Billy Strings Debuts The Beatles Cover In Atlanta

Billy Strings debuted a cover of The Beatles’ “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” during the encore of Friday’s concert at The Eastern in Atlanta. The show, which was the second of a four-night run, once again saw fiddler John Mailander sitting-in for the entire two set performance.

“Taking Water” was chosen to open the first set, taking on elements of the Grateful Dead’s “Feel Like A Stranger” before segueing into “Ice Bridges.” Next came “In The Morning Light,” followed by a cover of “Ernest T. Grass” that opened into an exploratory improvisation that included a tease of The Allman Brothers Band’s “Jessica” within the 20-minute jam. The traditional “Little Maggie” came ahead of a cover of Pink Floyd’s classic “Fearless.” A transition into “Home” and as a set-closing “Slow Train” brought an end to the first half.

Coming out of set break, Strings, Mailander, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing dug into “Highway Hypnosis.” The set two opener provided a ramp to another extensive improvised sequence, as the five musicians on stage twisted and turned through stringed psychedelia. There was an “I Can See Clearly Now” tease within the multi-layered, 25-minute jam. Strings then dialed up “This Old World” before pairing Doc Watson’s “The Train That Carried My Girl From Town” with “Black Mountain Rag.”

The second set ended with “Show Me The Door” and “Away From The Mire.” The encore consisted of the aforementioned cover debut as Strings led his cohorts through the beloved The White Album singalong. Listen to the “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” encore as well as the rest of the two set show via taper Z-Man below:

Setlist (via Billy Strings Setlist Page)

Set One: Taking Water [1] > Ice Bridges, In The Morning Light, Ernest T. Grass [2] > Little Maggie, Fearless [3] > Home, Slow Train

Set Two: Highway Hypnosis [4], This Old World, The Train That Carried My Girl From Town > Black Mountain Rag, Show Me The Door, Away From The Mire

Encore: Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da [5]

Notes:

• [1] Feel Like A Stranger tease
• [2] Jessica tease
• [3] Guitar Peace tease
• [4] I Can See Clearly Now tease
• [5] debut, The Beatles