Photo by Jesse Faatz

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If you happened to grow up listening to heavy music, bluegrass, and reading The Lord of The Rings, then Billy Strings made your dreams come true at Away From the Shire in Asheville, NC.  Anticipation and expectation was at a palpable high following last year’s Halloween run, and it was certainly evident by how hard it was to get a ticket to any of the three concerts.  Each night was a treat in itself, filled with surprises, and well deserving of evaluation and critique. The following review focuses on the second evening.

When the late mythologist Joseph Campbell saw the Grateful Dead in concert he described it as “a real Dionysian Festival.”  I imagine If Campbell had attended any of the three Billy Strings performances then he would see his own theory of The Hero With a Thousand Faces on full display.  With the help of Tolkien and a cast of characters, Billy Strings put on bluegrass theater. It was a drama without masquerading. The audience experienced the narrative of the hero’s journey that is as old as primitive man.  These are important communal events that remind us that we are a part of an important story containing providence, loss, friendship, hope, death, and resurrection.  These are the stories that we need to hear and be reminded of because there is an invitation embedded in them for us to participate in the adventure of life.  

Musically the band is hitting an astonishing peak.  It is a combination of their depth in catalog, precision, rhythm, and a guitar hero frontman that has put them in a league of their own.  In a few years Strings has grown into a master showman and entertainer that can be trusted. It was a real treat is to see the entire band pass the ball around as “Long Forgotten Dream”and “Freeborn Man” had Walker, Failing, Strings, and Hargreaves each take a solo (along with guest fiddler Tatiana on “Freeborn Man”).  “Black Mountain Rag,” featuring guest guitarist Jon Stickley, and “Running The Route” demonstrated their tight rhythm as the foundation and launching point for their improvisation.  Bassist, Royal Massat is the crucial member that holds it all together, and with his help they remain precise even at breakneck speeds. 

The production was just as precise as the playing, so much so that it would take a Tolkien scholar to point out all the fine details.  Everything from the lights, costumes, setlist, and casting reflected the theme and story.  We’ve all been to shows where the band would have been better off without tinkering with the recipe.  That was not the case at Away From the Shire.  Each cast member played an important role and elevated the music.

Rushad Eggelston on the cello was the perfect choice for Gollum. It was particularly striking when he traded solos with other musicians that showed the confrontation with darkness—“I Peed On a Bird” and “All Fall Down”were the best examples of this.  Anh Phung on the flute was a star the entire weekend.  She had incredible chemistry with Strings that came through on “In My Tree.”  Her playing elevated and pushed the band higher every time she stepped on stage.

Away From The Shire was Billy Strings at its best.  Incredibly fun, inspiring, and an experience we will be talking about for years.  Where does the ticket line form for next year’s Halloween run?