Photo Credit: Jesse Faatz

Last night, Billy Strings stopped by Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica in Cleveland, where he performed two complete sets of music pulled from across his repertoire of original songs and cover material. The evening presented many memorable moments, including a debut of an original number, “Be Your Man,” which was performed during yesterday’s encore. 

The Wednesday night show began with a run-through of the traditional tune “Sally Goodin” prior to taking on self-written material with the arrival of  “Know It All,” followed by “Thirst Mutilator.” The previously mentioned song merged into a Billy Failing-led “So Many Miles” and an ensuing “Dealing Despair.” “Doin’ Things Right” landed before a pair of songs from Home, “Enough to Leave” and “Hollow Heart.”

Strings pulled out a cover next, performing the Mel Tills-scribed “Walk On Boy” before picking up the Larry Sparks original “A Face In The Crowd,” which was dedicated to the artist’s parents, Terry Barber and Deb Apostol–the latter was in the audience. Next, the band landed on Elmer Schoebel, Paul Mares and Leon Roppolo’s “Farewell Blues.” Strings worked back into his own material with the arrival of “Wargasm” and closed out his first set with two more covers, including “Charles Wesley’s  “And Am I Born To Die?” which Strings delivered acapella. 

After a break from the stage, the players returned to their places and cut into the second half of the show, beginning with a tune that appeared on Me / And / Dad,  the Roger Bowling and Jody Emerson number “Dig A Little Deeper in the Well” which merged with “Cabin Song.” Then, the band picked up “Nothing’s Working,” “Slow Train,” “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” as well as the 2022 release “My Alice.” “The The Line” segued into the traditional “Train 45.” Strings added his newly dropped song with Willie Nelson, “California Sober,” prior to covering George Fairman’s “The Preacher & The Bear.”

Covers continued with Johnny Elgin and Benny Martin’s “Hello, City Limits” in addition to Dave Braham and Edward Harrigan’s “Hold That Woodpile Down.” For the final song of the main frame, Strings added Robert Hunter’s “Thunder.” The night’s encore started with a first-time play of a new original, “Be Your Man,” which saw a solo acoustic delivery by the group’s namesake. For the last tunes, all members gathered around a single mic for Bobby Davidson’s “If Your Hair Is Too Long, There’s Sin in Your Heart.” 

After last night’s concert in Cleveland, Strings and his band will turn up at Pine Knob Music Theatre in Clarkston, Mich., tonight for a sold-out performance. Visit Strings’ official website to learn more about upcoming tour stops. 

Scroll down to watch last night’s debut. 

Billy Strings 

Jacob’s Pavilion at Nautica – Cleveland 

June 14, 2023 

Set I: Sally Goodin, Know It All, Thirst Mutilator > So Many Miles > Dealing Despair, Doin’ Things Right, Enough to Leave, Hollow Heart, Walk On Boy, A Face In The Crowd, Farewell Blues, Wargasm, Don’t Let Your Deal Go Down, And Am I Born To Die?

Set II: Dig A Little Deeper in the Well > Cabin Song, Nothing’s Working, Slow Train, Turmoil & Tinfoil, My Alice, One The Line > Train 45, California Sober, The Preacher & TheBeat, Hello, City Limits, Hold That Woodpile Down, Thunder

Enc.: Be Your Man+, If Your Hair Is Too Long, There’s Sin in Your Heart 

Notes: 

+ First time played, new original

Setlist via Billybase.net.