After commencing the first of two nights at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on Friday evening, Billy Strings returned to the indoor arena on Saturday, Oct. 12, where he created more memories before concluding the Indiana chapter of his current Fall/Winter Tour in support of his latest release, Highway Prayers. Amongst the highlights culled during the bluegrass golden boy’s latest live stint were thoughtfully positioned teases, alluding to each player’s extensive knowledge of traditionals and ability to mold instrumental interludes and tuck them into the frame. From smaller moments that kept the crowd on their feet, the most significant musical feature of the night came during a first-time live run-through of “It Ain’t Before.”
Prior to the night’s debut, Stings seized the opportunity to sprinkle a taste of second set arrival “Sally Goodin’” into opener “Know It All.” The evening’s initial fully fledged number also served as a jumping off point for a string of ensuing originals: “My Alice,” “Escanaba,” “Gild the Lily,” “Nothing’s Working” and “Red Daisy,” which sonically meander back into Bill Emerson’s “Home of the Red Fox” bound to Bob Dylan’s “Drifter’s Escape,” sans pause. On the other side of the John Wesley Harding pull, was “It Ain’t Before.” As a potential indicator of the debut, five days before the concert Strings dropped the song’s visual equalizer on YouTube, giving keen fans the proper legs to formalize their assumptions on what Saturday’s concert might bring.
“It Ain’t Before,” was a demonstration of instrumental dexterity: fast moving fingers steeped in instrumental prowess and traditionally inspired lines of the road, rails and Americana-tinged-telling of travel. Continuing the already-established trend of teasing tunes, Strings stirred some of “Pyramid Country” into “Must Be even” before closing set one after traditional, “John Hardy.” Back on stage, the band covered Larry Sparks’ “John Deere Tractor” before a combined “The Fire on My Tongue,” and first set-teased “Sally Goodin.”
The latter frame percolated a range of originals and covers, alluding to the band’s motif of intersecting the new and old for an evening steeped in the celebratory and boisterous ring of good-natured bluegrass music. With Indianapolis in the books, Strings will return to the road next Friday, Oct. 18, for the first of two-nights at The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, Ala. Tickets are sold out. For more information on Billy Strings, visit the musician’s official website.
Watch a fan shot video on the Saturday, Oct.12 arrival of first-time live play, “It Ain’t Before.”
A post shared by Billy Strings (@billystrings)
Billy Strings
Gainbridge Fieldhouse – Indianapolis
Oct. 12, 2024
Set I: Know It All1, My Alice, Escanaba, Gild the Lily, Nothing’s Working, Red Daisy, Home Of The Red Fox > Drifter’s Escape, It Ain’t Before2, Must Be Seven3 > John Hardy
Set II: John Deere Tractor The Fire On My Tongue > Sally Goodin, California Sober4, Hello, City Limits, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Love and Regret, Baltimore Johnny, Katy Daley, End Of The Rainbow, Nights In White Satin, Seven Weeks in County, Uncle Pen
Notes:
“Sally Goodin’” (Traditional) tease
Debut – Original
“Pyramid Country” tease
Billy shared how great of an honor it was to record this song with one of his heroes, Willie Nelson.
Setlist via BillyBase.net.
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