The incident played out during “While I’m Waiting Here” at the guitarist’s Sunday night show in Berkeley, California.
By Scott Bernstein Aug 20, 2024 • 8:09 am PDT
Strange things happen under a Super Blue Moon as displayed on Sunday at Billy Strings‘ second of two performances at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California. Strings stopped his band in the middle of “While I’m Waiting Here” to address scuffling audience members.
“While I’m Waiting Here” bled out of “Must Be Seven” after a show-opening run that included the pairing of “Away From The Mire” and “The Cuckoo,” “In The Clear” off Strings’ forthcoming Highway Prayers album and the guitarist’s debut performance of the traditional “Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom.” William Apostol noticed a fight had broken out in the crowd, let his axe fall and told his band to “fucking hold up.”
“I know you’re not trying to start a fucking fight at my show,” Strings exclaimed. He watched the situation continue. “Can you guys figure it out, man? You know what they say about people who start fights at concerts … little pecker,” Apostol quipped before picking up where he left off in the Turmoil & Tinfoil classic.
The incident appears to have started when a concertgoer wearing a robe ran across a ledge erratically and dancing in front of other fans. One audience member took the situation to a physical level as he seemingly shoved the robe-wearing Strings devotee. A bit of a melee ensued leading Strings to address the crowd.
Watch Billy Strings play peacemaker at The Greek during “While I’m Waiting Here” in the fan-shot video below:
| 00:00:00 |
Billy Strings went big on the subsequent wild version of John Hartford’s “All Fall Down” after advising the crowd “to look out for one another and chill.” He then returned to Highway Prayers for “Escanaba,” played “Dealing Despair” and ended the frame by calling back to his Saturday night sit-in with Peter Rowan and the Sam Grisman Project in dusting off Rowan’s “Bound To Ride” for the first time since February.
More rarities were performed in the second set on Sunday. Strings broke out both the traditional “Froggie Went A-Courtin” and Greensky Bluegrass’ “Letter To Seymour” for 2024 debuts. “Froggie Went A-Courtin” was performed as a duet with banjoist Billy Failing. The closing stanza was also highlighted by the second live performance of new single “Leadfoot” and an expansive “Hide & Seek.” Billy Strings covered Bill Monroe’s “Uncle Pen” as the encore to bring the show and run to a close.
Check out more audience-captured video from Strings’ Sunday show at the Berkeley Greek:
| 00:00:00 |
Billy Strings ends his summer tour this weekend with a two-night stand at the iconic Forum in Los Angeles. Free livestreams are available for nugs.net subscribers.
Set One: Away From The Mire > The Cuckoo, In the Clear, Garfield’s Blackberry Blossom [1], Must Be Seven > While I’m Waiting Here, All Fall Down, Escanaba, Dealing Despair, Bound To Ride
Set Two: Dusty Miller, Heartbeat Of America, Gone A Long Time,Leadfoot [2] [3], Pyramid Country > Show Me The Door, Big Mon, Home [4], Froggie Went A-Courtin’ [5] [6], Know It All > Letter To Seymour [7], Hide and Seek
Encore: Uncle Pen
- [1] – FTP – Traditional
- [2] – Billy Strings on his Masterton ML-1: Missing Link Béla Fleck Series Baritone Banjo
- [3] – Billy Failing on guitar
- [4] – Billy Strings on his “Bride” Preston-Thompson D-SBA Custom guitar
- [5] – Billy Strings & Billy Failing duo
- [6] – Last Time Played 2023-07-23 | 85 shows
- [7] – Last Time Played 2023-11-17 | 47 shows
