Photo Credit: Bryan Lasky
Last night, Billy Strings wrapped his two-night run in Boston. The show, which took place at the outdoor amphitheater known as Leader Bank Pavilion, was lit up with an abundance of classic material, written and covered by the headliner, in addition to the delivery of “Boston Boi 3000,” performed on Casio DG-20 digital guitar synthesizer. Before the Wednesday night show, Strings had played the traditional “Boston Boy” on Nov. 17, 2021.
The show’s debut saw Strings take the locationally fitting number “Boston Boy” and revive the tune on his choice instrument. This is not the first time Strings has added the guitar synth to classic material; in the past, he’s applied the Casio to Bill Monroe’s “Gold Rush” and “Big Mon,” Bill Emerson’s “Home Of The Red Fox,” and the recently added, theme song from the Andy Griffith Show.
Following Tuesday’s sit-in with clawhammer banjo player Victor Furtado, Strings picked up the same instrumental model and showed off his skills on a trio of show-starting tunes: a cover of Doc Watson’s “Georgia Buck,” which rolled into “Ol’ Rickard” and the traditional “Reuben’s Train.” Next was a full band delivery of “Cabin Song,” which ran into an ensuing take on the Tony Rice-penned “Tipper.” They cascaded into a stream of covers with “I’ve Lived a Lot in My Time,” followed by Frank Wakefield’s “End of the Rainbow.”
The aforementioned number dripped into the original “Ice Bridges” before a take on Greensky Bluegrass’ “Reverend” from the 2008 album Five Interstates. Strings and company added in “Show Me The Door” before New Grass Revival’s “Whisper My Name,” ultimately capping the first frame on “Tinfoil & Turmoil.” After a break from the stage, Strings went head-to-head with Billy Failings in what has become known as “Dos Banjos.”
The second set continued with more covers and originals, including George Gershwin’s classic “Summertime,” The Stanley Brothers’ “I Only Exist,” Bela Fleck’s “Tentacle Dragon (Revenge of The),” prior to closing out the second half of the night with a pairing of “Pyramid Country” into “Must Be Seven.” A high point of the evening occurred next, with the arrival of the night’s encore, at which point Strings brought out the Casio DG-20 and ran through “Boston Boi 3000.”
Scroll down to view the complete setlist from last night’s concert. Visit String’s official website to learn more about his upcoming tour stops.
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Billy Strings
Leader Bank Pavilion – Boston
July 26, 2023
Set I: Georgia Buck# > Ol’ Rickard# > Reuben’s Train#, Cabin Song > Tipper, I’ve Lived a Lot in My Time, End Of The Rainbow > Ice Bridges, Reverend, Show Me The Door, Whisper My Name, Turmoil & Tinfoil
Set II: Dos Banjos+, Slow Train, The Cuckoo > Living Like An Animal > Know It All, Summertime, The Train That Carried My Girl From Town > Black Mountain Rag, Nothing’s Working, I Only Exist, Crown of Thorns > Tentacle Dragon (Revenge of The), Pyramid Country > Must Be Seven
Enc.: Boston Boi 3000&
Notes:
# Billy Strings solo on clawhammer banjo
+ Dos Billys (Billy Strings on clawhammer banjo, Billy Failing on banjo)
& Billy Strings on a Casio DG-20 synth guitar
Setlist via billybase.net.
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