Billy Strings Debuts Pat Boone-Popularized Cover In Atlanta

Billy Strings’ ever-growing live repertoire expanded on Friday night at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Night one of a two-show run featured the guitarist’s first performance of the Pat Boone-popularized song, “Moody River.”

Chase Webster wrote “Moody River” and released it as a single in 1961. Pat Boone followed with his own version, which became a #1 hit that same year. Strings’ arrangement was close to bluegrass guitarist Doc Watson’s 1970s recording of the song.

Strings packed a few other unexpected songs into Friday’s setlist, playing “I’ve Lived a Lot in My Time” by Jim Reeves for the first time since 2023 within the first set. Set two saw “Midnight On The Highway” by Hot Rize for the first time since 2021 and the eighth time overall. The second set also featured the theme from the Bruce Lee film, Enter The Dragon for its first appearance since 2023 and the eighth time as well.

Strings and his bandmates – banjoist Billy Failing, bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and fiddler Alex Hargreaves – turned in a massive 20-minute “Hide And Seek” four songs into the first set. Additional improvisational excursions occurred in the second set’s “Psycho” and the closing “Tinfoil & Turmoil” encapsulating the aforementioned Enter The Dragon theme.

Watch audience-captured video of “Moody River” and stream the entire concert via nugs.net official soundboard audio below:

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set One: The Fire On My Tongue > My Sweet Blue Eyed Darling, While I’m Waiting Here > Hide and Seek [1], Blackjack County Chains [2], Hollow Heart, Kentucky Mandolin, I’ve Lived a Lot in My Time [3], Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Seven Weeks in County

Set Two: In the Clear > Sally Johnson, Don’t Be Calling Me (at 4 AM), Seney Stretch, Must Be Seven > Psycho > Train, Train [4], Moody River [5], Long Forgotten Dream, Midnight On The Highway [6], Fiddling Around, Turmoil & Tinfoil > Enter The Dragon [7] > Turmoil & Tinfoil

Encore: Gone A Long Time

Notes:

• [1] “The Safety Dance” (Men Without Hats) tease
• [2] Billy congratulated fiddle player Jason Carter on 33 years with the Del McCoury Band and starting his solo career.
• [3] Last Time Played 2023-11-17 | 79 show gap
• [4] “Turmoil & Tinfoil” intro tease
• [5] FTP – Pat Boone
• [6] Last Time Played 2021-11-16 | 299 show gap
• [7] Last Time Played 2023-02-24 | 161 show gap