Billy Strings Covers ‘New San Antonio Rose’ In Austin

Billy Strings continued his 2021 Spring run on Friday night with a livestream concert from ACL Live at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas. Billy and the band unveiled a cover of “New San Antonio Rose” by western swing pioneers Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys.

Strings and company — bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and banjoist Billy Failing — got things underway with the new tune “Secrets,” which Billy debuted during his Déjà Vu Experiment run at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. Billy reeled off a few quick guitar runs during the song before the band dropped into a quiet jam section which they built up to a frenzy with all four musicians firing off intertwining runs. Failing then picked out the opening of “Home Of The Red Fox.” The Bill Emerson instrumental has become something of a jam vehicle for the quartet and after they tossed the melody around they put the tune through its paces with Billy delivering some psychedelic overdriven guitar. Another bluegrass standard, “Ol’ Slewfoot,” emerged out of the “Fox” jam and featured some lightning quick mando runs from Walker.

The first set continued with more new originals beginning with “Morning Light” and the instrumental “Running The Route” (both songs debuted at The Cap this year). Failing then led the band through his song “So Many Miles” before they debuted “New San Antonio Rose.” The song began as an instrumental in the 1930s written by Texas legend Bob Wills and dubbed “San Antonio Rose.” But the Texas Playboys added lyrics and it became “New San Antonio Rose” as well as one of the western swing pioneer’s signature songs. The Stanley Brothers’ Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine” came next ahead of Billy’s “Love Like Me” and “Wargasm” to close out the first frame.

The second set kicked off with a trio of Strings’ staples “Dust In A Baggie,” “While I’m Waiting Here” and “Pyramind Country.” The band then got into some more cover material with Blackfoot’s “Train Train” and Johnny Cash’s “Big River.” Next, Billy returned to another new original titled “Love & Regret” ahead of the experimental “Highway Hypnosis.” The Hunter/Garcia favorite “Bird Song” followed ahead of more Billy tunes “Away From The Mire” and “Long Forgotten Dream,” which brought the Austin livestream to a close.

Watch video of the first and second set openers below via the JamBase Live Video Archive:

Setlist (via Phantasy Tour)

Set One: Secrets > Home Of The Red Fox > Ol’ Slewfoot, Morning Light Running The Route > So Many Miles, New San Antonio Rose[1], Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine, Love Like Me, Wargasm

Set Two: Dust In A Baggie > While I’m Waiting Here > Pyramid Country > Train Train, Big River, Love & Regret, Highway Hypnosis, Bird Song, Away From The Mire, Long Forgotten Dream

Notes:

[1] FTP