Billy Strings has been through a lot in his young life. He was raised in a poor family surrounded by drugs; lost his dad, uncle, other family members and friends. Some of his songs reflect that: "Dust in a Baggie", "Turmoil and Tinfoil" and "Cocaine Blues." Luckily, Billy was able to survive that and go on to become the incredible talent he is. Also, he went to his old elementary school with 200 guitars and gave them to the kids. What a great guy!
Thanks for another great reaction to Billy Strings! Billy loves and respects all the old greats and pays tribute to them and helps keep their music alive by doing amazing covers and you can see their influence in his original stuff. Two of his original songs have direct connections to the Grateful Dead; the lyrics to Thunder were written by the late Robert Hunter. Bill Kreutzmann, drummer for the Dead, asked Billy to write the music. The other song came from a dream Billy had where Jerry Garcia said to him "Down by the river the waters cold. I used to have a girl but that's alright." When Billy woke up he sat down and wrote Love and Regret with those words as the opening lines.
Thanks Jamel. I needed some Dead and Billy Strings is so amazing! In that last summer tour in 95, the show Jerry got the death threat, I remember coming around from backstage and hearing the first few notes of this and just thinking, nooo way. Jerry standing there singing this after he heard that morning some guy was gonna come in an murder him- it was surreal. The whole time, it was surreal.
These record labels or lawyers can block these videos but they don't know what value it adds to their artist. I just spend a good hour reading all about Billy Strings and listening to his new music album he made with his dad. Reactors are some of the best FREE advertisement they have. I sure hope they start to realize this and leave my brother Jamel alone.
Billy is so talented and loves to pay tribute to older artists. I have seen him play Hendrix, The Beatles etc and does so beautifully along with his own great tunes. Thanks so much for posting!🦋
I watched a video just today of Billy Stings doing a Black Sabbath cover of War Pigs and it was fantastic! Also Billy and Willie Nelson video of “California Sober”
I love Billy Strings, but I’m still pretty new to his music. I found him through listening to Doc Watson, so I’ve been listening more to his blue grass music in a trio. This is terrific! You might like his tongue in cheek song “If Your Hair’s Too Long.” He makes a reference at the end of the song which ties those influences together.
I have a fantastic idea! Not surprised? I know. Me either. "Red Hot Mama" - by The Funkadelic. ( The real Funkadelic, not that Discodog stuff) It IS THE FUNKIEST SONG EVER RECORDED.
I love Billy! Jamel- the greatest acoustic guitarist on earth hails from Australia- Tommy Emmanuel! He plays everything and has the sweetest personality. Anything by him is great- try Blackbird.
Thank you fine human for sharing this one. I hadn't seen it somehow in my deep dive into this kid's music. You gotta get to a show if you haven't already. It's quite the spectacle.
If you're just discovering Billy Strings you are in for a real treat! He's an unbelievably talented guitar player and singer who has assembled an equally talented touring band. He loves and respects all the old greats and helps keep their music alive with well played covers but he also has an extensive catalog of original songs with both meaningful and relevant lyrics and amazing music.
Thanks so much for bringing this to us. I really appreciate your reactions and your humor. I have always loved Dire Wolf. Never had a clue what the song was about. But it always put a smile on my face, in spite of the fact that the chorus is “Please don’t murder me!” Then again, they had another upbeat lighthearted song called Friend of the Devil. They were a great, live, tight jam band but the Hunter Garcia duo wrote some really great songs.
Jamel, there is a rich trove of Grateful Dead covers done by independent artists like this guy. It is called "Songs of their Own", and many appear on a channel on CZcams called JamBase (not a promo- I have no financial interest in any of it, just a fan!) I urge you to react in particular to a group called West End Crew and their cover of "Throwing Stones". It shows a couple things: first, how much the Dead can appear to a much younger generation and second, how versatile the Dead's music is, as WEC's interpretation is VERY different from the original. There is a deep mine of material for you and your DeadHead subscribers here to plow through!
‘KEEP GREAT MUSIC ALIVE’ Merch and More jamel-aka-jamal-youtube-store.creator-spring.com/
Billy Strings has been through a lot in his young life. He was raised in a poor family surrounded by drugs; lost his dad, uncle, other family members and friends. Some of his songs reflect that: "Dust in a Baggie", "Turmoil and Tinfoil" and "Cocaine Blues." Luckily, Billy was able to survive that and go on to become the incredible talent he is. Also, he went to his old elementary school with 200 guitars and gave them to the kids. What a great guy!
How’d he lose his dad if he just made an album with him?
@@jamesdavis6490 It's his stepdad, who has been his real father figure since he was a toddler.
@@jamesdavis6490 That's his step dad.
Cocaine blues is well over a hundred years old and far from a Billy Strings song but I love his take on it!
I love Billy Strings. I'm old now and I used to say that there are no new artists out that I like but Billy and a few others made me eat my words.
Yup....anyone who sez there isn't any more great musicians and music, are clueless, to say the least....
Thanks for another great reaction to Billy Strings! Billy loves and respects all the old greats and pays tribute to them and helps keep their music alive by doing amazing covers and you can see their influence in his original stuff. Two of his original songs have direct connections to the Grateful Dead; the lyrics to Thunder were written by the late Robert Hunter. Bill Kreutzmann, drummer for the Dead, asked Billy to write the music. The other song came from a dream Billy had where Jerry Garcia said to him "Down by the river the waters cold. I used to have a girl but that's alright." When Billy woke up he sat down and wrote Love and Regret with those words as the opening lines.
Pretty amazing . Thanx for this young sir!
Grate reaction, Jamel!!
Go see them LIVE! It’s an experience you will never forget.
Thanks Jamel. I needed some Dead and Billy Strings is so amazing!
In that last summer tour in 95, the show Jerry got the death threat, I remember coming around from backstage and hearing the first few notes of this and just thinking, nooo way. Jerry standing there singing this after he heard that morning some guy was gonna come in an murder him- it was surreal. The whole time, it was surreal.
These record labels or lawyers can block these videos but they don't know what value it adds to their artist. I just spend a good hour reading all about Billy Strings and listening to his new music album he made with his dad. Reactors are some of the best FREE advertisement they have. I sure hope they start to realize this and leave my brother Jamel alone.
Billy is so talented and loves to pay tribute to older artists. I have seen him play Hendrix, The Beatles etc and does so beautifully along with his own great tunes. Thanks so much for posting!🦋
Glad you got around to doing another Billy Strings perfomance. Hope you do some more. Also, look into doing some Molly Tuttle.
Love Billy! ☮️💜🎶
You've gotta watch his Halloween show from Ashville! He's an amazing live performer. The vibe they all have is great.
I watched a video just today of Billy Stings doing a Black Sabbath cover of War Pigs and it was fantastic! Also Billy and Willie Nelson video of “California Sober”
Check out the version where Bob Weir is singing, and Jerry Garcia is on peddle steel!
I love Billy Strings, but I’m still pretty new to his music. I found him through listening to Doc Watson, so I’ve been listening more to his blue grass music in a trio. This is terrific! You might like his tongue in cheek song “If Your Hair’s Too Long.” He makes a reference at the end of the song which ties those influences together.
Jamel i think you might like like a song by Joni Mitchell…. NIGHT RIDE HOME 😊
Thank you, love what you do
I appreciate Billy carrying on the Grateful Dead legacy. Checkout Billy singing Thunder.
IMO he is not carrying on their legacy Billy is his own genre.
Thunder is amazing live!
I have a fantastic idea! Not surprised? I know. Me either. "Red Hot Mama" - by The Funkadelic. ( The real Funkadelic, not that Discodog stuff) It IS THE FUNKIEST SONG EVER RECORDED.
Thanks for this. If Billy comes around- get your tickets! One of the best live shows I've seen.
i got mine, plays here in April
I love Billy! Jamel- the greatest acoustic guitarist on earth hails from Australia- Tommy Emmanuel! He plays everything and has the sweetest personality. Anything by him is great- try Blackbird.
I heard of Billy recently and watched some of his videos. Now I think he is really great!
so happy watching Billy carry on the Grateful Dead legacy. Check out Billy playing Thunder.
Thank you fine human for sharing this one. I hadn't seen it somehow in my deep dive into this kid's music. You gotta get to a show if you haven't already. It's quite the spectacle.
Kid? He's 30 years old, for chrissake! Older than Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison and the rest who joined the 27 Club.
Thanks for turning me on to this young mans lovely talent!
If you're just discovering Billy Strings you are in for a real treat! He's an unbelievably talented guitar player and singer who has assembled an equally talented touring band. He loves and respects all the old greats and helps keep their music alive with well played covers but he also has an extensive catalog of original songs with both meaningful and relevant lyrics and amazing music.
Loved it.
Thanks so much for bringing this to us. I really appreciate your reactions and your humor. I have always loved Dire Wolf. Never had a clue what the song was about. But it always put a smile on my face, in spite of the fact that the chorus is “Please don’t murder me!” Then again, they had another upbeat lighthearted song called Friend of the Devil. They were a great, live, tight jam band but the Hunter Garcia duo wrote some really great songs.
Man I love your videos. Lots of great from the heart analysis that makes me feel it.
You should check out Billy's song "While I'm Waiting Here".
Here we go !!
good cover of the Grateful Dead
Jamel, there is a rich trove of Grateful Dead covers done by independent artists like this guy. It is called "Songs of their Own", and many appear on a channel on CZcams called JamBase (not a promo- I have no financial interest in any of it, just a fan!) I urge you to react in particular to a group called West End Crew and their cover of "Throwing Stones". It shows a couple things: first, how much the Dead can appear to a much younger generation and second, how versatile the Dead's music is, as WEC's interpretation is VERY different from the original. There is a deep mine of material for you and your DeadHead subscribers here to plow through!
Jesus! Jerry lives!
Please react to Billy covering wharf rat. His best cover of the dead in my opinion
grateful dead tune...
Good rendition