I'm left thinking about you dear, while I'm waiting here." The crowd singing loud, following the message and feeling the pain, but believing every single word and enjoying the agonizing story of love and separation. This is a song about enduring a love relationship from behind bars, in agony thinking about being with that person though sentenced to 30 years and wondering if they'll be there for you when you get out, singing the lyric "Seems like the last time, feels like the first, thought I've had bad days, this has to be my worst. A barn burner if you will! Next up was the ballad "While I'm Waiting Here" also from their freshman effort Turmoil and Tinfoil. All the while, Royal Masat was laying down the groove on upright bass, leading the way for each player to find new passages through each verse. This song turned to a spacey jam, ending with Billy on fire, twirling his long gorgeous locks like a 1980's hair band guitar player, again trading licks with Billy on banjo. Ripping into How Mountain Girls Can Love, a nod to The Stanley Brothers, "Get down boys, go back home, back to the girl you love", a theme of love was evident and quickly building. Trading off with both Billy Failing, a banjo god and Jarrod keeping it tight with smooth mando playing.
Up next was the instrumental song Pyramid Country off their first effort, Turmoil and Tinfoil, which starts dark and mysterious, psychedelic in nature, but then Billy comes out of nowhere with the smooth bluegrass licks. The harmonies in this song are fantastic and it is important to note that each of these musicians are a master at their instrument and the way they craft songs, apparent in the first quick mandolin solo from Jarrod Walker, teasing and picking fast, but letting up quickly to let Billy sing. Opening with a crowd sing along favorite "Hollow Heart", from their new album "Home", the crowd began to shift gears fast.
The soul he sings with tells a story like you want EVERY story to be told. The vocals match that of a 60 year old well seasoned singer, strong and raspy, who has been on tour for 20 years. But the thing that continues to blow me away, is when he begins to sing. Their set was masterful and the perfect way to set the stage for a weekend of music and love!īilly Strings brings a fresh new style of playing to the table, fast and intricate, jammy when necessary, but always bluegrass in its form. The soul that Grammy Award winning Debrissa McKinney (Agent 23 Skidoo) incorporates into this music electrifies the stage, while keyboardist and producer Lenny Pettinelli lays down thick layers of whirling Hammond and guitarist Kelly Hannah noodles through each tune with intricate playing.
They started the weekend off right playing to a crowd that was ready to get their feet moving. Based in Asheville, ESB just released their second studio album, "Brassterpiece Theatre" and man it lives up to it's name with a ton of groove from a fantastic rhythm section and most highlighted by a powerful horn section that creates tons of depth within the music. If you dig the horns with soulful vocals and deep funk and rock that keeps your toes tapping, then the Friday opener, Empire Strikes Brass, is for you.
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