Photo by Jesse Faatz

On June 16, music enthusiasts flocked to Clarkston, Mich., to witness the awe-inspiring performance by Billy Strings at the beautiful outdoor Pine Knob Music Theatre just outside of Detroit. The night was filled with an electrifying atmosphere as the crowd eagerly awaited the likely three-hour musical journey that lay ahead.

The first set kicked off with the energetic and soul-stirring “Red Daisy,” Billy Strings mesmerized the audience with his virtuosic guitar skills and heartfelt vocals as he delved into a diverse range of songs. The setlist flowed seamlessly, transitioning from the anthemic “Heartbeat Of America” to the introspective “In The Morning Light.” Without pause, Strings flowed from the introspective number into “Secrets Must Be Seven” and then “Hide and Seek.” The jam continued as it morphed into “Dust In A Baggie,” which melded into “Love Or Confusion.” The five-song run reached its peak with electrifying energy. After centering the rocking frame with “Rock Salt & Nails,” the talented crew broke into “Fire Line” to bring the opening celebration to a close.

After a brief intermission, the second set kicked tended to the embers of the joy that came before it with “The Fire On My Tongue,” which captivated the audience with its haunting melodies and poignant lyrics. Billy Strings continued to showcase his instrumental brilliance by jamming into “Dusty Miller.” The emotionally charged “Love Like Me” resonated deeply with the audience, next evoking a sense of vulnerability and introspection. The band continued to delve into the mesmerizing with “Highway Hypnosis,” which had a jam of Greensky Bluegrass’ “Leap Year,” during which Strings led the crowd in the back-and-forth chant portion of the song. Jarrod Walker then took command of vocal duties on “Tall Pines,” giving Strings and the audience a chance to catch their breath and soak in the music. After the atmosphere settled, Strings poured his heart out over “Home.”

The band continued to captivate the crowd with their performance of The Stanley Brothers’ “Rank Stranger,” a song paired with a touching story from Strings–he recounted cruising in his mom’s ’72 Chevelle, finding a tape that introduced him to bluegrass, and how that moment saved his life–who then showcased his seemingly supernatural ability to infuse traditional bluegrass with a flaming contemporary sound. “Away From The Mire” and “Nutshell” continued to mesmerize the audience before the energy reached a crescendo with the lively “Red Rocking Chair” and the irresistible foot-stomper “Little Maggie.” The band closed the night with an unforgettable rendition of “Big Ball In Boston,” adding a twist with a lyric change paying homage to the city of Detroit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Billy Strings (@billystrings)

Billy Strings
Pine Knob Music Theatre – Clarkston, Mich.
June 16, 2023

Set I: Red Daisy, Heartbeat Of America, In The Morning Light > Secrets Must Be Seven > Hide and Seek > Dust In A Baggie > Love Or Confusion, Rock Salt & Nails, Fire Line

Set II: The Fire On My Tongue > Dusty Miller, Love Like Me, Highway Hypnosis [1], Tall Pines [2], Home, Rank Stranger [3], Away From The Mire, Nutshell > Red Rocking Chair, Little Maggie, Big Ball In Boston [4]

1. “Leap Year” (Greensky Bluegrass) jam, Billy led the crowd in the back and forth chant portion of the song.

2. Jarrod Walker on lead vocals

3. Billy shared the story of cruising in his mom Deb’s ’72 Chevelle, finding her tape and falling in love with bluegrass music again due to this song. He credits this moment with saving his life.

4.”Big Ball in Detroit” lyric change