#billy failing

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Billy Strings - “Burn the Other End”

“Burn the Other End” is a riff disguised as a song.

The track announces the Aug. 28 arrival of Billy Strings’ So Much for Goodbyes. It’s a nearly five-minute vamp with a gang-styled chorus that includes guests Jack White and T Bone Burnett.

This will break/I just can’t/so I will burn the other end, they declare.

Bluegrass at its core and recorded with Strings’ longtime band of mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat, banjoist Billy Failing and fiddler Alex Hargreaves, “Burn the Other End” indulges guitarist’s fondness for echoey vocals and effects-laden instruments; in this case Hargreaves occasionally sounds like an electric guitarist.

The quick-to-grow tiresome number seems an odd choice for a lead single, but Sound Bites has learned Billy Strings songs often come into their own on stage and Billy Strings studio albums often do not reflect Billy Strings on stage.

Time will tell.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “Burn the Other End” - C+

7/1/26

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Billy Strings - “A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy’s Grave” (Live, Oct. 24, 2025)

For all they do to expand and redefine the boundaries of bluegrass, Billy Strings and his band are perfectly comfortable - totally at home, even - within the genre’s traditional confines.

The truism is clear as the sound on a just-released, in-concert video of Strings and the fellers performing Ralph Stanley’s “A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy’s Grave” on Oct. 24, 2025, in Alabama.

This is complex stuff that seems simple because of the dexterity that goes into both the playing and Strings, Jarrod Walker and Billy Failing’s harmonies on the chorus. Fiddler Alex Hargreaves, mandolinist Walker and guitarist Strings are the featured soloists but banjoist Failing and bassist Royal Masat are no less essential to the song’s success; their supportive roles make the other stuff possible.

It’s the pristine quality of music like this, old-timey but with a 21st-century clarity, that makes Strings’ genre-busting all the more invigorating. There’s virtually nothing these fellers cannot do.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “A Robin Built a Nest on Daddy’s Grave” (Live - 10/24/25) - A

5/20/26

[krispyweiss]

Billy Strings Refreshes “King of the Hill” Theme for Series Reboot

- “Yahoos and Triangles” is now a bluegrass number

“Yahoos and Triangles” is now a bluegrass number.

Otherwise known as the “King of the Hill” theme song as recorded by the Refreshments, “Ys & Ts” got a bluegrass remake courtesy of Billy Strings, his longtime band and guests for the animated series’ reboot.

Guitarist Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat, banjoists Billy Failing and Russ Carons, fiddlers Alex Hargreaves and Billy Contreras and drummer Jamie Dick leave the melody intact. But they supplant rock ‘n’ roll instrumentation for the bluegrass variety and the Refreshments’ Whoo-hoo! is now Strings’ Yee-haw!

Seem right?

Yep.

8/8/25

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Billy Strings - “The Fire on My Tongue” -> “Know it All” (Live, April 4, 2026)

The “->” that stretched out between Billy Strings’ April 4 versions of “The Fire on My Tongue” and “Know it All” was a work of art unto itself.

Passing through tempo shifts as the band employed varying levels of effects and toyed with bluegrass, reggae and psychedelia, the transition sounded like something that might someday morph into a song of its own as it bridged the opening selection of Strings’ gig in Florida and the livestream giveaway from the show.

“The Fire on My Tongue” was its typically fiery self with high-test instrumentation and spirited, fine-tuned harmonies from Billy Failing (banjo), Royal Masat (bass) and Jarrod Walker (mandolin). Alongside fiddler Alex Hargreaves, the players came out of the gate ready to roll.

Which they did - straight through the exhilarating transition to “Know it All.” Retaining the enthusiastic perfection of “Fire,” Strings yelled between verses and screamed on his axe; everyone else - bandmates and audience members - were right with him.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “The Fire on My Tongue” -> “Know it All” (Live - 4/4/26) - A/A

4/5/26

[krispyweiss]

Song Review: Billy Strings - “Thirst Mutilator” (Live, July 23, 2023)

Billy Strings is no traditionalist. But few people of his generation play traditional bluegrass the way Strings and his band play traditional bluegrass.

This applies even to original compositions such as the instrumental “Thirst Mutilator” as performed July 23, 2023, in Vermont and just made available on amateur video synched with soundboard-quality audio. Concise and uncluttered with the effects Strings often brings to his live performances, the song sounds both old-timey and new-fangled, the mark of a masterful piece of writing.

With bassist Royal Masat providing the requisite footing, Strings kicks it off before passing the spotlight from his acoustic guitar to Alex Hargreaves’ fiddle to Billy Failing’s banjo to Jarrod Walker’s mandolin; it then heads back to Strings. Each soloist pokes at the track’s infectious theme while taking the opportunity to thread his own in-the-moment inspiration into the sonic tapestry.

It ain’t traditional - yet. Check back in 50 years; however, and “Thirst Mutilator” is likely to be considered a bluegrass standard.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “Thirst Mutilator” (Live - 7/23/23) - A

7/3/25

[krispyweiss]

Song Review(s): Billy Strings - “Richard Petty,” “Happy Hollow” and “Malfunction Junction” (Live, Nov. 12, 2025)

Billy Strings and (most of) his band didn’t so much walk on stage Nov. 12 in as they sauntered on to a back porch in New York state, where a single mic awaited.

With non-singing fiddler Alex Hargreaves off stage - he’d shine shortly - Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjo picker Billy Failing sung a barbershop version of “Richard Petty.” It was perfect - a funny, serious and on-key promise to get off my ass and be on my way.

When Hargreaves emerged, the band grabbed their instruments and stayed put for the unamplified, pure bluegrass of “Happy Hollow.” Meeting at the intersection of melodic ensemble playing and tight harmonies, the quintet continued its march toward full electricity, which powered up on the powerhouse instrumental “Malfunction Junction.”

Everything functioned just fine, thank you very much, as the musicians plugged in, dug into their instrumental prowess and - with three songs in a livestream giveaway - gave a broad overview of their many abilities.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “Richard Petty,” “Happy Hollow” and “Malfunction Junction” (Live - 11/12/25) - A+/A/A

11/13/25

[krispyweiss]

Billy Strings - “Taking Water” and “Ice Bridges” (Live, April 18, 2026)

Billy Strings turned “Water” into “Ice.” And he did it with heat.

Strings and his band were onstage April 18 in Virginia beaming a livestream sampler of “Taking Water” -> “Ice Bridges” to fans who couldn’t make the gig. And lest any of them felt better about missing out, Strings gave them reason to reconsider.

“Taking Water” demonstrated guitarist Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat, banjoist Billy Failing and fiddler Alex Hargreaves were warmed up well before showtime. The quintet were so raring to go, in fact, Strings briefly hit a speed bump at the mic and the band needed to downshift before lighting into “Ice Bridges.”

Though the “->” was slightly clunky, the song was Zamboni-smooth. As it continues to evolve in the live setting, the instrumental “Ice Bridges” provides opportunities for all the soloists to do their thing as Masal flawlessly locks on to the revolving door of rhythm players to hold it together.

And that is how Strings used heat to turn “Water” into “Ice.”

Grade card: Billy Strings - “Taking Water” and “Ice Bridges” (Live - 4/18/26) - A-/A

4/19/26

[krispyweiss]

Billy Strings - “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song” and “California Sober” (Live, April 17, 2026)

Billy Strings and his band got into some singin’ before they got into some pickin.’

The former came in the a cappella intro to “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song,” with the latter right around the bend. It was April 17 in Virginia and once Strings, mandolinist Jarrod Walker, bassist Royal Masat and banjoist Billy Failing proved their voices ready to go, they picked up fiddler Alex Hargreaves and hit the gas.

Strings paired the high-test, straight-bluegrass number with “California Sober” and passed it to his fans as part of the livestream sampler from the aforementioned gig.

Without the benefit of studio collaborator Willie Nelson, Strings rearranged “Sober” to fit his band’s style and instrumentation. But Strings made sure to nod to his buddy via a short-but-unmistakable run up the neck of his acoustic guitar.

Grade card: Billy Strings - “Leaning on a Travelin’ Song” and “California Sober” (Live - 4/17/26) - A/A

4/18/26