Billy Strings Set The Capitol Theater On FIRE
Holy Freaking Crap! I am still buzzing as I write this blog on Monday afternoon from the Billy Strings shows at the legendary Capitol Theater in Port Chester this weekend.
The Stoolies are asking for more music content from me in 2022. I am going to make an effort to write more concert reviews on the blog and see what happens. Please follow @BarstoolBackstage on Twitter & Instagram.
I tweeted out late last week that I was going to go to see Billy Strings at The Cap on Friday night and the their social media team saw it. They comped me 2 VIP tickets behind the soundboard Friday night.... what a world. Thanks a ton. I hit up my Barstool Sports producer Playboy Marty and off we went on the train from Grand Central Station.
I got caught blatantly taking a Disco Nap in the office late Friday afternoon in the office resting before the show. Dave Portnoy even picked it up and gave me hell about it on Twitter.
Our train stopped for 15-20 minutes because of ice near Harrison stop. Marty and I almost hopped off to take an Uber but they ended up fixing it in time for us to make the 8:30 show time. And what a spot we had behind the soundboard!
I could not ask for a better first show at The Cap. There is so much history in that theater going back to the Grateful Dead over 50 years ago. The theater has been on my music bucket list for years. It was literally Jerry Garcia's favorite place to play. Billy Strings four night run had a 1971 Grateful Dead experimental "Deja Tu" theme. He played Dead covers all weekend.
The venue was spectacular. There were about 2,000 fans at the show. Nothing beats seeing live music at intimate theaters to me. That is easily one of my favorite parts of the jam band world. The vibe, energy and history at The Cap were all top notch this weekend.
Now let's have a real serious talk about this prodigy Billy Strings. I am not a bluegrass fan. I enjoy some every now and then but it is usually not for me. I have been hearing about him from all my friends in the jam band world the last 3-5 years. I finally saw him last summer at the Westville Music Bowl in New Haven for the first time and could not believe the direction he took bluegrass. The best way I can describe it is he takes it straight to outer space. This dude freaking rocks! The jams are insane. I have never seen anything like it.
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Bily was playing Grateful Dead covers all weekend as part of the "Deja Tu" theme based off the 1971 Grateful Dead Cap shows. He played "Me And My Uncle" on Friday night.
I had such a blast with Playboy Marty at the Cap that I knew I had to come back for the finale Sunday. This is life at 38 for me. I can't do the 3-4 night runs anymore but I can pick and choose my battles. And every veteran music fan knows to NEVER MISS A SUNDAY SHOW!
Billy Strings came out blasting hard again on Sunday. In the middle of the 1st set, he even went up to the balcony to play down to the stage below!
Once again on Sunday, the vibe, energy and history were all on full display at the Cap. It immediately jumped into my list of favorite theaters in the country.
Billy played two Grateful Dead covers on Sunday, "Peggy O" and then he finished off the special 4 night run with "US Blues"!
What a weekend at the Cap! I already cannot wait to get back there to see another show and I assure you fellas that I will be seeing more Billy Strings again sooner than later! Thanks again to Tyler & Steph at the Cap for hosting me.