My original point wasn’t that bluegrass is supposed to be played a specific way. It was merely the fact that I’ve never come across or been such a big fan of somebody where I loved one part of their playing while equally disliking another part of their playing. I’m sure there are lots of artists who have pushed the genre they were associated with and that’s great. For me Billy Strings is just the first one I can think of who is doing two things that have seemingly nothing to do with each other.
Jake Strings
2 Likes
Scott may I ask for you to share a video of an example of your last sentence?
Are you a “jammer”? I’m just really entering that world. It’s enjoyable.
I’ve yet to hear one of his where I thought I got lost. But I’ll admit that there’s a lot of videos out there and the ones I have seen are minimal, so I can’t really judge.
They may have been taking the “jam” into an entirely different song?
If they are moving into a new song then I view that as free music. Most would simply stop, chat the audience up some and then move to the next song. To me this gives the musicians on stage a chance to attempt to move to the next song without stopping. You have to realize this and appreciate it for what it is.
I hear you Scott. I guess I was more addressing the overall thread conversation rather than your original point. I agree that Billy has his traditional side and a side that gets a ways out there.
@Oldhat2 I can’t speak for Scott, but if I did, I’d assume something like this is what he is referring to. What starts out as a fairly traditional bluegrass number takes a sharp right turn at about 2:10. The next 6 minutes is a psychedelic spacey jam with loose structure and lots of weird noises.
My understanding is that Billy is a fan of The Grateful Dead. I think their influence comes through in these sorts of extended jams.
3 Likes
Yeah I’m sorry I wasn’t too clear about what I meant haha. I wasn’t thinking about one particular video as much as a more general idea. I love and have worn our and transcribed so many of his Doc videos, etc. Then I was watching his most recent DejaVu experiment concert and at it just got so crazy out there. I don’t know if he’s trying to push the envelope about what traditional bluegrass is or if he just likes to play entirely different kinds of music. It’s awesome that he has the platform to do that. It’s just funny to watch one video playing a song from the 50’s or 60’s and then watching one where it sounds like it’s from another planet. I’m not sure if I can find the video but, on the milder side, I think I’ve watched him play like a 15 min version of Dust in a Baggie where the middle just went all over the place.
3 Likes
Yes that’s a great example. And I don’t know if he does it all the time in concert, but it’s just interesting to watch a video of Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine and then go to that.
3 Likes
So I would love to get to the point where I felt comfortable and competent jamming. I’m probably taking the long way to get there, but right now what I spend a lot of time doing is transcribing songs and breaks that I really like. Then I can sit around and play/sing them, or when an opportunity comes up to play with other people I’ll have something to play when it gets to be my turn. Now I realize there are limitations to this (like a second time around ha) or a song I don’t know, but one thing it has helped with is just overall playing.
2 Likes
After watching the video…first thing that sticks out is the crowd size. They are there for the “jamming” that’s what they want and that’s what they desire. Will even stand out in the freezing cold for it. hard line Bluegrass doesn’t pack them in like that.
Again, there’s space for creativity. The crowds appreciate the musicianship and want to see what they can do within a song. Most of the time it’s free style, or maybe they hung onto a few interesting things from the last time they “jammed” over it.
If it’s a train song maybe the artist wants to take a lead break and “interpret” their ride in a box car and the sounds they would hear? Maybe the engineer’s sounds are different? So it’s a blank canvas to paint on for some time, but the song should still be there.
2 Likes
I posted some last year about how well John Mayer made the transition into “jamming” over stuff outside of cheesy blues. He went into it differently by really studying Jerry Garcia and how he played.
To me Billy probably likes Jerry’s stuff but Billy sounds nothing like Jerry to me when he “jams”. John Mayer does. Billy will find his sound in there somewhere.
3 Likes
It is really amazing to the the diverse crowd at a Billy Strings show. I was 50 the last time I saw him and it was in a college town. Lots of college students, 30 something’s, folks my age, and older. I think a lot of the jam band song plus covering some Grateful Dead some brought of some Dead-Heads to the show. The show started 30-40 minutes late with no announcements that it is starting later and there was no change in the exciting feel of the crowd. The first time I saw him in Jackson, MS. I moved to the front right at the stage (standing show) and talked with the folks that were there ahead of me. Several people had seen him in Birmingham, AL, followed him to Memphis, then to Jackson, MS. I really couldn’t believe they followed the tour.
The last time I saw him was February 2020 which was also the last time I was in a crowded event with strangers. Seems so long ago that i would have not issues with brushing shoulders with strangers, trying to get through a crowd to get a little closer to the stage.
3 Likes
Here’s what I see…and let me paint you a picture of my kids to help - Oldest (girl) graduating from U of TN with a bio molecular engineering degree this spring, was a top 25 student in TN coming out of high school. Middle kid - She’s the one that got to sing at the Ryman for Kathy Lee Gifford’s Christmas at the Ryman, won BETA club regionals two years in a row for art, Loves to paint. Her art was on display at our local Board of Education offices last year. I let her paint “A Starry Night” on her bedroom wall (entire 12ft long wall from ceiling to floor). Son (15) Just got nominated as a top 100 student out of all (soph and juniors in TN) in engineering. He wants West Pont or Nuclear engineering. He also won high school level “State” on his squad of 3 in Sporting Clays and Skeet.
All their friends too - They are tired of the Hollywood productions and all the “fake”. For the most part everything now is about “performing” vs being musicians. My kids and their crowd HATE today’s music. All those kids are a lot more “artsy” when it comes to music. They want REAL musicians. Hence the big revival in Grateful Dead Stuff…and some finding bluegrass or hippie grass or jam bands.
Oh it’s Paul Simon, Grateful Dead, Talking Heads, Mandolin Orange, The Band, etc. They feel that this is “Americana” with a lot of art and “genius” wrapped up into one.
These kids today are pretty smart. They are no longer herded by radio into corners by what was being tossed out over the airways because they can find their own music now on the internet (even in cars). Music is a big thing to kids and always has been…but they have anything and everything at their fingertips. They’re a discerning young bunch when it comes to music. I like it.
I think if folks would cast aside prejudices towards certain genres of music, not judge some by lyrics, and listen to some of the melodies and what all is going on “musically” then they will hear a world a fabulous music. Your Main Stream stuff is still a production put on by “Hollywood” so the smarter kids move to “independent” stuff and real stuff. They are tired of the “same ol’ same ol’”…hard to fool them.
They are yearning for “art” in music. They recognize skills…and smoking weed sure is popular in the younger crowd again. I went to the Dead & Company concert to reunite with an old friend that was coming in to see them from out of State. Ha ha. 15K people and 10K of them were smoking weed in Bridgestone Arena downtown Nash.
Let the music play, see what comes out. Am I the only one that thinks Tony Rice was absolutely PLASTERED on “The Pizza Tapes”?
Improv is a skill that has been shunned by Western Civilization within teaching for years. Like I said, these kids don’t want to be put on a piece of paper or rehearsed…they want to hear live competent musicians/artists.
5 Likes
I just have no desire to listen to that. While I do think he is talented… Pantera is talented too, just not my thing.
3 Likes
Love listening to Billy Strings. I suspect that one day, we’ll discover all of his best solos were actually BB Clark tabs w/backup tracks he secretly bought out and copyrighted © so us poor folks will never see them here. Haha! 
5 Likes
1 Like
8 Likes
Oh no 
4 Likes
One of the funniest yet and boy does it hit home…I gave vaccinations for a living!
7 Likes
Personally, I’m not a fan of the Strings, mainly cuz he’s always high, and I don’t really wanna support that culture. But also, his music is just a bit too out there for my preference. If you like it, great. It’s just not my sound
7 Likes
I figured I would drop this link here. Congrats to “our fellow gold pick member” Billy Strings
12 Likes
BB Clark Student wins Bluegrass Grammy Award. CONGRATULATIONS!!!
7 Likes
Waking up an old thread but I saw this video and thought it might be interesting to add.
4 Likes