Billy Strings Covers Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Hot Rize & More At Tipitina’s

Guitarist Billy Strings brought his band to iconic venue Tipitina’s in New Orleans on Wednesday for the first of two livestream concerts. Strings, bassist Royal Masat, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and banjoist Billy Failing filled the setlist with a few originals and a diverse batch of covers, including songs by the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Hot Rize and more.

The quartet kicked off the opening frame with the recently debuted original “Red Daisy” and then followed an extended take on the traditional “Red Rocking Chair” with a cover of Bill Monroe’s “Southern Flavor.” Up next was the group’s second ever rendition of J.P. Nester’s “Train On The Island.” From there, Billy and his band worked “Home Of The Red Fox” by Bill Emerson into The Stanley Brothers’ “How Mountain Girls Can Love.”

Last night’s first set came to a close with a seamless four-song segment. Strings and company transitioned from Home track “Running” into the original “Thirst Mutilator,” which bled into a cover of John Hartford’s “I’m Still Here.” The four-piece then ended the frame with a brief, instrumental run through “Last Train To Clarksville” by The Monkees.

A lengthy “Doin’ Things Right” got the call to start the second set. Billy then led his group through the Grateful Dead’s “Cassidy,” a cover debuted exactly one month prior at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, New York. Next, the quartet played “Fire Line,” an original premiered at The Cap in February. A huge surprise followed as Strings dusted off The Osborne Brothers’ “Big Spike Hammer.” Last night was Billy’s first “Big Spike Hammer” since 2013 as per Phantasy Tour.

The recently debuted “Morning Light” was the final original of the evening. Billy led the group through The Dillards’ “The Old Home Place” next before Royal stepped into the spotlight to sing Marty Stuart’s “Old Mexico.” Wednesday’s livestream concert ended with a run featuring covers of Bob Dylan’s “Señor (Tales of Yankee Power),” “Nellie Cane” by Hot Rize” and Doc Watson’s “Crawdad Hole.”

Billy and the band return to Tipitina’s tonight. A livestream is available via nugs.net.

Watch the first two songs of the show below: