Watch Billy Strings Cover Townes Van Zandt’s ‘I’ll Be Here In the Morning’ In San Diego

Billy Strings opened a two-night stand in San Diego on Saturday. Strings debuted a cover of Townes Van Zandt’s “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” during his first set at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre.

The guitarist along with bandmates bassist Royal Masat, fiddler Alex Hargreaves, banjoist Billy Failing and mandolinist Jarrod Walker premiered their take on the Townes Van Zandt classic after launching Saturday’s show with the traditional “John Hardy” and a run linking originals “Taking Water,” “Ice Bridges” and “In The Morning Light.” Both “Ice Bridges” and “In The Morning Light” are featured on Strings’ latest album, 2021’s Renewal. The LP was also represented in the setlist for night one in San Diego by “Hide & Seek,” “Secrets,” “Heartbeat Of America,” “Show Me The Door” and “Red Daisy.”

Iconic Texas musician Townes Van Zandt initially released “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” on his debut studio album, 1968’s For The Sake Of The Song. Billy Strings and his bandmates delivered a stirring rendition of the pretty ballad played at a little faster pace than the original. Strings’ heartfelt vocals fit the tune perfectly. Each member took a solo during “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” besides Masat.

See Billy Strings’ “I’ll Be Here In The Morning” cover via fan-shot video below:

The cover debut was followed by the aforementioned Renewal cuts “Hide & Seek” and “Secrets.” Billy Strings then connected three extremely different covers as a take on Mother Love Bone’s “Crown Of Thorns” bled into Bill Monroe’s “Southern Flavor,” which gave way to Pink Floyd’s “Brain Damage.” Renewal’s “Heartbeat Of America” and the Strings/Walker co-write “Gone A Long Time” brought the frame to a close.

Billy Strings went with “Wargasm” to get Saturday’s second set underway. The recently debuted original “Cabin Song” filled the two-slot before it was back to Renewal for “Show Me The Door.” From there the quintet worked The Dillards’ “Old Man At The Mill” into “Clinch Mountain Backstep,” a Stanley Brothers instrumental last played on December 4, 2022 in Amsterdam — a span of 40 shows. Relatively new original “My Alice” was up next and then Renewal’s “Red Daisy” merged into the jam vehicle “Thunder.” Billy’s first “Life To Go” (George Jones) and the beloved “Dust In A Baggie” were paired to end the show.

Watch more fan-shot video from Saturday’s concert below:

Setlist (via BillyBase.net)

Set One: John Hardy, Taking Water > Ice Bridges > In The Morning Light, I’ll Be Here In The Morning [1], Hide & Seek, Secrets, Crown Of Thorns > Southern Flavor > Brain Damage, Heartbeat Of America, Gone A Long Time

Set Two: Wargasm, Cabin Song, Show Me The Door > Old Man At The Mill > Clinch Mountain Backstep, My Alice, Red Daisy > Thunder, Life To Go, Dust In A Baggie