- Billy Strings delivered a “glorious,” face-melting performance on the first of two nights at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena.
- The night’s highlights included an 18-minute psychedelic jam on “Turmoil & Tinfoil” and an “otherworldly” rendition of “Meet Me at the Creek” that left the crowd stunned.
- Strings shared exciting news from the stage, announcing his new album, “Highway Prayers,” has been nominated for a Grammy Award.
- Despite humbly admitting to making mistakes on stage in a recent Howard Stern interview, the show was hailed as a masterclass in modern bluegrass and musicianship.
A Flawless Night of “Glorious Mistakes”
In a recent interview on “The Howard Stern Show,” guitar phenom Billy Strings humbly admitted, “I probably made several [mistakes] in that last song.” If he made any during his fiery performance at Pittsburgh’s PPG Paints Arena on Friday, the sold-out crowd was too mesmerized to notice. From our side of the stage, every note sounded nothing short of glorious.
The 33-year-old Michigan native, widely considered one of the best guitarists in the world, proved why he’s a musical force of nature. He has taken no shortcuts on his journey from a child prodigy to a road warrior, graduating from Pittsburgh’s Rex Theater in 2016 to the city’s largest arena. Doing so while playing bluegrass in the jam scene is a testament to his unparalleled talent and connection with his audience.
First Set Frenzy
Hitting the stage with a hearty “HOWWW-DEE!”, Strings and his virtuosic band—Billy Failing on banjo, Royal Masat on bass, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle—launched into a show filled with breathtaking moments.
Mesmerizing Jams and Grammy News
The undisputed highlight of the first set was “Turmoil & Tinfoil,” the title track from his 2017 album. The song spiraled into an 18-minute epic, a mesmerizing bluegrass saga complete with breakneck solos, psychedelic twists, and a thunderous climax where Strings attacked his guitar with metallic tremolos.
Later, he casually announced that his new album, “Highway Prayers,” had just been nominated for a Grammy, a feat that will likely secure him his third win for Best Bluegrass Album. He followed the news with a performance of “Happy Hollow,” a showcase of the band’s tight, down-home Appalachian harmonies.
An “Otherworldly” Second Set
If the first half of the show set the bar high, the second half launched it into the stratosphere. The band continued their tight, melodic assault before diving into the dreamy, psychedelic jam of “While I’m Waiting Here.”
A Performance That Defied Description
The peak of the night, however, was “Meet Me at the Creek.” The swirling jam was a feast for the senses, with intense lighting and furious instrumentals. As the song reached its climax, Strings stomped on a pedal and unleashed a sound so unique that one reviewer noted, “aliens landed or something similarly otherworldly happened.” The moment the final note hit, the arena erupted in a deafening roar.
Following the beautiful chaos, the band brought the energy back to the front porch, delivering a soulful duet of “Rank Stranger” and ending the set with a stunning five-part a cappella harmony on “Richard Petty.” For the encore, the band tore through the traditional “Come Down the Mountain Katie Daly,” a final, explosive showcase of their sublime talent and good spirit.
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