Billy Strings Premieres Grateful Dead Cover & Original At At The Déjà Vu Experiment Night 4

Billy Strings led his band through their fourth of six “The Déjà Vu Experiment” livestream concerts at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York on Sunday night. The quartet honored the Grateful Dead with a debut cover of “He’s Gone” and also premiered an original as part of their two-set performance.

Each “The Déjà Vu Experiment” livestream concert takes place on dates marking the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s famed 1971 run at the venue. Strings, bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and banjo strummer Billy Failing also paid tribute to the Dead by conducting an ESP Experiment similar to what went down at the GD run in 1971. Last night’s “guest receiver” was Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools. Dave took part in a video chat with the band after the show and shared his interpretation of an image displayed during setbreak that viewers “sent” his way.

Billy and his group kicked off Sunday’s show by pairing “On The Line” and “Train 45.” The four-piece then treated the virtual audience to covers of Jerry Reed’s “The Likes Of Me” and Widespread Panic’s “All Time Low” before performing their own “Enough To Leave.” Next up came the traditional “John Hardy” which unlike other versions from the band featured Billy singing.

Covers of Jimmy Cliff’s “Sitting In Limbo,” New Grass Revival’s “Whisper My Name” and Merle Haggard’s “Mama Tried” followed. Last night was the first time Strings played “Mama Tried” with his full band. “Mama Tried” was a live staple for the Grateful Dead. The frame came to a close with a “Doin’ Things Right” featuring teases of Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” and brand new original “This Old World.”

Strings and his mates began the second set with “Bronzeback” and then played “Rosa Lee McFall.” The troupe went on to honor Jeff Austin with a performance of “15 Steps.” More covers followed as the quartet dug in on The Stanley Brothers’ “Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine,” Tony Rice’s “Manzanita” and their first-ever rendition of the Grateful Dead classic “He’s Gone.” A quick run through Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” and an extended “Turmoil & Tinfoil” ended the show.

The residency continues on Tuesday night via FANS.live. Wednesday’s finale will air on The Relix Channel on Twitch. Billy and his band have yet to repeat a song.

Watch the beginning of last night’s show below:

Setlist (via Billy Strings Set List Page)

Set One: On the Line > Train 45, Likes of Me, All Time Low, Enough to Leave, John Hardy (1), Sitting Here In Limbo, Whisper My Name, Mama Tried (2), Doin’ Things Right (3), This Old World (4)

Set Two: Bronzeback, Rosa Lee McFall, 15 Steps, Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine, Manzanita, He’s Gone (5), Proud Mary, Turmoil & Tinfoil

• (1) with lyrics
• (2) FTP with full band
• (3) So Fresh So Clean tease
• (4) FTP – Billy Strings Original
• (5) FTP