Guitar hero Billy Strings brought six string tricks and delightful treats during another Halloween concert to remember Friday night (10/31) in Baltimore.
The baby-faced 33 year old and his gathered guests knocked out a two-set monster spectacle at CFG Bank Arena called Meet Me at the Creep: A Classic Halloween Performance with a setlist of covers, originals, and laughs.
Strings (guitar, vocals) was dressed as The Wolf Man was joined by Royal Masat (bass, Dracula), Billy Failing (banjo, Bride of Frankenstein), Jarrod Walker (mandolin, Frankenstein), and Alex Hargreaves (fiddle, also Frankenstein).
Special guests popped in throughout the night at the venue originally known as The Baltimore Arena, including Vince Herman (guitar), Drew Emmitt (mandolin), Alwyn Robinson (drums), Andy Thorn (banjo), Jay Starling (dobro), and Greg Garrison (bass) from Leftover Salmon, Cris Jacobs (guitar), Cory Henry (keyboards), and the Charm City Coven string trio of Adele Stein (cello), Celia Hatton (viola), and Ariana Molello (fiddle).
Together they jammed on a stage decked out like a foggy cemetery and summoned the spirits and sound of bluegrass, rock, and horror tunes stirred up in caldron for 14,000 lucky souls, many of whom were dressed in costume as well.
There was even pyro.
Whoever is responsible for his setlist deserves an extra full sized candy bar. Strings kicked the night off perfectly with the only #1 hit by an albino, Edgar Winter's epic "Frankenstein" (which was produced by Rick Derringer, who also played guitar and sang on the track, who sadly died earlier this year).
It was followed by the on-the-nose Dylan cover "Tombstone."
Other covers through the night came via The Beatles, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Warren Zevon, Ozzy, and even your long lost pal Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
You haven't lived until you've seen the Wolf Man play "Fire" in front of a blood red moon backdrop with the ease of a phenom who clearly traded his soul at the crossroads for such talent.
Add this to an ever-growing list of memorable Halloween shows Billy has crafted that include beautiful music, witty production, and top shelf costuming.
Last year you may remember he fronted an O Brother Where Art Thou theme at the same location in Charm City.
Give another bag of treats to whoever arranged the strings for the cover of Randy Newman's Oscar-winning "You've Got A Friend In Me."
And yes, now I only want a mummy to play that beautiful violin intro going forward. Don't you?
Likewise you may have heard of Tyler Childers. This summer you probably remember he played a free gig at a sandwich spot in East Nashville where he live debuted a ton of new tunes.
One of them, "Bitin' List," fell under our radar but now that Billy has shined a light on it, how is this not a new Halloween staple?
To put it plain, I just don't like you
Not a thing about the way you is
And if there ever come a time I got rabies
You're high on my bitin' list
The production and musicianship were so next-level you'd think the concert the next night at the arena would be a replay of Halloween.
But no, it was a completely different 25-song set that concluded with a Jackson Browne and then Phish cover to wrap up his two night whirlwind.
Billy is a road dog, so he has many more shows lined up for the end of this year and next including a night at the Ryman.
Grab your tix on his website while you can because many of the shows are already sold out, for good reason.
