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Poster: user unknown Date: Oct 10, 2022 9:52am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

Billy Strings is a talented young guitarist who plays a, sometimes sloppy and obnoxious other times quite impressive, metal-grass hybrid. What Billy Strings is not, is the greatest acoustic guitarist of all time, the greatest acoustic guitarist alive, the "future" of bluegrass nor a "Guitar God". He is simply a very talented instrumentalist who has caught the fancy of the listening public. IMHO, like every other "next big thing", he will be supplanted by another "next big thing" almost as quickly as that title was bestowed on him. Tommy Emmanuel and Molly Tuttle are as good, maybe better...though that is subjective rather than empirical.

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Poster: mcglone Date: Oct 15, 2022 12:52am
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

“sloppy and obnoxious other times quite impressive”.

Sounds very much like another guitar player that left us many moons ago.

Never once drifted into ‘best ever’ territory. I can attest he has that intangible ‘it’. The next performance he mails-in will be his first AND he has an incredible set of pipes.

A capella…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PTlH8fUwoW8



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Poster: SomeDarkHollow Date: Oct 10, 2022 1:13pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

Mando, consider the gauntlet thrown.

Not sure I agree he will be quickly supplanted, only time will tell that. I for one think he might be around a bit longer than that (though I have been know to be wrong in the past...even by folks other than my wife). I'm not going to say "he's the best thing ever", but I will say I really, really like his playing and songwriting. I also hate to say anything, or anyone, is the "best thing ever". All personal and all subjective, as you say.

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Poster: Mandojammer Date: Oct 19, 2022 1:01pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

You'll pardon my absence. I am navigating some life changes as I retire (for the second time). I woke up September 28th and for the first time since July 6th, 1979, I was not employed in service to this country we call home.

All good changes...

As to young Mr. Apostol? He is absolutely a generational talent, but IMO, that is because of the complete package he brings. IBMA Entertainer of the Year two years in a row, American Performer of the Year...all of those speak volumes to his appeal - as a band. Sure he's the front man and he has immense talent with Jarrod Walker, Royal Masat, Billy Failing and Alex Hargreaves around him. Collectively there simply isn't a hotter act touring right now. It seems like everyone wants to play with him or have him sit in. The fact that he's collaborating with such a spectrum of artists and genres speaks for itself. Hell, he's got a collab with Post Malone. Covering Johnny Cash no less! And their friendship is as real as it gets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XweYPuz1A-g

His knowledge of music is vast. He plays EVERYTHING and he plays it well. Is he fast and frenetic and sloppy sometimes? Maybe. But nobody out there is doing what he's doing.

Dylan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR-T2qTLF6o

Tommy Emmanuel (got rocked): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO8IwPbALK4

Willie seems genuinely impressed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c35AhWVucWc

Who played it better? If you ask me, Molly looks bored wrecking her fretboard cleanly and doesn't appear to be breaking a sweat keeping up. Game, Set, Match to Ms. Tuttle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJzz-Nuo-QQ

Is he "the best guitarist" out there? No, he's not. IMO, Bryan Sutton, Cody Kilby and Molly Tuttle are better pickers, but they are entrenched in bluegrass.

I firmly believe that comparison is the thief of joy. But William Apostol is going to be around for a long, long time at a level few before him have achieved. Let's hope the star doesn't burn too brightly.

He's easily one of the best guitarists I have ever seen live. That said, I have yet to see a performer who touched my soul like David Gilmour did at Earl's Court in 94. That solo on Comfortably Numb is hands down the best guitar solo I have ever seen. And I will fight anyone who says otherwise. (And since all my shit is old and worn down, I will cheat and fight dirty ;) )

In no particular order:
Pat Metheny, Michael Hedges, Bryan Sutton, Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Molly Tuttle, Paco de Lucia, Jason Isbell, Jeffrey Foucault, Kelly Joe Phelps, Al DiMeola, Lucas Mann, John McLaughlin, Wes Montgomery, Eric Johnson, Wayne Henderson, and yes, Billy Strings.

He needs to be on everyone's list. He's earned it. And he delivers it every single show.

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Poster: user unknown Date: Oct 11, 2022 1:38pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

Will me sorta "dissing" Billy Strings really bring the reclusive Mandojammer out of hiding?

Hey Mando, SDH says the gauntlet has been thrown.

Change my mind.

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Poster: Mandojammer Date: Oct 19, 2022 1:40pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

Hey UU - Mission accomplished...

It's not dissing if it's kinda maybe barely a tiny bit accurate. Sloppy? Rarely, but yes at times. Obnoxious? I've never seen it, but the hue and cry that goes up from the stoic traditionalists when he sparks up a blunt or a bowl on stage is comical. Seems like the current crop bolo tie wearing tight asses have forgotten Lester Flatt's fondness for cannabis? That's why his winning IBMA Performer of the Year last year was monumental and shook the very foundations of the bluegrass genre. I am constantly impressed by how deep his knowledge of the roots of bluegrass is. Just watch one of his Doc Watson sets. Close your eyes and listen - it's Doc.

Then he drops a nuke on the crowd with a blistering, trippy "Meet Me At the Creek".

Billy Strings is a generational talent and you need to stop being a grumpy and curmudgeonly old fart. Now that I'm retired, that's my job!

Perhaps a dirty sock rather than a gauntlet?

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Poster: Diamondhead Date: Oct 10, 2022 5:10pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: Who is Billy Strings and why does he keep following me?

Tommy Emmanuel is crazy good. I've seen some of his vids. Seems to be a good teacher too.