A Billy Strings Asheville Review Nobody Asked For

Billy Strings‘ recent extended visit to Asheville, NC was the talk of the town for well over a week. In addition to six sold-out shows at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena, Strings’ fans filled restaurants, shops, and hotels throughout Buncombe County and brought a much-needed economic boom to the city still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

One man who certainly understood the impact of Billy Strings’ Asheville run was Josh Blake. The singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer/bandleader/mover-and-shaker has been an integral part of Asheville’s musical DNA since moving there in 1997. Since then, he’s helped establish Echo Mountain Recording Studio as a jewel of the Southeast, recordings albums by the likes of Greensky Bluegrass, The Avett Brothers, Dawes, Steep Canyon Rangers, and Justin Townes Earle, plus live, in-studio performances by The Marcus King Band, Sylvan Esso, lespecial, Daniel Donato, and even Billy Strings back in 2017 when Asheville’s Drew Matulich was still on mandolin.

So, like any good local music-lover, Blake made his way to one of Billy Strings’ Asheville shows. Typically running the prodigiously prolific Iam AVL stream team that broadcasts live music from all over town for free on YouTube, Blake got the night off and was able to enjoy Strings’ Sunday finale as a casual observer. Here’s his Billy Strings review that nobody asked for.

The Billy Strings concert review nobody asked for…..
Damn, it’s cold af out. That’s not good for acoustic instruments I hope they got some heat in this here building.
Smell test: Against all odds and despite the general look of the crowd walking in, does not smell nearly as bad as a King Gizz show.
I brought two joints. One for me and one for the other 6000 folks. I hope it’s enough, shit is strong though.
Personal disclaimer for professional reasons: Dear Harrah’s Cherokee Center Management, I would never ever smoke inside this establishment 🤪
ISO POC
I was gonna wear a hat but didn’t and now regretting it cause there’s some kind of clothespins on a hat trend here and I got neither, feeling out of place a little.
OMG I know this song they started the show with!! But I’ll never understand how he did 20 years and still looks so young.
Where’s the drummer??? How do you do an arena show with no drummer, this is insanity.
Some hippie just brought a potted plant into the bathroom and is looking for a stall. I have so many questions.
I heard Billy Strings likes to go out to Phish but I haven’t heard him cover a single one of their songs yet.
There’s one section of the floor where if you’re a dude I think you are supposed to dance shirtless. I’d equate this area to the hallway at a dead show but less skirts and spinning and more shirtless bouncing. Carry on…
There is no way this banjo is still in tune. Must be a 3D printed AI banjo or something.
Stickley!! 😍😍😍
That’s a whole lot of 32nd notes right there.
Woah woah woah – who let an electric keyboard into this acoustic band. Somebody’s getting fired in the morning.
Oh wait they are playing Phish at set-break, the rumors were true after all!
These trippy visuals are doing a lot of work for us rn, thank you Mr. Live director and Resolume guy.
Jerry tones time. Jerry has entered the building.
Ok now the video is dissolving in and out of the banjo player’s face but he looks like Jerry with the video effects and Billy is shredding with an envelope filter. I check in with my friend and he thinks he sees Jerry on the screen too. Solid nod.
The men’s restroom line is longer than the women’s. My wife says that never happens so there must be 10x more dudes here than ladies.
The Boricua also says this jam needs more cowbell….no surprise there though.
Squirrel is looking like he drives a tractor right now with a camo hat and a beard. He said he’s moving to a farm I think but also I might be confused because “Movin To A Farm” could also be the name of one of these songs.
Woah all of a sudden this show has become clothing optional….This is an obvious late development she had to work up to, her clothes are right on the floor next to her (wouldn’t put those back on).
Casually not staring but also making sure she’s not getting creeped on either cause that’s brave af in this crowd. Everyone seems chill, back to the musics fun.
OH I GET IT NOW. The audience is the drummer, the bouncing crowd is doing the drummer’s job. Way more affordable and less gear to pack for tour, smart thinking from the fiscally responsible Mr. Strings.
That dude’s hat had A LOT of clothespins – he must know the names of all these tunes.
Meet Me at the Creek ended the second set – today is the 19 year anniversary of our our first date and that date was a walk down by the creek, how the fuck did Billy know this???
Stickley back for the encore ❤️❤️❤️
There are people in the bathroom now singing the lyrics to this encore, Like the bathroom is now a hillbilly choir all of a sudden.
Big respect. He hugs his fans who have been up front dancing and sweating the whole. Super endearing, also ewww.
A++ jam grass outfit with incredible skill, visuals, production, and generally tolerable fanbase, will go again!!
*Editors Note: We’ve been seeing this kid since 2016, always working video production though, so it was nice to finally see a show from the audience perspective and not work. Billy is a real one, truly cares about his fans and how he got to where he’s at, immensely talented and remarkably humble. He has incredible management who’s been with him the whole way up, and has built one hell of a production team. Couldn’t have happened to a more genuine dude. Thank you for choosing Asheville for a 6 night party, and for bringing some much needed life and dollars into our local economy. Long live BMFS

Billy Strings is back at it this weekend with a two-night run at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on Friday and Saturday. Find tickets on Ticketmaster. Stay up to date with Josh Blake’s myriad musical projects and occasional unsolicited concert reviews by following him on social media.