Billy is fantastic. He's the reason I got into flat picking.. I listened to bluegrass before, but I Never heard the guitar played like that. Now I love Doc Watson and Tony rice, a whole bunch of other stuff I never would have got into otherwise

@LessonsWithMarcel

Жыл бұрын

This is what I keep trying to explain. Billy is an excellent gateway into a larger realm of bluegrass music.

@Quistophaaa

Жыл бұрын

same, went from underground of hip hop to the dungeon of country...

@wheatthinnsguy01

Жыл бұрын

Truth to that! That youtube video of Billy playing a full concert of Doc Watson songs is the 4th most viewed video when you search “Doc Watson” and filter by most views. And that’s also how I got into Doc Watson, who I now listen to way more than Billy.

@atakurt6055

Жыл бұрын

Same here

@Mrsournotes

Жыл бұрын

Exactly!

I wasn’t aware that anyone hated Billy Strings. I mean, how could you? He’s amazing!

@stitchbiatch3715

Жыл бұрын

Yeah same. I’m confused

@-elijahriggs-

Жыл бұрын

Great player. Songs are so so.

@gamete4375

Жыл бұрын

yeah, it's clickbait.

@catfishcooler1566

Жыл бұрын

The stupid stage name. Freddie FingerFlash and Larry Lightningbolt suck too.

@danhall2845

Жыл бұрын

I don’t like him. So count is at least 1.

The reason Billy is so big is because he is embracing the jam band scene around him. His huge shows and psychedelic innovation is amazing. He created his own brand of bluegrass. No other bluegrass musician is putting on a show like he is. And nobody said we don’t care about bluegrass because we’re Billy Strings fans. He is a millennial and doesn’t want to wear clothes that don’t represent him on stage to “preserve the tradition” but he is himself and plays the music that represents his life. That is all.

@drewharrison1840

Жыл бұрын

Points for mentioning embracing the jam scene. People want a new Jerry or Phish and they may have found it in billy. I know those are big shoes but idk

@Borat_Kazakh

Жыл бұрын

Any bluegrass player who can get Post Malone to sing "Cocaine Blues" with him in concert is clearly way, way out ahead.

@katzpdx

Жыл бұрын

This!!!! I am a long time Phish fan and Deadhead. I got into bluegrass because of Jerry and David Grisman. When I first starting seeing Phish in the 80s, I was pretty excited when they (particularly Mike) started playing bluegrass songs. I could not agree more that Billy has created his own brand of bluegrass.

@Greenwings701

Жыл бұрын

He also kept performing during the pandemic, when there was a live music desert, drawing eyes and ears his way. He certainly is a standout and a stellar musician and performer.

@Ballhogmusic

Жыл бұрын

In this he is not original. So much great psychedelic jam grass over the years. Check out the first Garcia /Grisman album. Leftover Salmon, String Cheese,Green Sky Bluegrass. Flektones, DGQ

Billy plays his own music. He has elements of Bluegrass, Country, Rock, Folk and many other styles. Does it really matter what you call it? It's awesome!

@pix3279

Жыл бұрын

the fact a lot of Billy's stuff is original and even standards throughly doctored up is something people should appreciate more.

@Halliday7895

Жыл бұрын

you forgot the biggest influence on his playing ...metal. his robotic metal like playing is why i dont like his music. i don't like brian sutton either...i like Tony Rice's style and mastery...there is no need for anything else...just like with jam bands we have phish still we dont need another phish ...

@EcoCentrist

Жыл бұрын

@@Halliday7895 "robotic metal like playing" what the shit are you talking about? care to provide any examples?

@silixtuhibiski95

Жыл бұрын

@@Halliday7895 Definitely don't need another phish

@Primus-ue4th

Жыл бұрын

@@Halliday7895That’s how I feel about reggae. How could anyone care for more than one reggae group? It’s just a copy of a copy at this point.

Billy is a triple threat though. He can sing, write music and play good. Plus he has good stage presence and puts on great live shows. Not many others do it like he does

@johnmac333

Жыл бұрын

Yep , very under rated singer .

@jcx5659

Жыл бұрын

No one I can think of comes close.

@jimedgar6789

Жыл бұрын

Truth... stage presence is HUGE with him. He is not just sitting in the background, shredding some BG scales.

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

I feel his singing is ignored quite a bit when it's just as good as the other parts of his setup

@musicofanatic

Жыл бұрын

@@jcx5659 Lemme help...Tim O'Brien, Darrell Scott, Willy Porter, Richard Thompson...these few come to mind...there are so many more. Difference is, though they all possess the same (or more) level of talent in terms of singing/songwriting/playing, non of the individuals I mention employ signal processing on their acoustic instruments, "jam" incessantly in the middle of songs, flail their hair about whilst playing. I've got 100 bucks that says if you compared any of the artists that I mentioned to him, Billy would humbly and embarrassedly set you straight that they are all his heroes and claim unworthiness at being compared. He is a good kid!

72 years old here. The NGDB released the Circle album when I was in college. IMHO that album saved Bluegrass not to mention selling a truckload of Gallagher guitars. Billy Strings (Molly too) is this young generation's Circle album. Whether we like him or not (I do)...if a Bluegrass fan...we better dang sure appreciate him (Molly too) for keeping the music aliive. He's what Bluegrass needs ... at the right time.✌️

@elliottcrews4997

Жыл бұрын

Amen Brother

@michaelshainline4377

Жыл бұрын

I'm the same age as you and I agree with you completely. The musical genre is great and he and Molly play it as well as it's ever been played. Of course, we had Newgrass Revival and Hot Rize to keep our generation excited.

@scottcole5387

Жыл бұрын

How many heroes were we introduced to through the Circle album !

@j_bunny__

Жыл бұрын

Ha! My Dad went straight to Gallagher's shop after hearing that album. Sadly sold it before I started playing...

@DornAndGrant

Жыл бұрын

Really like that simple way. Like and/or appreciate. I like billy hugely. And there are a lot of other guitarists I don’t like but appreciate. Excellent way to put it!

I met Billy years ago. He's a very generous sweet and smart human being and that dude can burn the strings. I was at the NW String Summit and with a friend we wandered over to the Artist Camp and Billy was playing in the dark (it was 2 am) with two fiddlers. It was insane. About 7 people were there. It was nuts. He just loves to play and that's where he's at. It was special and ... quite ordinary. Just playing like there was no tomorrow (* there was!). That's why people like him. He just came to play.

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

Just like Chris Thile, I hope he doesn't follow suit and get ostracized by both genres he loves simply because he don't look right to either

@654Tennis

Жыл бұрын

Love this story! I've read he's a great dude but it's nice to hear from someone whose met him and I love that you found him there just jamming out. He really does love the music he plays and it shows and we're grateful for it!

@breezewayrecords

Жыл бұрын

@@victorkreig6089 He has rocketed past Chris, Bela, et al in terms of popularity. He's pop star level.

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

@@breezewayrecords yes he is, that's mostly due to the lockdowns and yt though Had the same thing happened to Chris he'd be in the same place

@breezewayrecords

Жыл бұрын

​@@victorkreig6089 As a longtime fan/follower of the Grateful Dead, I can tell you that his targeted marketing to that huge fan base has paid dividends. They absolutely love him -- the same people who wouldn't know the Punch Brothers from fruit punch. Yeah, a small subset of them love the great practitioners of bluegrass, jazz, classical, blues, and other genres; but they all love Billy, seemingly. The on-boarding of those people is what accounts for the scale of Billy's success.

Hey can we take a moment to also appreciate Molly Tuttle? She's breathing a lot of life into the scene as well! Also pretty wild she played a frickin' Rancid cover at the opry.

@CorneiliusLibowitz

Жыл бұрын

Funny she/Golden Highway don’t garnish the hate that BMFS does… Perhaps because she’s cute, as are her female bandmates?? They don’t fit into the strict Bluegrass genre either… Ever notice the pedal boards they use? Kyle Tuttle definitely doesn’t look the part, nor does Dom Leslie…. And lately, they’ve been getting into extended jams…. So, maybe she does have some haters, but they sure aren’t making their presence known in the comments section…. And for the record, i love her and that lineup. Love the direction the band is going into, as well as the skill set of each and every band member… I’ve seen her live, before Golden Highway, but i wanna see this lineup….

@jblflatpicker

Жыл бұрын

IMO her guitar playing is so much better than Billy’s…well, I should say I prefer her style and tone over his.

@CorneiliusLibowitz

Жыл бұрын

@@jblflatpicker "So much" better? The 2nd part of your reply is more appropriate... While i love both, their styles and technique are different, and on par with each other... And you mean to tell me the cuteness factor got nuttin' to do with your preference?

@ejtonefan

Жыл бұрын

@@jblflatpicker Billy is a prodigal virtuoso. His Thompson and D-28 tone is beautiful.

@johntarman3234

Жыл бұрын

Yeah well she's not bluegrass either. SO THERE. I feel so much better now.

I grew up with bill.hung out with him and his brother everyday. Jammed metal with him for years. Hes the real deal Can literally play anything. He deserves all his success. Him,Terry and brad lasco got alot of us local lyons/muir/ionia michigan boys into bluegrass. Its easy to hate but id like to ask those that hate if their favorite guitarist can seamlessly go from playing Slayer to Dying fetus to Rocky Raccoon all flawlessly and effortlessly and in one go without missing a beat like ive witnessed bill do countless times in person.... If they can't...well,take a seat. Bills a bad motherfucker man... Because of him and Terry I know about doc and bill monroe.

@tanyaraven9492

Жыл бұрын

Love this comment from Mr. Berry who knows Billy. Lucky you! Now, why do some people HATE Billy Strings? Jealousy?

@dxhydro1

Жыл бұрын

Fucking cool as mojojojo! - I played bluegrass stuff with Paul Gray of Slipknot in my basement. Loaned him my Bill Monroe box set! Not a fan of Slayer, Dying Featus (or Slipknot) but I can respect the musicians! Billy IS a BMF'r for sure. I knew it the first time I saw him on youtube...

@dberry485

Жыл бұрын

@@dxhydro1 RIP paul! Slipknots my favorite metal band.

@654Tennis

Жыл бұрын

Wow that's an awesome story! Sounds like some epic memories and experiences y'all had, thanks for sharing!

Nobody hates Billy Strings. They're just jealous or old timers. The kid is insanely talented.

@itsrob2321

Жыл бұрын

Dang, son! How old would you have to be to hate Billy Strings? I don’t even think jealous people could hate him! Old timers are just young people who have been around a long time. You’ll see.

@TylerSnyder305

Жыл бұрын

Or they just don't like what he plays. People can like pure bluegrass with no major influences from clashing genres.

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

@@TylerSnyder305 sure they can, and those people are called assholes It's one thing to not be a fan of someone, it's another to take a dump on them It's a sign of immaturity and that you still haven't become an adult, just because you don't care for someone or something doesn't mean it isn't good and it don't mean it isn't [insert genre here]

@TylerSnyder305

Жыл бұрын

@@victorkreig6089 I said nothing about taking a dump on Billy strings. I said some people just prefer pure true bluegrass, not a mish mosh of genres with many influences that make for something that's not really true bluegrass at this point. I don't get why I'm the asshole for seeing that his music isn't true bluegrass just like all that crap on the radio today is southern pop music not country. Why are the people who don't want the things they love changed always the wrong ones and not the ones who insist on changing it ?

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

@@TylerSnyder305 it isn't changing though lol, Bluegrass saw a massive change between the 1890's and the 1940's when it had both folk and what some would call "Americana" merged into it. The "pure" bluegrass you're erroneously naming isn't going anywhere just like no matter what comes banjo pickin won't change and neither will folk or mountain hollerin, no matter how many dirty communists, unwashed hippies, or city folk flood it. You're afraid of something that won't ever come because the music itself is insulated from it, and before you say b-but country! outlaw country still exists and so does actual country music, it may not be on the radio anymore but it sure as shit is still out there. Billy Strings isn't going to bring an end to the genre you love just like how Chris Thile didn't do that either, just giving it a much needed shot in the arm

Coming from someone who has listened to everything Tony Rice has recorded, I can safely say that Billy is one of the best things that has happened to bluegrass since. I am a young buck for the scene (33) who was roped in at a young age by my dad who has been going to bluegrass fests for most of his life. He's seen most of the greats many times over while embracing those who shook up the tradition along the way ie New Grass, Nickel Creek, Billy.. the list goes on. I also have been very critical of many bands who have been labeled as bluegrass, who actually have their roots firmly in the jam tradition FIRST. While there are many bands who have successfully blended these two improvisational mainstays, the best to do it in my opinion are the ones who have their roots in the bluegrass tradition FIRST ie Yonder, Stringdusters, Billy. While they "jam" and the songs can stray far off the path and wholeheartedly embrace the "type 2" mentality made popular by groups like Phish, they still very much carry on the bluegrass roots while pushing beyond them. For anyone that tries to say that Billy "isn't good for bluegrass" is straight up dense. For some time, I brushed off Billy for the same reasons why I did many other groups that seem to co-opt the aesthetics of the genre solely because I didn't understand why some of my favorite groups were not getting their dues like they had. In my eyes, I thought that if your Mumford and Sons or OCMS can reach such levels of popularity why not any of these other bands that are equally talented if not infinitely more so. I finally saw Billy in 2020 in a big ol shed (amphitheater) after many years of hearing his name and watching his videos and it was at that moment I realized that not only does he embrace the tradition, which in my opinion is one of the most important parts of being bluegrass, but he is also the best thing that has happened to the genre in some time.

@654Tennis

Жыл бұрын

Beautifully said! Seeing him live was an absolute game changer for me too!

@kocmnkhorror787

8 ай бұрын

Billy's been spotted having a little shrine to Jeff Austin set up on stage behind him. That's what absolutely earned my loyalty.

You just continue to show love and kindness in so many ways. I'm 74 years old and was on the road playing bluegrass since 1963. I've seen a lot of changes. Bobby Thompson, Bill Keith, and Allen Shelton on the banjo leads and Crowe and Osborne on back up. Well, we should all enjoy the new stuff. It's all real. Monroe started "punk" bluegrass as a music, crazy, notes, crazy double stops, crazy vocal harmonies, crazy tempos, crazy ideas. Perhaps live and let live. My Mom would say, "Listen, respect and learn, or sit down and enjoy". Choose love and not hateful comments. And that my good, good friend is what you have done, and what you have done here, LuvYaBro. You, Marcel, are a good and generous person. LuvYaMarcel. Heartfelt thanks.

@chuckrrose

Жыл бұрын

Righteous sentiments, my friend, bless ya. And Bobby Thompson…what a musician.

@jeremiahb3519

Жыл бұрын

Great comment. Wish your vibe would catch on

@greenlandgarry

Жыл бұрын

@@chuckrrose , Thanks Jeep, new stuff is new stuff and always deserves a listen

@greenlandgarry

Жыл бұрын

@@jeremiahb3519 , Thanks Jeremiah, lets all keep the vibe and enjoy bluegrass, in its many forms.

@rockers2rockers616

Жыл бұрын

'Punk' Bluegrass and 'Monroe'. Garry Greenland that is a great comment. Plus you shared the names of some artists that thanks to you AND Billy Strings, im about to discover something new and exciting. Thankyou Garry!

Blue grassers should be licking Billy’s boots for pulling their art out of the dark and into light of a whole new audience. He’s the renaissance man of blue grass

@CleanHead

Жыл бұрын

HAHAHAHHAHA whatever. Bluegrass is one word man.

Billy's haters should pick up a guitar and try playing like he does. I'm a metal, rock and blues fan. My respect for Billy was instantaneous once I heard not only his playing but also his singing voice. He just nailed it for my particular preference.

@CorneiliusLibowitz

Жыл бұрын

This is true. I'd like to see/hear these so-called musician-Billy haters pick up a guitar and play at that level... Methinks it ain't gonna happen.

@James-gk8ip

Жыл бұрын

When you go to the ballgame and someone yells trash at a slumping hitter, do you turn to them and suggest they go up and bat instead? That's not really a response.

@rockers2rockers616

Жыл бұрын

Yep you got that right. I play guitar and came across Strings by chance. I immediately liked him.. He has talent to burn and charisma. I think its great that young people are picking up guitar because of Billy Strings. Yep, playing guitar is an exciting thing to do.

@tanyaraven9492

Жыл бұрын

And then you discover he writes most of his songs. Doesn't get any better.

@Trashslayer76

Жыл бұрын

@@James-gk8ipsorry you feel that way in life.

I think a big part of why Billy is becoming so popular is the simple fact of him having expression and being a performer. He's not just standing there playing stone faced. Better guitarists are out there but Billy's excitement to play and perform is what really hooks people.

@samgibson684

Жыл бұрын

Better guitarists? lol yeah right

@johnnyvaughn8391

7 ай бұрын

You are absolutely right. There are better guitarists, but I think you would be hard pressed to find better musicians.

Billy has probably been the single greatest ambassador for bluegrass music. Go ask people on the street, most of them couldn’t name a single artist but if they can, they’ll give you his name.

@partialtortilla9160

Жыл бұрын

Exactly, and a lot of people that fall in love with his music will eventually start digging deeper and find all the classics and amazing traditional players so it’s good for everyone. I did the same thing after hearing bands like Greensky and Leftover Salmon at festivals as a teenager

@userjones3399

Жыл бұрын

That is like saying I’m a country fan because I love Garth brooks. But they don’t know who George strait is.

@CleanHead

Жыл бұрын

Wrong. Bill Monroe.

I would say Billy is somewhat Bluegrass, but more on the Americana/Folk side. Great vid

@williamjones7910

Жыл бұрын

I can agree with this

@bgwrld4744

Жыл бұрын

More like trash/garbage. Volume 5 is what you want imo

@blugrassr016

Жыл бұрын

@@bgwrld4744 yeah

@bill1856

Жыл бұрын

All of that money and Billy still cant afford a haircut!

@kansasangler0249

Жыл бұрын

Play wagon wheel

I grew up in a bluegrass family and that music filled out lives until both my dad and my grandfather were killed in a car accident in the late 60's. After that happened it seemed like all the music had left us. The old ballads just brought painful memories. I was in my teens and I soon moved on to other genres of music like rock, r&b and jazz. I'm in my 70's now and Billy Strings has brought me back to my roots. He helped me to regain the joy I used to feel from bluegrass. No Billy is most definitely not an old style bluegrass purist but he is a remarkable writer and performer who is breathing new life into the old genre and I am very happy that he is.

Billy Strings represents the absolute best of the future of guitar, and especially live music. He loves playing, not just bluegrass, but music, period. Only someone with an extremely narrow appreciation for music centered solely on a particular genre could possibly fault him or his style. Years from now, he will be mentioned with the same reverence we now have for people like Bill Monroe, Tommy Emmanuel or Doc Watson. Let the haters hate. The rest of us will keep supporting Billy.

I owe so much to Billy because the set of Doc Watson tunes he performed introduced me to the legend that is Doc. Doc is now my favorite artist of all time and the biggest inspiration in my playing.

@rockers2rockers616

Жыл бұрын

I agree about Doc Watson. And i too love the challenge of learning his 'licks'. Some of his music is very dark, like 'little Omie Wise'.

@robertnewell5057

Жыл бұрын

See my main reply to this. B strings is straignt ahead bluegrass 😁

People are jealous, Billy plays what he likes and he’s good and getting better. I play guitar and I like seeing a young guy spread good tunes to people his generation and younger! Billy seems genuine and that’s rare these days. I’m a fan

You hit the nail on the head hear dude.. been playing for 30years and I was a blues head, strictly blues!! Got into Billy this year and that got me into Tony Rice and Doc Watson. Got into your channel because I want to learn more and it is obvious to anyone you are a great teacher and know your stuff. I think as you get older you realize how stupid we are when we are young!! Bless you Marcel, you are changing my life for the better as someone in recovery ❣️🎶🎵❤️

@adventuresofdrewnnienhoneypot

Жыл бұрын

DUDE THIS HAS BEEN MY LIFE THE PAST 2 YEARS!!!! Couldn’t have said it better. Fuckin crazy

@kevinallman6700

Жыл бұрын

@@adventuresofdrewnnienhoneypot going to see him in Manchester and London, can't wait..Xmas present of the best little boy in the world.. Billy just makes you feel better and want to do better.. love the names my friends,Drewnnie and Honeypot,brilliant..sending big ❣️❣️

@mikebastiat

Жыл бұрын

yeah blues kinda sucks. I always felt like a white guy trying to love something that wasn't really for us.

@bphh

Жыл бұрын

Open your heart to Norman Blake.

@adventuresofdrewnnienhoneypot

Жыл бұрын

@@bphh I recently started listening to him - he’s a fantastic songwriter!

I think billies singing along with his playing and how genuine and kind he is is a reason for his success along with the healing energy he gives off. I don’t think think he gets the credit he deserves for his lyrical ability !!

Love him. There’s so much talent out there, and I’m glad somebody who put the time in is getting work and a loyal following.

I like Billy how he is not just playing what's already been played for a century but also isn't afraid to experiment with the genre. This includes guitar effects and almost metal sounding chord progressions while making it entirely fitting. It's fun and refreshing to hear.

Very well done Marcel. Although not a huge Billy fan I appreciate what he is doing for the popularity of the genre. I also respect Billy's love of tradition which can clearly be heard when you hear him play and sing Doc Watson songs. Cheers!

I met Billy 11 years ago when he moved to Traverse City he’s a great down to earth guy. Saw him play a couple dozen times at least before he left for Nashville. Love him or hate him I wish him nothing but continued success

Couldn't have said it any better myself! Billy has introduced a whole new generation to people like Doc Watson and Tony Rice. He's a killer player and innovative performer, I don't see how he could be hurting anything.

@barry1705

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing

Fundamentalism in all forms is such a drag.

Billy is amazing, not only his musical ability, but he is seemingly a real good dude, I seen him live, amazing show, he constantly promotes artists that inspired him, such as his father, Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, who started his musical career playing the banjo. Billy and yonder Mountain string band, really inspired me.

I've watched and learned from you for a long time, and while I would have loved another instruction video, now I want you to do more commentary. This was great.

Being from Appalachia and raised Pentecostal, Billy really got me back into my roots. and being from a small river town that's known for recording motown artists and the Rolling Stones back in the 60s, there are more folk songwriters than there are bluegrass folk. so Strings really lead me back to music that I was fighting against, as to stand out. you can be who you and be what you were raised as and what your family is from. great video.

Billy can play the heavy psychedelic stuff right next to the trad songs. It’s okay if you don’t like it, you don’t have to. Let other people like stuff, it doesn’t cost you anything

I feel like something people don't talk about enough with Billy is how insanely good his live shows are.

@12askeland231

Жыл бұрын

There is literally nothing like it

@12askeland231

Жыл бұрын

@Scott I've tried to explain it to my friends. It's literally just a hoedown throwdown for 3 hours with the most nasty guitar playing you can imagine. Straight dancing for three hours and every one of the members of his band shred just as hard as Billy does. There is literally nothing like it.

@Justcarlosdiaz

Жыл бұрын

I think playing live is absolutely where he shines, I'd much rather throw on his concert than his album, the energy is just great

Marcel killing it with those side camera angles in black and white, I love artistic stuff like that, I'm new here so forgive my admiration lol

Amazingly talented and grounded despite his circumstances growing up. Everyone that hears Billy loves him. His songs are from life’s experiences and from the heart.

Billy has swag, showmanship, and relatablity. Virtuousos oftentimes don't have those qualities. This accounts for Billy's popularity over someone who has greater technical proficiency imo

@goldenbergconstruction1656

Жыл бұрын

Exactly, he is very relatable. If I saw him walking down the street I would want to go up and talk to him. There is close to 50 yrs difference in our age and I am thrilled to see him succeed.

@Jay-lr3me

Жыл бұрын

Agreed, if you look at someone like Jake Eddy he's a great player but he doesn't write music like Billy does and he has nowhere near the swag or stage presence

@Augrills

Жыл бұрын

I would consider Billy Strings a virtuoso. Even if there are people who play more technically complicated things. I feel like Billy gets exactly what he wants to get out of a guitar. If you read comments from people who don’t like bluegrass, they consider him a virtuoso. Again, there might be cleaner players, but there’s something they’re not getting across.

@Greenwings701

Жыл бұрын

Billy has a genuine emotional connection to his material, a feeling and awareness of those to whom he's singing and playing, and that along with his charming personality connect to his audience as only an authentic artist can. There's no substitute for that.

@redpilledyinzer8477

Жыл бұрын

@@Greenwings701 100%

I’m absolutely certain the only folks who who don’t like him are insanely jealous of the talented young whippersnapper .. I have been watching his development over the past decade on KZread and unlike many KZread musical sensations Billy has all the other attributes necessary to achieve not only fame and fortune in the music game but also longevity and eventually grand master status . Not only can he shred with the best of them but he can really write a song, a melody and has a wonderful lyrical maturity which reminds me a times of John Prine . His voice is honest and genuine . He’s honest and humble to a fault 🤣🤣😂 a truly special artist . And one that will inspire many into the genre , I’m old enough to have seen this “hatred” phenomenon happen numerous times in the past . But it will blow over it always does . I’m so happy for his success and being from Liverpool UK I have not been able to see him yet but this December 8th in Manchester I have tickets and hopefully the gig will happen as so many get cancelled these days

@bengtsjoberg

Жыл бұрын

I will see him (and the band of course) in Stockholm 1/12, we are lucky people that they crossed the pond to get here :)

@dudeotis

Жыл бұрын

@@bengtsjoberg how was the show ?

@bengtsjoberg

Жыл бұрын

@@dudeotis amazing experience, maybe the sound volume was a bit high, and maybe one or two too long jam sessions from the stage 😅

I’ve been close friends with his mother for 40 years and have been watching him play since he was a child. I have always leaned towards hard rock but right now Billy’s shows are one of the very few I’m interested in seeing he and his whole band just rock.

@dberry485

Жыл бұрын

My names Dante and boom and aaron were always like my little brothers Deb was like a second mom Good ol' 420 railroad st days

"did ya have to gauge ur ears, son?" I FEEL PERSONALLY ATTACKED

Thank you Marcel! You are totally right and I loved this episode, Billy is dragging people into the Bluegrass community from all around the world! I live in Sweden and the bluegrass scene is very small here so all help is appreciated for getting people hooked on this lovely music/scene, and from Billy you can elevate to the 1:st and 2 generations of bluegrass musicians ❤🤠 that is many doing so when they start coming to jams etc.

Billy is single handedly carrying the hippies through the 2010s and 20s Edit: songs like “home” are the reason i will always back the billy

@usmcchrisg

Жыл бұрын

The dude is legit and I'm a "get off my lawn" gen x critical bastard.

@victorkreig6089

Жыл бұрын

I really wish the hippies would just go back to grateful dead and give us some damn peace(and keep their drugs away from me)

I hit the LIKE note, and subscribed before even commenting. First video of yours that KZread brought me.

Marcel - thx for educating a complete bluegrass novice like me about the history of and trends within bluegrass…your humorous, informative and playful video covers a LOT of ground and your timeline accurately denotes the various times in my life when I’ve been exposed to “bluegrass” - often times unwittingly. As a bluegrass novice, I can tell you that up until about a month ago “Billy Strings” wasn’t even on my musical radar and now I seem to be seeing his videos all over the place. I’ll leave the evaluating of his skills as a bluegrass guitarist up to the pros like you but will say that unlike some of the others I heard and you mentioned, the one thing that helps differentiate Billy Strings to me is his vocals…as is the case with guitar players in general, there are zillions who can shred but the combination of mad skills and the ability to sing is rare. Thx again for enlightening me as I look forward to expanding my musical knowledge beyond “Classic Rock”. Cheers! - TGD

I think you missed a pretty key element here. Bluegrass is traditionally coded southern and conservative. That's not as true today as it was 30 years ago, but it's still very much there. Billy Strings is undeniably coded left wing. Not even just left wing, but drug using hippy left wing. A lot of people don't care about that, and will just look at the music, but a lot of those hard-core traditionalists look at that and see it as extremely distasteful. It's the exact same dynamic that happened to New Grass Revival. No matter how good his music is (and it is good, in my opinion), a lot or people are never going to welcome him into the tent because of what he represents culturally.

@LessonsWithMarcel

Жыл бұрын

For the first 15 years or so (1945-60) of bluegrass I would say that was true. But bluegrass has been a pretty mixed political space since the folk revival hit in the '60s. The first generation artists are the ones who did it too. Flatt and Scruggs we're touring colleges and Bill Monroe was semi-reluctantly playing festival shows to long hairs since near the beginning. A lot of people even think the hippies saved bluegrass in the 60s, that's a conversation for another time though. The idea that all of bluegrass is/was always coded conservative is more Hollywood propaganda than fact. Sure you can find hyper traditional small mom and pop festivals that feel that way but since the 60s bluegrass has had an equal or greater fan base with the liberal hippie types. With the political waters of bluegrass being so heavily mixed since near the beginning it seems like a moot point. Is that the issue keeping some people out? Sure. But that conversation was over 60 years ago when the hippies in the folk revival scene undeniably saved bluegrass record sales.

@blebla4

Жыл бұрын

@@LessonsWithMarcel Very interesting. 👍🏻

@robertwood4681

Жыл бұрын

I don't know what the politics of someone like Del McCoury are but he certainly looks and dresses conservatively. But when you see them together on stage it is obvious the mutual respect they have for each other.

Billy Strings is awesome. He is one of the most exciting milestones I have reached on my journey of discovery of bluegrass music. Perhaps you can say he has broken free from the more traditional constraints of the bluegrass mainstream, but we should celebrate the fresh energy and impressive competence he brings to the bluegrass genre.

Brother... This is great. My name is Joey Black... host on SXM Bluegrass Junction... This is right on. Billy Strings can play any Doc Watson and Ralph Stanley or Stanley Brothers songs you would ever want him to... and in the words of Bill Monroe "A Man's Gotta Make a Music His Own"... I love this and applaud you. Bluegrass fans... We Eat Our Own.

Why would anyone hate Billy . I’m 59 years old. I grew up with Bluegrass and Country,In North Carolina.I played percussion in Grade and High School. I was exposed to Many types of music. From Marches to pop music. I had an open mind then and now. I Think Billy is exposing many new people to Bluegrass. What can be wrong with that. There are purest in all types of music. I get that, I wish I had Billy’s talent. He can play whatever he wants to out side of bluegrass.l would envy anyone with Billy’s ability. Music 🎶 is in the ear of the the beholder.Multitalented musicians don’t come around very often.just pick out what you like Billy performs. Lighten up, enjoy the music 🎶

I am a sixty four years old guitar player and instrumental tutor and Billy is one of the great players that inspire me to keep me practicing and playing. He's coming to London soon and I have tickets to see his band. I can't wait x

@jimburns33

Жыл бұрын

Enjoy! Their live shows are quite the treat.

@hypnocracy6102

Жыл бұрын

Have a great time...the band is great too...I love Royal Masat on bass.

@chadmcginnis1731

Жыл бұрын

Your mind is going to be blown 🤯🤯

@thomasfoss9963

Жыл бұрын

I got to know Billy a little at a Bluegrass fest I've volunteered at for years in 2015/16-- Shuttled his equipment around from the various stages-- A down to earth kid who swears a little, but is loyal to the bluegrass genre!!!!!!

@dudeotis

Жыл бұрын

so .. how was the show ?

My first introduction to bluegrass was manzanita. I had heard of billy, and then i went to see him live. It blew my mind. Through billy strings’s live covers of traditional and other bluegrass tunes, i have dove head first into bluegrass. I have discovered artists like Larry sparks, Norman Blake, Jim and Jesse, the seldom scene, all of the ____ brothers bluegrass groups, doc Watson, vassar, Hartford……. Etc etc

Good video my friend! I’m one of those old guys who grew up with Bluegrass, and doesn’t see what all the Billy Strings fuss is about. I saw him in concert this summer at the Outlaw Country festival and enjoyed his set. I also like his back story. I wish him well, but I’ll never be a fanboy. I understand both sides of the argument. May he bring more people into the Bluegrass fold!

This was recommended today, based on my listening habits. Loving this articulate and humorous assessment of the old vs. new scenes! SUBSCRIBED.

This video is fantastic. I love the charts representing Billy's popularity... I was loloing the whole time. I personally love Billy... I like when he's on stage and he pushes other musicians out of their comfort zone

Music is a reflection of the times and changes along with the times. Tony Rice fused jazz stylings into his music and called it "New Acoustic Music". Billy Strings calls his music "Psychedelic Bluegrass". Both guitarists brought fresh air into an aging genre. And look at the evolution of "rock" music. It has come a long way since "Rock Around The Clock". Stagnation of anything breeds extinction.

@robertshorthill6836

Жыл бұрын

Mark Wilkerson. There was a time I felt very comfortable being waist deep in bluegrass music. Now days, even new stuff does't appeal to me as the stuff did from the 60s, 70s, 80s.-- Bluegrass Album Band days. Yeah, there are some great young pickers worth listening to, but the appeal is just not there as it once was for me. Playing old time mandolin /fiddle tunes like the Blakes did 30 years ago has stuck a chord with me more than all the lightning fast blazing speed that Billy, or Wyatt Ellis or Sierra Hull can throw at us. Mark O'Conner and Chris Thile are old folks with music these days. I have recordings of theirs I only listen to occasionally. I'm listening more and more to a classical music station when I work, if possible.

@eternallife9786

Жыл бұрын

Psychedelic bluegrass isn't that basically the flying burrito Brothers after gram passed?

@thomasfoss9963

Жыл бұрын

@@eternallife9786 Chris Hillman has been around a long time now---- From the Burritos to his own band, still playing festivals and solo shows!!!

@ejtonefan

Жыл бұрын

@@eternallife9786 Listen to the music.

@ejtonefan

Жыл бұрын

@@thomasfoss9963 Chris Hillman has does nothing in sustaining Gram's Burritos.

Great perspective, great video! Thanks!

When I got serious about learning to play the Blues and developing further with my Acoustic journey, I got exposed to some videos suggested by KZread featuring Billy Strings and Bluegrass and fell in love with it! That led me to you!

I'm a lifelong bluegrass fan, loved Flatt and Scruggs as a teenager, and I love Billy Strings!

@eternallife9786

Жыл бұрын

Even within flatt & scruggs they had different ideas about what bluegrass was supposed to be I was half the reason why that dynamic duo broke apart one wanted to incorporate bluegrass banjo into all styles and music other wanted to keep playing the same Kentucky folk songs

I think you did a great job on this video. I'm not a huge fan of Billy myself, but I can certainly acknowledge his guitar and vocal talent, and I'm not against people who like him. The part where you mentioned him bringing more people into bluegrass who end up later discovering other parts of bluegrass is a great thing. I want this community to keep growing and thriving, and even though I'm not a Billy Strings fan myself, if he's gonna bring a lot more popularity to bluegrass then that's great!

@bluesvillestation

Жыл бұрын

To bad more people didn’t think like you, instead of just flat out hating on people. ✌🏻

@capohd28

Жыл бұрын

Totally agree. Not my favourite either however I have to acknowledge his contribution to the community and we need people like him to keep our music viable.

@mikebastiat

Жыл бұрын

That's about my position. I can acknowledge his talent, but I'm not a fan boi. However, I don't really think that bringing thousands of stupid hippies into bluegrass music, which is kind of special and cultural to the Appalachian mountains, is a good thing.

@tobysshades

Жыл бұрын

@@mikebastiat way to be a gatekeeper for a musical genre.

Marcel….loved the video and your creativity in making it. Funny… informative…not slanted but inclusive of all BG tastes and styles. I love it all. So many different artists bringing in something a little bit different but maybe that’s what keeps it relevant. Keep up the good work buddy. I do enjoy what you’re doing here. Take care 👍

I genuinely do not understand how anyone could hate billy. He's just so damn wholesome

@johnmac333

Жыл бұрын

If by wholesome you mean covered in tattoos with a mutilated ear .

@sethcushingmusic

Жыл бұрын

@@johnmac333 man that's some hardcore judgement based off physical appearances.

@vvoof2601

Жыл бұрын

@@johnmac333 It's not 1955 anymore, grandpa.

@johnmac333

Жыл бұрын

@@vvoof2601 and you are why the West is imploding, punk.

@johnmac333

Жыл бұрын

@BMFS33 Oh that's right , your generation doesn't judge , has no standards at all. Ergo the demise of the West.

To me Billy Strings brings an edge and energy to Bluegrass that the best rock bands brought when they were on the rise. In a world of quantised cut and paste songs and over analysed arrangements it’s easy to overlook what really matters, feel and emotion. I love Bluegrass from all eras and each has its place. I look forward to discovering more songs and artists and being inspired to grab that guitar and push my skills further. That’s the magic we should be sharing and it’s what’s so great about this community Marcel has created.

@andocobo

Жыл бұрын

You’re exactly right

@DrewsReviews07

Жыл бұрын

Well said 👏🏼

I’m in the “Doc Watson and Tony Rice records being played on repeat by my stepdad “ category. Been a musician most of my life and this gate keeping phenomena happens in every genre. Pay it no mind!

@kennydavis2276

Жыл бұрын

I'm old enough to remember Tony Rice and Moon Unit being the bluegrass outcast. My early years were steeped in bluegrass and I loved all of the greats. But my older brother was sneaking vinyl into the house with names like Aerosmith ,Derrick and the Dominoes ,Led Zepplin and The Allman Brothers which made it hard to keep bluegrass in the forefront of my mind. To this day, I still watch an old vhs recording of Doc Watson and Tony Rice when I get a bluegrass itch.

@robertnewell5057

Жыл бұрын

How irritating that I read this after I posted. You said what did in about a quarter the number of words.

I'm OLD, old, old to bluegrass, but have always enjoyed the new "waves" of interpretation. Every one, nearly, I hold close to heart. I completely understand and love Flatt and Scruggs, and always will, but when someone like Billy comes around? I'm bound to listen and rever in the newer generation's complete mastery of the art.

I'm late to the party, just subscribed at 41.8K, This channel completed the Trilogy for me. Rick Beato, Proffessor of Zeny Eyeware and...What's this channel's name again? tHank you for the excellent video, the editing was Fab

Everybody wants change and progress until THEY have to change and progress - You're right on here Marcel! Billy isn't my favorite bluegrass artist but he is good and what he's doing for bluegrass is good. I hope we have more folks like him in the pipeline of bluegrass artists.

I think Billy is amazing both in his playing and his rise over hardship. Couldn't be more happy for Billy's success he seems like a humble guy.

@philmccrevis4493

Жыл бұрын

I hit Billy up on twitter several years ago, letting him know how much I admired his talent, and he actually conversed with me briefly. So, yes. He's not stuck on stardom.

@Jasper_Yay636

Жыл бұрын

Bill knew survival layed in them strings. Sounds like some addicts pulled out of the nosedive right about the bottom. Modern day Real McCoys gave the world a musical lesson.

My dad showed me the deliverance banjo duel in passing once, and a couple years later, the left foot rest of my VW that's still choochin around Germany is at least 3/4 of an inch lower because of cripple creek

Dude you are so awesome. You are one of the best things that has come along in Bluegrass as well. By the way, you also have your "haters". A guy in my weekly jam (old dude, very traditional...and also an excellent musician...and otherwise a really good person) complained that you were not teaching Bluegrass "properly". To which I thought.... "Really?". Anyway, you should be proud and keep up the good work!.

I'm 58 and grew up hearing Flatt and Scruggs the Osborne Brothers etc. and I love Billy's body of work. He's a very talented player and has obviously practiced his ass off and worked hard for every lick he plays. He loved Tony Rice and even ended up buying one of the last Santa Cruz T.R. prototype. He was showing it off on Facebook live. Lastly in my mind bluegrass was about moonshine and murder lol now the substances have changed with the times. Thank You Marcel for having guts to put this video out there, you're still the man. Peace

@guitarbill77

Жыл бұрын

He is the best entertainer of bluegrass to come alive .

@guitarbill77

Жыл бұрын

To come along

@powbobs

Жыл бұрын

@@guitarbill77 LOL, no.

I subscribed to your channel because of Billy. I used to hate Bluegrass until Saw Billy. I’ve been listening to Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Molly Tuttle, etc. because of Billy. What I believe makes Billy popular is he is an entertainer, and can play many different styles of music at his concerts. The other thing and probably the MOST important thing is he can sing and has a recognizable voice. Without that voice and personality, he’s just another good guitar player/flat picker.

@rockers2rockers616

Жыл бұрын

Bang on ! Billy has the voice of a crooner when he sings that way. He makes the world a better place.

@chriswagaman3668

Жыл бұрын

And he writes very good songs.

I just found your channel and absolutely love it

I loved that timeline segment you did. Funny and informative. When you said “I saw Oh, Brother Where Art Thou? and bought the soundtrack I spit out my drinking laughing. That was me alright

for me the gateway event was that first NGDB "Circle" album. i was in middle school. everyone was listening to Zep and i was blown away by Doc and Earl. as for Billy, he's superb. what's not to like? (btw, i saw Molly Tuttle and her brothers play in a pizza parlor when she was about ten years old. peak experience.)

@paytongoalie

Жыл бұрын

I think that NGDB album should have been a mention on the timeline.

Great video as always Marcel. I got into bluegrass in the 80's thanks to the Grisman Quintet and New Grass Revival. Being a jazz guitarist I would have probably not sought our the Bill Monroe or Flatt & Scruggs records I now own. I really enjoy your videos & love your guitar work.

This is very interesting. Great video and analysis, earned a subscriber. I came to it from an odd direction, I guess--my grandfather was a jazz musician and we played all kinds of things around the house. I got really into "Old" music, searching for the roots of everything, and O Brother Where Art Thou definitely helped push me deeper into Americana. I wouldn't even say that I'm a "bluegrass" guy, but probably a "Roots" guy. And it's very strange for me to see the bluegrass community (which I feel is as innovative as rock'n'roll) argue about traditionalism. It's amazing how many ways we can slice the Good Music pie, and how thin the slices are getting. Thanks for your work.

I grew up on bluegrass, from NC, have attended several live bluegrass shows long before Billy was even born. I can see the point from the "acoustic ONLY" crowd.....but, if you give Billy and those other 4 talented young men unplugged instruments. It is still magical and his fans love it just as much. I'm a huge Billy fan but can't understand the haters. There are no rules in music, that's the beauty of it. You can express yourself however you want to. As far as Bluegrass goes here locally, I would say it's very much alive. I stay not far from Lowe Vintage, Camp Springs Bluegrass Park and I grew up about 5 minutes from TR's house. Thanks for sharing this Marcel! Some very good points and great laughs. 👍👍

Remember Billy is a great songwriter and singer! That is the main reason he has so many fans. And the other factor it's called " Dead Heads " that is what made him huge in the music world. The next Garcia! I have posted many times leave Billy alone! He is not Jerry Garcia he is Billy Strings!!!

@Bluelightcheaphotel

Жыл бұрын

Ain’t no Garcia. You got that right 😂

@ExecutiveChefLance

Жыл бұрын

Its because all the "New" Jerry Replacement don't come from Bluegrass. Whereas Garcia did. And Billy live with all his covers is very Dead-esque so to speak. Not to mention killing his Grateful Dead covers. His phrasings and feel are the most Jerry like without him really trying to. Billy is gonna smote down John Mayer the Heretic and reveal himself the true Dead Prophet. You know just the Classic Jerry is Jesus type of stuff.

@cfcolly

Жыл бұрын

@@ExecutiveChefLance my dead head friends are pretty sure he deliberately makes his tours hard to follow cos he doesn't want all the lot kids follow him around

@briannefultonmiller2956

Жыл бұрын

The songwriting is it. You can be an amazing picker, but songwriting requires an extra skillset. People apparently like to diss Dust in a Baggie, but where else in any country genre do you see that kind of truth? Being from a small town in flyover country, it’s the first time I’ve heard a song that even addressed meth. It’s the story of so many people where I’m from, eating so many people alive. People should at least appreciate that he’s singing about real stuff. And the voice is amazing. I was a gatekeeper to indie music for a long time, and as I’ve gotten older, I realized how stupid it all was. Let people like what they like.

@tntkop

Жыл бұрын

@@cfcolly Really doesn’t matter what his schedule is; real fans will go wherever he is. I just saw him in OKC. Front row spot. The guy on my left drove down from Chicago. The guy on my right drove down from central Missouri. The guy behind me drove up from south Texas. And another guy behind me drove all the way from Florida. Fortunately for me, I live only 10 miles from the venue. LOL

Everything Billy plays is absolute gold. He, along with others like Molly Tuttle and her Golden Highway crew, Sierra Hull, Justin Moses and a whole lot of other young musicians are out there killin' it in really great and new ways. As side note: I played a festival back when I was in a Cajun band about 15 or so years ago, and Billy (along with Don Julin) were also on the bill. He wasn't yet old enough to drive, and he just amazed all that heard him. I knew then that he'd eventually make large waves in the music world, and here we are!

Billy Strings is a Tidal Wave of talent!!!....He is one Traveling Man!! Not many people make it big, like Billy...

Great presentation. Most enjoyable. Jarrod Walker graduated from my wife's band and into Billy's. Claire Lynch has lots of tales of how the Newgrass Revival caused "blue hairs in lawn chairs" to snap their seats loudly and grumble audibly as they waddled off to a trad act's stage at festers. BTW, the Claire Lynch Band had some dazzling, multiple guitar contest winners, like Matt Wyngate, Bryan McDowell, as well as Nickle Creek bassist Mark Schatz.

A discussion of the bluegrass snob types might be fun.

@jasonw4053

Жыл бұрын

Yeah man. I've never played with anyone as uptight as bluegrass players.

Like many of the other aging boomers who commented on this, I have been a big Billy fan from the get go. I am a conservative traditionalist, but you have to give an artist freedom to grow. No one would dispute that TR was one of the great bluegrass musicians of all time, but he left the banjo off many of the recordings!

I have been a metalhead for quite some time. But a few years back I was working at a bar in a small town that played country and got country bands in. I wasn't into it, but one night; they brought in a bluegrass band. And was instantly impressed. Afterwards, I found it hard to find any bluegrass bands to get into. It was nice to meet you marcel, and thank you for the awesome video

Where can I get a t-shirt like yours? It's cool. One of my buddies ordered a sweatshirt from the Rice University bookstore and had TR sign it after a set at Merlefest about 1997. He thought it was funny.

The crazy thing to me is that Tony Rice is literally “new grass.” and we accept him to be one of the best to ever do bluegrass. (right?) Rice was pivotal in the genre and he had haters because he was part of the cohort that made the guitar go from a piece of the rhythm to even leading songs. Plus he took contemporary music and made it his own style. He added jazz musicianship to bluegrass.

billy strings got me into traditional blue grass music. he is an impeccable influence and inspiration to the younger generation.

Really enjoyed the video. I feel that the Ken Burn's Country Music doc series should be a bluegrass cultural event as the series covered bluegrass until country grew from it.

Great video! It's interesting that O brother where art that has Ralph Stanley on it and isn't considered blue grass. I grew up watching Andy listening to blue grass. Doc Watson was always there to hype me up on my way to baseball practice

As a musician, it’s better to keep your mind open to all different genres of music, this kid can play the hell out of the guitar and he also plays many types of music, that’s how you grow as a musician and a person.

Billy is a young guy with an old soul and he knows and appreciates the history. He always pays tributes to the greats in his music and shows. Music evolves and so should the bluegrass purists. IMHO

@chuckrrose

Жыл бұрын

Good point, sir. Billy does a spot on version of “Miss the Mississippi and You”…even does a bit of a yodel…how many mill’s and Z’s have even HEARD of Jimmie Rodgers???!!!😮

@thomasfoss9963

Жыл бұрын

Billy does make reference to the greats- Like Doc Watson, Tony Rice etc--- But, I haven't heard him play any Bob Wills, Jimmy Rodgers, or Ray Benson yet either!!!! Lol---

Dude, great video! Great points too. I love Billy Strings, he’s great. I know almost nothing about bluegrass. But I certainly recognize an amazing talent. Same as when I heard New Grass Revival. Total super group. The Cream of bluegrass, in my rookie opinion. Keep up the great work. It’s very clear how much you love your work and your content is a definite reflection of that.

I like that you mentioned Wagon Wheel. Most people don’t realize that Old Crow Medicine show was discovered by Doc Watson himself, playing on the street in Boone, North Carolina.

people hate him so much that last time I tried to get red rocks tickets they sold out instantaneously

@markhusbands2037

Жыл бұрын

In terms of cultural moments I personally was first exposed to bluegrass in the late 80s with the then 15 year old Old and In the Way album. Guess what my main musical interest at that time was....I've met a lot of age peers (50s) that encountered bluegrass that way.

Billy might not be the guy who can play the fastest or whatever, but he has his own sound. His blues infused playing is heavy in sound and high in energy, and I think that's where the appeal is. People are craving for raw, organic music in the mainstream. So while most of his fans aren't bluegrass fans, he's a great gateway for the genre.

@jj339c

Жыл бұрын

You are correct. Billy has stage presence and can dazzle a crowd with his enthusiasm and personality.

So i just heard Billy Strings like 2 weeks ago and it's gotten me into bluegrass and I have found so many artists through youtube and really love it and even learned to play badly a few songs.

My buddy showed me Billy Strings about a month ago while trying to pick the guitar back up and found his style extremely satisfying to learn to play. Coming from a metal background in guitar over 12 years ago, BG sparked up interest to practice guitar on a daily basis again. My buddy continues to show me new music and I'm now regularly listening to Merle Travis, John Fahey, Doc Watson, Tony Rice, and Leo Kottle to name a few. Billy is one of my favorites cause he was the first that I truly enjoyed listening to in this genre of music. These guys shred heavy on the guitar. I love it.

Thanks for this video. Gatekeeping any art form, especially a folk art form, always rubs me the wrong way. Also: genres themselves have increasingly less utility for me as time goes on. Like many folks who love Billy, I came to his music via other 'Americana' artists, not to mention the Grateful Dead. But since listening to him, my ears have been opened to a whole bunch of traditional bluegrass artists I now love, not to mention tons of other music I'd never have tried on for size.

Great video. Billy’s an icon and pays a lot of tribute to a bunch of people from Doc Watson to Jerry Garcia. I think he mainly appeals to young folks who are getting into newgrass and also middle aged Grateful Dead fans. If you take just him playing acoustic by himself, he actually tends to play very traditional. But he’ll be doing that one minute and then the next be playing a psychedelic distorted acoustic-electric rock number whilst jumping around on stage in front of a smoke machine and laser beams. 😂 I like his guitar style a lot, but I’m not particularly a fan of listening to the music, mainly because of some of his lyrics. I do understand how a lot of people like him. Plus, he’s not just a guitar player, he’s a skilled vocalist and arranger. Also, not everything he does is bluegrass, and doesn’t have to be. I also think if you’re into guitar, you’re missing out if you ignore any other of the incredible guitar players who are technically as good as Billy, but have not gained the same amount of recognition. Either way, no, Billy Strings didn’t write “Don’t Think Twice, it’s Alright”

Huge Billy fan here. Great post and thank you. My early bluegrass influences were Garcia and Grisman and whatever the Grateful Dead may have put out that was on the bluegrass spectrum. Hence this is why Billy is so significant to me. I get deeper into bluegrass because of his more traditional fare while he expands the genre to include my jam band sensibility. He’s also broader than bluegrass so I can see why purest’s may not care for him. An old Grateful Dead proverb may just apply here: “They’re not the best at what they do, they’re the only ones who do what they do” So chalk it up to evolution! Keep up the good work. Billy got me to you and I like what you do. Btw, my favorite Billy KZread is with Bela Fleck playing Balderdash in Nashville. Check it out.

Cody played on my wife’s country record . He’s now in Jeramy Garret’s solo band. My wolfdog was in Jeramy’s music video.