Watch Billy Strings Dust Off Holiday Songs At Fall Tour Finale In Syracuse

Billy Strings and his band concluded a multi-leg fall tour on Saturday with a sold-out concert at The Oncenter War Memorial in Syracuse, New York. The group broke out takes on Nelstone’s Hawaiians’ “Just Because” and Bill Monroe’s “Christmas Time’s A-Coming,” which were each last played in 2022, to celebrate the holiday season.

Strings, fiddler Alex Hargreaves, banjo player Billy Failing, bassist Royal Masat and mandolinist Jarrod Walker came out of the gates with an extended version of “Home,” the title track from Billy’s 2019 studio album. Chris Henry’s “West Dakota Rose” followed. Other highlights from Saturday’s first set included “Cabin Song” and “Escanaba,” a pair of originals debuted earlier this year as well as the group’s first “Airmail Special” since May and a well-jammed “Away From The Mire” closer.

The band looked to 2021’s Renewal for the “Know It All” that kicked off their final set of the fall. Covers of the traditional “Shady Grove” and Dan Fogelberg’s “Along The Road” gave way to the Strings/Walker co-write “Gone A Long Time.” Strings then noticed an audience member dressed as Santa Claus. “Hey, Santa. I know you’re busy as hell this time of year too getting ready for the big trip. I appreciate you coming out to see the show tonight,” Billy exclaimed. “All I want for Christmas is for everybody here tonight to have the fucking time of their lives.”

The guitarist then dug deep into his repertoire to play “Just Because” complete with references to Santa Claus for the first time since April 21, 2022 — a span of 182 shows. Alex Hargreaves and Jarrod Walker were showcased on the song written by Hubert Nelsn and James Touchstone.

Saturday’s second set rolled on with “Long Forgotten Dream” off Home and a cover of Peter Rowan’s “Blue Mule” that saw Strings change the lyric from “Ride On” to “Blaze On” at one point in reference to the Phish song. Next came a “Doin’ Things Right” featuring a jam on the Led Zeppelin classic “Moby Dick” before Billy and his band played Zeppelin’s “Four Sticks” in its entirety. A run of “Libby Phillips Rag,” “A Robin Built A Nest On Daddy’s Grave,” “Psycho” and “Thunder” brought the closing stanza to an end.

Billy Strings launched his encore in Syracuse by offering the Tex Logan-penned, Bill Monroe-recorded “Christmas Time’s A-Coming.” The guitarist and his band last played the holiday classic on December 11, 2022 in Glasgow. A cover of Jimmy Martin’s “Tennessee” was tacked on for good measure. Strings ends the year with a three-night New Year’s Eve run at UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

Watch Strings’ “Christmas Time’s A-Coming” and “Four Sticks” via fan-shot video below:

Stream an audience recording of Saturday’s show taped by Duncan Oldham below:

Setlist (via BillyBase.net)

Set One: Home, West Dakota Rose, Cabin Song > Down Yonder, Fire Line > Raleigh & Spencer, Ernest T. Grass > Airmail Special, Be Your Man, Escanaba, Away From The Mire

Set Two: Know It All, Shady Grove, Along The Road, Gone A Long Time, Just Because [1], Long Forgotten Dream, Blue Mule [2], Doin’ Things Right [3], Four Sticks, Libby Phillips Rag, A Robin Built A Nest On Daddy’s Grave, Psycho Thunder

Encore: Christmas Time’s A-Coming [4], Tennessee

• [1] – Last Played 2022-04-21 | 182 show gap
• [2] – “Blaze On” chant (Phish)
• [3] – “Moby Dick” jam (Led Zeppelin)
• [4] – Last Played 2022-12-11 | 102 show gap