Watch: Billy Strings Debuts Trio of Originals on New Year’s Eve in New Orleans

Photo via Billy String’s Official Facebook/ Jesse Faatz

After two prior nights of pent-up anticipation, Billy Strings returned to UNO Lakefront Arena in New Orleans on Sunday, Dec. 31. The New Year’s Eve concert saw the band embrace a masquerade theme, donning costumes akin to the masked gathering. Mixed in with the evening’s typical offering of covers and originals was a trio of debuts, which landed during each of the three frames and featured “Seven Weeks in County,” “In the Clear,” and “Richard Petty.”

Set one commenced with a pairing of “The Fire On My Tongue” with “Bronzeback.” The band continued by adding “Watch It Fall,” followed by the initial cover of the night, “Katie Daley.” They collided into another original, “Home,” followed by the first debut of the night, “Seven Weeks in County.” The new song highlighted Alex Hargreaves’ gliding bow and Strings’ expressive approach to storytelling. 

The band’s next song, “Highway Hypnosis,” featured a tease of Bad Livers’ “Death Trip,” which gave way to original music and covers, including a take on Bill Monroe’s “The Old Mountaineer,” and added tunes, including the June 14, 2023 debut, “Be Your Man.” Set two opened with “Taking Water” into “Ice Bridges.” On the other side of the paired numbers, the band pulled out a rendition of “Sophronie,” followed by their second debut of original material. 

Prior to the first time play, Strings spoke to the crowd, mentioning that his band had only just learned the new tune, “In The Clear,” another number flushed with lush instrumentation, including mandolin and fiddle solos, courtesy of Jarrod Walker and Hargreaves, respectively. Set two brought forth a Walker-led cover of “Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine” and a pair of covers sandwiching “Pyramid Country.” 

For the night’s third and final frame, the midnight countdown ran on the screens behind the band, and confetti cannons popped off, marking the official launch of 2024, paired with “Home of the Red Fox” merged with “Auld Lang Syne 3000,” played on Casio DG-20 Synth guitar by the group’s frontman. 

The set boasted the final original debut, “Richard Petty,” which saw the band crowd around a single mic. Before the run-through of the new tune, Strings added that he wrote it on the bus ride to the show. The performance represented a high point of the night, flushed with harmony bestowed by the dynamic foursome. 

More originals and covers emerged from the night’s final debut, culminating in a finish after covering “Tennessee.” With String’s New Year’s Eve stand in the books, the musicians will step away from touring for a short stint, returning on Feb. 1 for a concert at the New York Philharmonic with Chris Thile as a part of The 65th Street Session series. Read more.

Scroll down to watch fan-shot videos of Strings’ debuts.

Billy Strings 

UNO Lakefront Arena – New Orleans 

Dec. 31, 2023 

Set I: The Fire On My Tongue > Bronzeback, Watch It Fall, Katy Daley, Home, Seven Weeks in County!, Highway Hypnosis@, My Alice, Long Forgotten Dream, The Old Mountaineer, Be Your Man > Thirst Mutilator, Slow Train

Set II: Taking Water > Ice Bridges, Sophronie, In the Clear!, Turmoil & Tinfoil, Show Me The Door, Nobody’s Love Is Like Mine#, Psycho > Pyramid Country > Ole Slewfoot

Set III: Home Of The Red Fox$ > Auld Lang Syne 3000%^, Know It All, Richard Petty!&, Love and Regret, Pretty Daughter, Fearless, Libby Phillips Rag, Hands On the Wheel, Blues Stay Away From Me, Meet Me At The Creek, Old Man At The Mill, Nights In White Satin, I’m Gone, Long Gone, Tennessee

Notes: 

! FTP – Original

@ “Death Trip” tease (Bad Livers)

#Jarrad Walker on lead vocals

$ Countdown to the new year ran on the screens behind the band and confetti canons were shot at midnight

% FTP on Casio

^ Billy on Casio DG-20 Synth guitar

& Billy Strings, Billy Failing, Royal Masat, Jarrod Walker around single mic