Billy Strings Shares Pro-Shot Video Of Grateful Dead, John Hartford Covers From Capitol Theatre [Watch]

Billy Strings has shared a pro-shot video of the band’s Grateful Dead and John Hartford covers at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY back on January 18th. The video sees Billy Strings covering Hartford’s “All Fall Down” and the Dead’s “Wharf Rat”.

Set one of the performance contained a combination of popular originals, like “Pyramid Country” and “Dust in a Baggie”, and covers, such as The String Cheese Incident‘s “Black Clouds” and Little Feat‘s “Willin'”. “All Fall Down” then opened the second frame. This rendition of “All Fall Down” contained all the hallmarks of Hartford’s original, replete with soaring vocals and a tension-building progression. Strings stretched it far beyond the original three-minute runtime, as it appeared on Hartford’s 1972 album, Morning Bugle. Around the four-minute mark, the band launched into a deep improv section that allowed Strings to flex his pickin’ muscles. The dark and spacey jam segment built slowly, but steadily, back towards the song’s chorus before segueing to the next tune.

Here, mandolinist Jarrod Walker and banjoist Billy Failing added some excellent melodies to the opening progression of “Wharf Rat”. After a few measures, String began to sing the Robert Hunter/Jerry Garcia collaboration. Vocals dominated this track, with Failing and bassist Royal Massat adding harmonies on the “But I’ll get back” section. The quartet left some time for a solo, which Strings took with his acoustic guitar running through a distortion pedal. Below, watch Billy Strings perform “All Fall Down” and “Wharf Rat” at The Capitol Theatre on January 18th, 2020, and scroll down for a detailed setlist.

Billy Strings – “All Fall Down” > “Wharf Rat” – 1/18/20 [Pro-Shot]

[Video: Billy Strings]

Strings was set to embark on a tour with Jason Isbell this summer, however, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in those plans. Head to his website for the latest tour date information, including all rescheduled performances.

Setlist: Billy Strings | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 1/18/20

Set One: Slow Train, Likes of Me, Pyramid Country, Must Be Seven, On the Line, Home, I’ll Remember You, Love in My Prayers (William “Billy” Hayes cover), Jerry’s Breakdown (Old & In the Way cover), Dust in a Baggie, Willin’ (Little Feat) cover, Black Clouds (The String Cheese Incident cover)

Set Two: All Fall Down (John Hartford cover), Wharf Rat (Grateful Dead cover), Hollow Heart, Ernest T. Grass (The Dillards cover), Air Mail Special (Jim and Jesse cover), She Makes My Love, Away From the Mire, Long Forgotten Dream, Wild Horses (The Rolling Stones cover), Old Train, Turmoil & Tinfoil

Encore: If Your Hair’s Too Long (There’s Sin In Your Heart) (traditional cover)