- Guitar virtuoso Billy Strings delivered a fiery, critically acclaimed performance on the first of two nights at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena.
- Key highlights included an 18-minute psychedelic jam of “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” the announcement of his new album’s Grammy nomination, and mind-bending solos.
- The show featured a masterful blend of traditional bluegrass, jam-band improvisation, and heavy metallic shredding, solidifying Strings’ reputation as a top-tier talent.
- Strings and his band concluded the main set with a stunning five-part a cappella harmony, showcasing their vocal prowess.
A Masterclass in Modern Bluegrass
Fresh off a visit to The Howard Stern Show where he humbly admitted to making mistakes in his songs, Billy Strings took the stage in Pittsburgh on Friday night and delivered a performance that sounded nothing short of glorious. The 33-year-old Michigan native, widely considered one of the best guitarists in the world, proved why he has risen from small clubs to sold-out arenas, bringing his unique brand of high-octane bluegrass to a roaring crowd at PPG Paints Arena.
Kicking off the first of a two-night stand, Strings greeted the audience with a hearty “HOWWW-DEE!” before launching into the show. He was backed by his formidable band: Billy Failing on banjo, Royal Masat on upright bass, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, all performing under a kaleidoscope of mesmerizing lights.
First Set Highlights: From Psychedelia to Tradition
The entire concert was a highlight reel, but several moments in the first set stood out. The band dove into an 18-minute, mesmerizing version of “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” the title track from his 2017 album. The epic jam felt like a bluegrass Grateful Dead, with breakneck ensemble playing, psychedelic explorations, and a climax where Strings stomped on a pedal and unleashed a torrent of metallic tremolos.
Later, Strings shared that his new album, “Highway Prayers,” had just been nominated for a Grammy, before playing the traditional-sounding “Happy Hollow.” He also charmed the crowd with a story about once getting the city wrong on stage, yelling “Hello Pittsburgh!” in Baltimore. “They booed,” he admitted with a laugh.
A Swirling Second Set
The energy carried seamlessly into the second set, which ventured into even more experimental territory. The band entered a “dreamier psychedelic zone” with “While I’m Waiting Here,” featuring an intricate musical conversation between Strings’ guitar and Hargreaves’ fiddle.
However, the undeniable peak was “Meet Me at the Creek.” The swirling jam, a favorite among fans, became an otherworldly experience. As the lighting intensified and the band locked into a furious groove, Strings’ pedal effects made it sound as if “aliens landed.” The jam concluded with the artist jumping up and down while effortlessly returning to blistering bluegrass flatpicking, earning a massive, instantaneous eruption from the crowd.
A Powerful Finale
After such an intense peak, the band brought the audience back to earth with some chill, front-porch music, including a heartfelt duet with Failing on “Rank Stranger,” a song Strings said “saved his life.” In a final display of raw talent, the group gathered around a single microphone for the encore, “Richard Petty,” delivering a glorious sound with just their five voices rising in perfect harmony.
It was a night that left no doubt about the sublime talent of Billy Strings and his band, leaving Pittsburgh fans grateful and buzzing with what they had just witnessed.