Billy Strings Debuts ‘The Race Is On’ Cover At Columbia Speedway

Billy Strings continued his four-night run at the Columbia Speedway in Cayce, South Carolina on Friday. Strings and his band unveiled a cover of the George Jones-popularized “The Race Is On.”

Billy and the band — mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing — kicked off the show with “Must Be Seven” from the Grammy-winning 2019 album, Home. Strings and company then headed into The Stanley Brothers’ “Clinch Mountain Backstep” which kicked off a covers segment that also included the Grateful Dead’s “Dire Wolf” and Jeff Austin’s “Run Down.” Billy returned to newer original material with, “Morning Light,” which he debuted during the first night of his Deja Vu Experiment run at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. Next came the apt cover of “The Race Is On,” sung by Walker. Don Rollins penned the tune and George Jones had a hit with the song in 1964. “The Race Is On” was also covered by the Grateful Dead. Another Jeff Austin nod came in the form of “15 Steps” before more new material in “Love & Regret” also unveiled at The Cap. A segment of Phish’s “Back On The Train” into “Everything’s The Same” would close out the first frame.

Billy got the second set underway with a solo clawhammer banjo version of Doc Watson’s “Georgia Buck.” Failing then joined in for their Dos Billys “Dos Banjos,” which saw Billy busting out some night vision goggles. The rest of the band would return for “Running” which segued into more Doc in “Walking Boss” which in turn found its way into “While I’m Waiting Here.” Another locomotive-themed number came in the form of Blackfoot’s “Train Train.” Billy then offered up the second-ever “New San Antonio Rose” by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys which the band debuted recently in Austin, Texas. The stellar new song “Secrets” came next before the band closed out the second set with a trio of tunes from a trio of bluegrass legends beginning with Flatt & Scruggs’ “Doin’ My Time,” and continuing with The Watson Family’s “Brown’s Ferry Blues” and Bill Monroe’s “Big Mon.” Billy and the band retook the stage for a single mic encore of “If Your Hair’s Too Long (There’s Sin In Your Heart),” for just the third time since debuting the satirical gospel number in late 2019 at Denver’s Ogden Theatre.

Setlist (via Billy Strings Setlist Page)

Set One: Must Be Seven > Clinch Mountain Backstep, Dire Wolf, Rundown, Morning Light, The Race Is On (1), 15 Steps, Love & Regret, Back on the Train, Everything’s the Same (2)

Set Two: Georgia Buck (3), Dos Banjos (4)(5), Running, Walkin’ Boss > While I’m Waiting Here > Train, Train, The New Rose of San Antone, Secrets, Doin’ My Time, Brown’s Ferry Blues > Big Mon

Encore: Hair’s Too Long (6)

Notes:

• (1) FTP – Jarrod on lead vocals
• (2) I stoled you gold right out your fuckin face ICP lyric change.
• (3) Billy solo clawhammer banjo
• (4) Dos Billy’s
• (5) Night Vision goggle gag
• (6) Single Mic