See Billy Strings Give Andy Griffith Theme Song The Synth Guitar Treatment In Cary

Billy Strings delivered the second of three concerts at Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, North Carolina on Friday. The guitarist broke out his Casio DG-20 synth guitar for a debut rendition of The Andy Griffith Show theme song.

Billy has certainly stepped into the future since playing banjo shirtless on the streets of Traverse City in Michigan. He’s now playing synth guitar shirtless at the 7,000-capacity Koka Booth Amp. Billy premiered his rendition of the theme song to The Andy Griffith Show during the encore of his concert in Cary. The legendary actor was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina about two hours away from Cary. Griffith purportedly based the town in the Andy Griffith Show, Mayberry, on Mount Airy

Strings offered some shredding on his DG-20 to launch “Andy Griffith 3000,” before kicking on a beat to the delight of the audience with the band joining in as well. The guitarist then reeled off the iconic melody on the Casio DG-20 and also showed off some dance moves.

Watch Billy Strings unveil “Andy Griffith 3000” in North Carolina below:

Billy and his band — mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat, banjo player Billy Failing and fiddler Alex Hargreaves — began the concert with a pairing of “Long Forgotten Dream” and the traditional “The Cuckoo.” The first set also saw a couple of bust outs beginning with The Flying Burrito Brothers’ “Sin City,” last time played on September 4, 2021 for a gap of 211 shows. The Gram Parsons/Chris Hillman co-write was dedicated to Billy’s Mom Deb who was in attendance.

The first frame also saw the first cover of Jimmy Martin’s “You Don’t Know My Mind” since September 28, 2022 for an 81-show gap. The tour debut of Doc and Merle Watson’s version of “Red Rocking Chair,” also came during the first set ahead of the debut of Buddy Durham’s “Durham’s Bull,” — also performed by The Foggy Mountain Boys and recorded by New Lost City Ramblers — about a half hour away from Durham, North Carolina. The first set came to a close with a pairing of Alice In Chains’ “Nutshell” and the original “Cabin Song.”

The second set got underway with another coupling, this time of favorite “Dust In A Baggie” and the Jeff Austin co-write “Fiddling Around.” The second set also boasted another bust out in “One Tin Soldier.” The song from the Bluegrass Alliance catalog was last played on May 5, 2022 for a 119-show gap. Billy and his band sealed the second set with Flatt & Scruggs’ version of Jimmie Skinner’s “Doin’ My Time” and “Train 45” ahead of the “Andy Griffith 3000” encore.

[Hat Tip – BillyBase]

The second leg of Billy Strings summer tour rolls on through the Northeast throughout July. Livestreams for the remaining headlining concerts are available for free to nugs.net subscribers.

Check out Billy’s full 2023 tour routing with ticket info below:

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set 1: Long Forgotten Dream > The Cuckoo, Everything’s The Same, Sin City[1][2], You Don’t Know My Mind, Heartbeat Of America, All Fall Down, Red Rocking Chair (Doc and Merle version), Durham’s Bull[3], Love and Regret, Nutshell > Cabin Song

Set 2: Dust In A Baggie > Fiddling Around, While I’m Waiting Here > Ole Slewfoot[4], Hellbender, Fire Line, Running The Route, Ready For The Times To Get Better, Gone A Long Time, One Tin Soldier[5], Turmoil & Tinfoil Doin’ My Time > Train 45

Encore: Andy Griffith 3000[6][7]

Notes:

• [1] Dedicated to Billy’s Mom Deb who is in the crowd
• [2] Last Played 2021-09-04, 211 show gap
• [3] FTP – Buddy Durham
• [4] “Pyramid Country” fake-out intro
• [5] Last Played 2022-05-13, 119 show gap
• [6] Billy Strings on the Casio DG-20 synth guitar
• [7] FTP – Theme song from “The Andy Griffith Show”

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