Billy Strings Welcomes Samson Grisman In Oregon

Billy Strings‘ summer tour continued on Friday in Troutdale, Oregon with bassist Royal Masat back in the mix after missing Wednesday's show in Montana due to a family emergency. Strings and his band were joined by for two songs during their first of two concerts at McMenamin’s Edgefield.

The guitarist, Royal Masat, banjoist Billy Failing, fiddler Alex Hargreaves and mandolinist Jarrod Walker got the evening underway with the traditional tune “Sally Goodwin.” Billy followed the opener by welcoming the crowd to the concert and pointing out the beauty of Oregon. The band then played a string of originals starting with the gems “Know It All” and “Show Me The Door” off Billy’s latest album, Renewal, as well as “Long Forgotten Dream” from 2019’s Home, Turmoil & Tinfoil’s “Living Like An Animal” and the Strings/Walker co-written “Gone A Long Time.”

“How about a train song?” Strings asked ahead of Roy Acuff’s “Streamline Cannonball” played Doc Watson style. Next, Billy led the band through the gorgeous Renewal cut “Love & Regret” and a take on “Psycho” by Eddie Payne. The quintet then picked up the energy with Renewal instrumental “Running The Route” featuring stellar solos from Hargreaves, Failing and Walker. From there, Strings once again discussed his love for Oregon and suggested the band move to the state. A rousing “John Hardy,” slightly extended “Wargasm” and euphoric “Doin’ My Time” ended Friday’s first set.

Billy and the band returned to the stage with “Hide & Seek” to launch the second set. The improvisational centerpiece of the evening featured an adventurous jam highlighted by Walker’s intense mandolin solo. Instrumental “Thirst Mutilator” then bled into “Running,” the concert’s second and final song off Home. Strings passionately sang his own “All Of Tomorrow” next before pairing New Grass Revival cover “This Heart Of Mine” and original “Dealing Despair.” The ensuing “Fire Line” hit a mighty peak to the delight of the crowd.

The guitarist took a moment after “Fire Line” to introduce bassist Samson Grisman. Samson is based in Oregon and is the son of legendary mandolinist David “Dawg” Grisman. The band’s special guest both played bass and helped sing Bill Monroe’s “Highway Of Sorrow,” a Billy Strings debut. Sam stuck around for another Bill Monroe tune, “Close By,” before the quintet closed out the evening with “Whisper My Name” and the beloved “Turmoil & Tinfoil.”

Listen to an audience recording of last night’s show recorded by Keith Litzenberger and watch fan-shot videos below:

Setlist (via BillyBase)

Set One: Sally Goodin, Know It All, Show Me The Door, Long Forgotten Dream, Living Like An Animal, Gone A Long Time, Streamline Cannonball, Love & Regret, Psycho, Running The Route, John Hardy, Wargasm, Doin’ My Time

Set Two: Hide & Seek [1], Thirst Mutilator > Running, All Of Tomorrow, This Heart Of Mine > Dealing Despair, Fire Line, Highway Of Sorrow [2] [3], Close By [2], Whisper My Name, Turmoil & Tinfoil

• [1] – I Can See Clearly Now tease
• [2] – with Samson Grisman on bass
• [3] – First Time Played – Bill Monroe