Face-melting good.
When Billy Strings leans into his rock and roll/metal past, you know you are in for a treat. The bluegrass living legend has talent that expands well beyond his flat-picking skills for those readers who might not know.
Growing up, Strings learned how to play guitar from sitting around campfires and watching family members pick country and bluegrass covers. After playing bluegrass for most of his childhood, Strings stepped away from the genre to explore other musical facets. During his time away, he played in a metal grunge band but eventually returned to his roots. The headbanging on stage makes sense now, right?
Check out this throwback picture Strings shared last year from his metal days.
The combination of Strings’ bluegrass knowledge and the stage presence he learned from being in a metal band is in part why his shows are so captivating. He broke the mold of traditional bluegrass, where players stood still on stage playing their music. He started to dance for the audience, blending in jam band style playing, creating a magical experience. It also means that Billy Strings intertwines bluegrass with traditional rock and roll songs that he loves, creating a one-of-a-kind cover.
Strings pulled out a classic from Led Zeppelin during his O Billy Where Art Thou themed Halloween show, “When The Levee Breaks.” Originally written and recorded as a blues song by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929, the song is about the devastation of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. But then in 1971, legendary English rock ban Led Zeppelin recorded it for their 4th career studio album, Led Zeppelin IV. It’s the version that most music lovers know and adore, and Strings amped it up a notch when he channeled his inner Jimmy Page and pulled out a custom cherry red custom Gibson EDS-1275 double-neck electric guitar. As the fog clears from the stage, it unveils Strings, which leads the band on guitar, flawlessly executing the iconic guitar riff. Instantly, you recognize the song, and while the band keeps the integrity of the track, there are bluegrass flairs showcased early on in the cover, which makes it their own.
After the lengthy intro, Strings steps up to the microphone and belts out the lyrics, showcasing his impressive vocal range. Strings gets help with the lead vocals from Lindsay Lou, who absolutely knocks the vocals out of the park. Lou has a set of pipes on her, and she’s not afraid to show them off as she belts out the chorus, leaving fans’ jaw dropped.
“Cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good
No, cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do you no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move, ooh
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
Thinkin’ ’bout my baby and my happy home…”
While Billy Strings often adds a jam portion to his covers, given that “When the Levee Breaks” is a seven-minute tune, he stayed on the song’s course, keeping the composition very similar to how it was done, adding little “Billy Strings Flair.”
Billy Strings does not miss this cover, which shows his diverse knowledge of music and ability to execute many genres.
Check it out.
