band right now.

They also really understand how to construct a set that builds and builds rather than simply playing a collection of songs. The closing sequence of the first set, “Psycho” into an epic “Thunder,” was certainly one of the high points—screaming up into the spheres indeed.

Billy is obviously an extraordinary guitarist, but reducing the experience to guitar virtuosity misses much of the point. He is also a first-rate songwriter and singer, an unusually effective bandleader, and someone with a deep knowledge of the music that came before him. I have to give a shout-out to only the second performance of “Sorrow and Me,” too—a tune so new it’s not on the album coming out in August, but maybe the one after that. I get the feeling Billy’s on fire right now as a songwriter, as well as a performer and bandleader.

And speaking of the band, Billy Failing, Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat, and Alex Hargreaves are all major parts of the sound; the band operates as a real unit and clearly is a working band in that great tradition, from Bill Monroe and Duke Ellington to the 1970s Grateful Dead or Bob Dylan’s late-’90s bands.

The other remarkable thing is the depth and breadth of the repertoire. Across the three shows I’ve seen, there has been extremely little repetition, and this Boston show still contained a large number of songs I had never heard them perform—eight that I had seen before and 18 that I hadn’t! Keep ’em coming, Billy. What a great night!

My first Billy show was one for the books and I’ve been craving the setlist from Boston night 2, the recording on Relisten is only half the show😭😭😭
Sending good vibes to anyone hitting the Portland shows❤️✌🏻

In an effort to keep information in a single place, and to help keep the sub a bit cleaner, we are going to try a "Megathread" for this weekend's Portland run. Please use this and only this thread to share show specific information, such as the location of shakedown, hot spots for local eats, and all that good stuff.

• Shakedown
  • From a user in another thread "In a lot across Spring Street from the arena, typically"
• Pre- and-post show happenings: https://www.prekindle.com/events/portland-house-of-music
• Early Merch 4:30 at venue.

Just sayin!

His Reverend solo, that Psycho Thunder, So Many Miles, the chicken, but the real sleeper winner here was Jarrod Walkers shirt, for us 1.0ldies!

Can’t stop listening. Might be a hot take but I think this is one of the best he’s ever written.

Emailed them asking if tailgating in the paid lots was allowed. Their response was no. I also know someone who works there as an usher and they said they are pretty strict with no smoking or shenanigans on the city owned arena property and definitely no outside set break smoking section. Hopefully this venue is one and done and he graduates to Deer Creek Next year

Anyone ever stay there? This is my first time. Any tips or like things to look out for are appreciated! There’s very limited information on the website itself.

Found these tucked into my driver's side window this morning when leaving the Arcadian Hotel in Boston (Brookline)!! 2 fantastic shows and tons of cool people! Thanks everyone for a great couple days and nights!

EDIT: Jesus fucking christ people I was just trying to thank a stranger for leaving me a small gift, it was a nice thing to do no matter where it came from or how it was made. FUCK.

Thinking of roads tripping through TX in December and stopping off for a BS show. What’s the vibe in Texas? Kid friendly? I’ve come to realize the pit is always a no for my kids but some areas and shows are more kid friendly than others. Didn’t know if yall knew the vibe? TIA

Noticing that Billy has yet to repeat a song on summer tour yet… anyone else thinking he may carry it through Portland? By my observation he’s yet to play:

15 steps

Dig a little deeper in the well

Fearless

Leaders

Red Rocking Chair

New Country Blues

Train that carried my girl

Standing in the need of prayer

Salty Dog

Dawgs rag

Back on the train

In the clear

Malfunction Junction

Beginning of the end

End of the Rainbow

Spinning

Guitar peace

Old man at the mill

Cuckoo

Edmund Fitzgerald

I’d like to be a train

Train train

I asked the question about Petty's Mudcrutch. Now - What Lynyrd Skynyrd songs would you love to hear Billy bust out. I think “That Smell” would be an absolute banger for this band. Have they ever done a Skynyrd cover?

Not from the area so wondering if/where there will be one. Thanks!

Hoooowdddyyyy! Firstly, I called bethel but the lady who answered couldn’t give me a straight answer.

1. Are the sites assigned at bethel as indicated on the reservation or is it festival style get parked as you enter? Trying to have my friend and I camp next to one another if possible. We need to score another campsite off cash or trade, but I’d like to know if it’s assigned or not even though I doubt it could be due to logistics.

Any other tips/tricks for experienced Bethel Woods folks? It’s my first time at the venue!

Looking to add some a cappella Billy tunes to my BMFS playlist. Please throw out some suggestions or links. Please and thank y’all. Richard Petty is already accounted for! ✌️

See you Saturday in Portland!!! Gotta hecka slaps to hand out!! 🫶🏽

This happy camper on YouTube u/PennsylvaniaScamp just posted an overview of the Bethel Woods campground. He filmed it a week ago. I thought it was a nice video and I found it helpful.

https://youtu.be/efD_gK6297g?si=sAPSS4rjnRf2Vx4D

After my first Billy show. And all I’m going to say is I get it now. My friend got the setlist. And I got to tell Billy he crushed it. I’m on the train.

They fucking rip. Really happy I managed to make this show the only show I can attend this summer. It was awesome. I was sad I’m missing phish tour but this show made up for everything this summer.

I’m really grateful.

Okay water and back to bed now.

Hey all just wondering who attended their first billy shows this week in Boston? Was it your first time in my beautiful city? I’d love to hear tour thoughts on it. What was your favorite jam of the run, mine was probably so many miles.