He Has The Power: Billy Strings Pulls Off ‘Masters Of The Universe’ Halloween Show In Baltimore

Billy Strings turned Baltimore’s CFG Bank Arena into Eternia on Saturday for a Masters Of The Universe-themed Halloween concert. Strings opened the night dressed as Prince Adam, then traded costumes to become He-Man before covering “The Power.”

Strings’ bandmates dressed as characters from the animated series: banjoist Billy Failing as Beast Man, fiddler Alex Hargreaves as King Randor, bassist Royal Masat as Skeletor and mandolinist Jarrod Walker as Man-at-Arms.

Guests also took part in costume. Molly Tuttle dressed as Teela, Sierra Hull as Evil-Lyn, drummer Alwyn Robinson as Buzz Off, guitarist Chris Sterr as Orko and keyboardist Jimmy Olson as Mer-Man. All five musicians were announced as guests when the show, billed as “Heartbeat Of Eternia,” was announced (Eternia is the name of the fictional planet in the cartoon).

Strings and Wombat Fire also built a companion app for the concert. Its features became available at set times: a location-based “Power Quest” the day before the show, “The Battle For Eternia” at doors, “I Have The Power” at set time, “Skele Smash” at set break and “A Life Lesson” after the show.

Strings wrote two original songs based on the 1980s animated children’s television program, debuting “Prince Adam” and “Teela’s Quest.” Strings also arranged some of the animated series’ musical themes for concert. Among the night’s cover debuts were 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” Snap!’s “The Power,” Slayer’s “Skeletons Of Society,” Black Sabbath’s “Symptom Of The Universe” and Foo Fighters’ “My Hero.” The stage production flanked the band with an image of Castle Grayskull and pyrotechnics were employed at various points of the night.

The first set opened with the “He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Theme,” played by Strings on electric guitar, Walker on electric mandolin, Masat on electric bass, Robinson on drums, Sterr on guitar and Olson on keyboard. The band followed with “Prince Adam” and “Teela’s Quest.”

Tuttle joined for “Teela’s Quest” and took lead vocals on “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes. Strings rapped on “The Power” by Snap! before Hull joined on mandolin and lead vocals for Diana Ross’ “Muscles.” Hull stayed for “Tentacle Dragon (Revenge Of The)” and “Doin’ Things Right,” which segued into a Robinson drum solo as the rest of the band gradually left the stage and returned one by one. She was also on mandolin for the set-closing “Ghost Train.”

Masat, as Skeletor, sang lead on Slayer’s “Skeletons Of Society” to open the second set, with Greg Garrison (dressed as Trap Jaw) on bass and without Hargreaves. Strings placed “Orko’s Theme” within “Black Clouds,” then moved through a run of rock and metal covers: Dio’s “Rainbow In The Dark,” Yes’ “South Side Of The Sky” and Black Sabbath’s “Symptom Of The Universe.”

Tuttle returned on guitar and lead vocals for Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough,” followed by Molly Hatchet’s “Flirtin’ With Disaster.” Robinson sang lead on “All Along The Watchtower.” The band then played Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” with Hull and Tuttle onstage and closed with a reprise of the “He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Theme.”

Echoing the format of the cartoon episodes, a pre-recorded video of Strings, wearing his Prince Adam costume, was played for the audience and appeared as “A Life Lesson” in the show app.

After the show at CFG Bank Arena, Strings and his cohorts headed over to Nevermore Hall to join Robinson onstage with his bandmates in Leftover Salmon. Tuttle, Hull, Olson and Sterr also got in on the action with LoS, alongside Strings’ extensive guest spot with the band.

The concert was Strings’ third straight Halloween production at CFG Bank Arena, following the “O Billy, Where Art Thou?” show in 2024 and the “Meet Me At The Crypt” concert last year.

Reflecting on the show on social media, Strings wrote that next year’s Halloween concert might be his last for a while because he will want to spend the holiday trick-or-treating with his son. His full message follows:

Thanks for coming out to the Halloween shows! I just fell in love with Masters of the universe a few months ago and started binging a bunch of the old cartoons. It’s so damn good! I had no idea what we were gonna do for Halloween this year but then I just came across it after never really knowing what it was about.

I immediately went down the rabbit hole and started arranging some of the musical themes for guitars and I wrote a couple songs (prince adam and Teela’s quest) for the show. I thought of some of my old musician friends from traverse city who I haven’t seen in a long time and invited them. Chris Sterr and Jimmy Olson absolutely killed it! They put in the work and I’m so grateful. It was awesome to jam with them again. Such amazing players.

And I can’t say enough about how great it was to play with Molly and Sierra. I’m so stoked they made it too! And the fellers in my band worked their tails off on all the material. Them guys are the absolute best! Alwyn Robinson is the best drummer in the damn world. He beasted through our gig then went straight to his gig with salmon. It was just an amazing time!

I love Halloween! I always have.. although it’s kind of tough these days being my mom’s birthday and all. She would have been 66. It’s bitter sweet because I know she would have loved it, and even though I was having a blast the last few days with all this music and great friends.. in the back of my mind I’m always thinking of her and missing her. She would have loved the show!!

Anyhow, I’m thinking next year might be the last one of these for a while cuz my son is gonna get bigger and I’m gonna want to spend Halloween with him so we can trick or treat. We gotta do it big next year!! I’ll get planning now.

Much love

Watch a livestream replay of Billy Strings’ “Heartbeat Of Eternia” Halloween show with a nugs subscription. Scroll through video from the concert below:

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set One: He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Theme [1][2], Prince Adam [2][3], Teela’s Quest [3][4], What’s Up [4][5][6], Fearless [2], Eternia [2][26], The Power [7][8], Muscles [9][10], Tentacle Dragon (Revenge Of The) [11][27] > Doin’ Things Right [11][12] > Ghost Train [13][28]

Set Two: Skeletons Of Society [14][15], Leaders [2], Black Clouds [16] > Orko’s Theme [1][16] > Black Clouds [16], Rainbow In The Dark [2][17], End Of The Rainbow [16], South Side Of The Sky [2][18], Symptom Of The Universe [2][19], Strong Enough [20][21], Flirtin’ With Disaster [2][22], All Along The Watchtower [23][29], My Hero [24][25], He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe Theme [25]

• [1] FTP – Saban & Levy
• [2] Billy Strings on electric guitar, Jarrod Walker on electric mandolin, Royal Masat on electric bass, with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard
• [3] FTP – Original
• [4] Same as [2], with Molly Tuttle on guitar
• [5] FTP – 4 Non Blondes
• [6] Molly Tuttle on lead vocals
• [7] FTP – Snap!
• [8] Billy Strings rap with Alex Hargreaves, Jarrod Walker and Billy Failing on percussion, Royal Masat on electric bass, Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard
• [9] FTP – Diana Ross
• [10] Same as [2], with Sierra Hull on mandolin and lead vocals
• [11] Same as [2], with Sierra Hull on mandolin
• [12] Alwyn Robinson drum solo segue; band gradually left the stage, leaving Robinson playing solo, and returned one by one, rejoining Robinson, who was still playing
• [13] Royal Masat on electric bass with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard, with Sierra Hull on mandolin
• [14] Royal Masat lead vocal, Billy Strings on electric guitar, Jarrod Walker on electric mandolin with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Jimmy Olson on keyboard and Greg Garrison on electric bass (no Alex Hargreaves)
• [15] FTP – Slayer
• [16] Royal Masat on electric bass with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard
• [17] FTP – Dio
• [18] FTP – Yes
• [19] FTP – Black Sabbath
• [20] Royal Masat on electric bass with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard, with Molly Tuttle on guitar and lead vocals
• [21] FTP – Sheryl Crow
• [22] FTP – Molly Hatchet
• [23] Billy Strings on electric guitar, Jarrod Walker on electric mandolin, Royal Masat on electric bass with Alwyn Robinson on drums and lead vocals, Chris Sterr on guitar and Jimmy Olson on keyboard
• [24] FTP – Foo Fighters
• [25] Billy Strings on electric guitar, Jarrod Walker on electric mandolin, Royal Masat on electric bass with Alwyn Robinson on drums, Chris Sterr on guitar, Jimmy Olson on keyboard, Sierra Hull on mandolin and Molly Tuttle on guitar
• [26] FTP – Pemberton & May
• [27] Last time played April 10, 2026 (39-show gap)
• [28] Last time played August 8, 2025 (93-show gap)
• [29] Last time played September 28, 2024 (159-show gap)