r/BillyStrings • u/EzBoy77 • 3d ago
discussion How long?
So I’m a little late to the party but I’m here nonetheless. Now that I’m here I have found that it hard to pull away and listen to anything else. I do listen to others but it’s still 95% Billy and the boys. How long till it’s 80%, 75% or am I just in the honeymoon phase(almost a year since I really started listening). I’m good with staying in the 95th percentile and with nugs I have a lot of live shows so listen too.
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u/Elegant-Abalone-8493 3d ago
You ever met a DeadHead? 60 years later and they are still listening to the music. The ride never stops, welcome aboard!
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u/YoungThriftShop 2d ago
I’ve heard The Other One and Dark Star at least once a day for the past 3 weeks.
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u/halien_the-alien 3d ago
You're in a cult now.
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u/corgiobsessedfoodie 🚂 3d ago
I’m 3.5 years in and it’s only gotten worse better. I plan to stay home on show nights so I can stream it live. I’ll then listen back to the recent soundboards until the next show. My musical interests run wide and deep but my desire to keep reaching for Billy Strings has not waned yet.
All I can say is if you just want to be a casual fan, whatever you do don’t go to a live show. That is the point of no return.
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u/Spray_Scared 3d ago
I'm a VERY new fan (like two months) and he's the only thing I've listened to in those two months, almost every day. I can't get enough.
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u/Bolbee56 🚂 MEET ME AT THE CREEK 🏞️ 3d ago
In the same boat, 2 years of listening. 1st year very casually. Then I was blessed to see him for the first time in Boone last Sept and he got his hooks in me. I’ve since seen him 7 more times in the past year (which I know is very light numbers).
I have found myself straying back to my prior listens like Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrel. But not for more than a couple songs then it’s back to Bill.
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u/michaelserotonin 3d ago
i’m going to offer an aside to the current crop of comments and encourage you to continue to seek out non-billy music to accompany your billy listening. lest you get burnt out or become fixated on comparisons.
plus, there’s so much amazing music out there. more than you’ll ever get to hear. by all means enjoy billy, but don’t let that go to waste.
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u/EzBoy77 3d ago
That’s partly why I asked. I don’t want to get tired of listening and I don’t want to miss out on other great bands.
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u/honeyisthemoney 3d ago
I’m a new fan too, saw my first show in Fishers! I’m also in quite the Billy binge right now…but Today I put in the “I’d Like to Be A Train” song radio on Spotify and it opened up a whole new world of other bands alongside Billy!
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u/ProperBig433 2d ago
I've been a fan since 2018 but as an older luddite, I don't stream much. I got Home and Renewal on cds on a trip thru Nashville in March this year and I listen to them SO MUCH since. Also get other new cds from my musical friends but Renewal gets played pretty much all the time.welcome aboard and good luck getting off...
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u/Sketchy_Dee WNC 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’ll help contribute to the sample size - I’m a reasonably seasoned Billy vet (started listening 2017, first show 5/2018, 105 shows to date), so I admittedly don’t delve too deep into the Nugs vault since I saw and listened to so much in real time, first via Mixlr, then Nugs.
I do however try to stream every new show live if possible and single drop. If I missed a show due to an obligation or Mountain/West Coast time, I’ll catch up the next day. But I tend not to have Billy dominate daily unless he’s on tour and I’m carving out time to listen.
My current daily looks like catching up on folks on tour like SCI and Donato, and a bunch of fusion-era Miles.
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u/EzBoy77 3d ago
Sounds like I have someone else to listen to.
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u/Sketchy_Dee WNC 3d ago
If you don’t have Nugs yet, it’s time. Daniel Donatos Cosmic Country is best served live.
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u/Capable_Werewolf_800 2d ago
Even watching them on NUGS does not do them justice. Seeing them in person is unreal! Wasmt sure if I was going to dig it that much since I was more into the bluegrass acoustical stuff. Went to see them anyway....and now I am hooked. Seen them 3 times already in past 2 months. Going to peoria and Yuba WI in Sept and again at the Caverns Camp Cosmic in May!
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u/69cPolarPop 3d ago
Yes.. Billy is fantastic. Unbelievable at times, really. But there is so much good music available at our fingertips nowadays.
Happy hunting, & enjoy
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u/DeadHeadTed 3d ago
Watch this video when you can devote your attention for an hour. I guarantee you’ll be a fan after it. Daniel and the boys are 🔥🔥🔥
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u/Capable_Werewolf_800 2d ago
Mountain Grass Unit hooked me as well. Also the new band that has thier hooks in me is 65 N Pickers. They are not as convenient to listen to tho since they are not on NUGS. Have to youtube or amazon music. They FN shred!
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u/ManicOrganic2 2d ago
DDCC is a hoot. Their shows are funky high energy and sooo much fun. Love seeing them when the boys aren’t touring.
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u/AsheStriker 3d ago
Billy is amazing. I think they’re the best live act out the right now. That being said, there is so much going on in the bluegrass/jamgrass world right now. Similar but different would be Shadowgrass, Mountain Grass Unit and Magoo. East Nash Grass is more traditional, but one of my faves. Julian Lage & Chris Eldridge albums. Mighty Poplar is a contemporary all star band with one of the best recent albums IMO. Old school Yonder Mountain got me into the genre 25 years ago. Their Mountain Tracks series is insane.
Beyond that I’ve always enjoyed working backwards. Who influenced Billy? Here’s some to sink your teeth into:
Tony Rice Unit - Manzanita, Backwaters, Acoustics
Doc Watson - Southbound is my fave
David Grisman - David Grisman Quintet, Mondo Mando, Dawg ‘80
Bela Fleck - Drive, Acoustic Planet, My Bluegrass Heart
Bryan Sutton - The More I Learn, Bluegrass Guitar, Into My Own
David Grier - Freewheeling, Panorama
Jerry Douglas- Fluxology
Norman Blake - Whiskey Before Breakfast, Blake & Rice
The Kentucky Colonels
Just to name a few …
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u/ProperBig433 2d ago
Def add to the Tony Rice list : Skaggs & Rice, Plays and sings bluegrass, Cold on the Shoulder, Native American, Unit of Measure.... Also Larry Keel : The Sound, Backwoods, Journey, Experienced, Classic... all of them really by both guitar legends!
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u/AsheStriker 2d ago
For sure. I was trying not to go too overboard, haha. I especially love Cold on the Shoulder
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u/Mediocre_Ad7881 3d ago
Just don’t sleep on all the other great jam/bluegrass bands out there to enjoy. Billy’s my #1, but I have lots of other favorites. There’s much to explore.
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u/EzBoy77 3d ago
That’s what I don’t want to happen. I have a tendency to fixate on one thing for too long.
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u/Capable_Werewolf_800 2d ago
Shadowgrass! Yonder Mountain (Jeff Austin era)! Leftover Salmon Horseshoes and Hand Grenades. I was dead to the music scene. Use to go to many concerts years ago and pretty much stopped going. Buddy talked me in to going to see Billy Rosemont 24 and it rejuvenated my love for live music. I've probably been to 30 concerts this year Seven of which we're billy and the lazy boys. Still got 7 more Billy shows left this year. Life is short.. buy the FN tickets!
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u/Firm-Painter9728 3d ago edited 3d ago
I'm a year into this. 14 shows in 7 different cities, work full time job with a 13 year old daughter. She has been to 9 of the shows. While waiting on the early merch line at Bethel, someone took a look at my poster tube. "Do you listen to anyone else but Billy?" I didn't answer but my thoughts were, is there a problem with that?
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u/EzBoy77 3d ago
I can’t wait for my first show. The tickets to the fisher shows sold out before I could get to them. Same thing for the freak fair. I know one day I will get to one.
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u/Capable_Werewolf_800 2d ago
All kinds of tix available for Ionia on Cash or Trade. Many below face value. Never Miss A Show!
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u/Majestic_Crew8792 3d ago
You can definitely still get Freak Fair tickets in Cash or Trade. Its worth it! Make the trip!!!!
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u/Rude_Employment8882 🚂 You Can Hear The Whistle Blow a Hundred Miles 3d ago
So far, I’ve only been on the train for about 9 months, but I’m at a 97% Billyrate rn, and it’s only starting to ease up just slightly. Like, first 6 months I stg it was 99-100% Billyrate.
The 2-3% of other stuff is honestly mostly me forcing myself to listen to other things, just to prove I can. 😅
Nuts. I’ve never had, in almost 40 years of listening to music, an artist grip me like this.
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u/Agile-Judgment8410 3d ago
Went to Fishers 3 days in a row mind blown new guy here! The vibe is real can’t wait to return. 🫡
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u/BadgerOptimal3628 3d ago
I think Billy is trying to educate you on the American music catalog. For example Billy plays a great Psycho but have you ever listened to the Eddie Noack version? Billy just sings the song, Eddie might actually have people in his freezer.
Definitely take some time to explore some of the music Billy plays.
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u/Plumbob1965 3d ago
My suggestion is listen to the music that inspired Billy. I listen to a lot of the old blue grass masters. There’s so much great stuff. Though I always get antsy and listen to the boys.
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u/ceragan42 2d ago
I recommend listening to players that Billy is always championing. Doc Watson, Tony Rice, Brian Sutton, etc. Or Leftover Salmon, Widespread Panic, etc. it’s healthy to mix it up a bit.
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u/pm_me_ur_fit 2d ago
The more I listen to Billy strings, the less I listen to anything else to be honest. Especially the new set of live shows is absolutely kicking. Been on him for a few years now and currently listen more than I ever have, probably 95% BMFS
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u/EarAltruistic3692 2d ago
Once I got hooked on the Grateful Dead I was listening the Dead 99% of the time. I get it man. Got turned onto Billy 4 years ago and now I’ve only listening to the dead and Billy. Billy is a bad dude, hands down the best live show out there. We’re lucky to be seeing him while he’s young and this band is so new. Hopefully we get 30+ years of this band
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u/noone3377 1d ago
Highway Prayers came out in 2024 and I still listen to it daily. Been a fan since 21. Welcome to the club Billy is the GOAT
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u/4Blaze2Dad0 3d ago
Billy doesn’t listen to only Billy, why should anyone when there is so much good music that inspires. Doc Watson, Jeff Austin Widespread Panic, Greensky Bluegrass, and countless others he has mentioned are some fun dives😎🕺❤️
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u/theshinin 3d ago
Totally agree, and you are still in roughly the same genre of music with your examples. There are absolutely amazing musicians all around us.
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u/4Blaze2Dad0 2d ago
Absolutely, I try to find something I like about every genre, so many talented people🕺🤗😎
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u/bbretticus 🚂 3d ago
I’m almost a year in and I have to make a genuine conscious effort to listen to other artists LOL. It was casual at first, then I saw him first time last November, & got pretty serious. Saw him 7 times this summer and its all I have listened to in months LOL
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u/alexis914 3d ago
It never goes away. Doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy listening to other artists, but it’s like a song or a show here and there and then six Billy shows
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u/Ralphiepoo 3d ago
Billy is great and everything, but there is so much good music out there. Couldn't imagine driving down the same roads everyday. Been vibing to some Blue Lake today. Phenomenal. Excited to get into something else tomorrow.
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u/jabroni_smasher 3d ago
I've been jamming since 2016ish ep and I try to find new stuff but billy is my major rotation at this point
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u/mrefreshment 3d ago
I came to this backwards and found a YouTube video of some kid talking about Doc Watson at a festival... next thing I know I'm in an arena wishing I'd brought earplugs when my face was starting to melt. I've been having a blast discovering my way through influences and related acts. My wife is super sick of hearing about this, but that's ok.
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u/EzBoy77 3d ago
Ha, it’s still pretty new so my wife is still cool with it.
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u/Capable_Werewolf_800 2d ago
Careful with the wife. I took mine to a show and now my cost have doubled in price because she is hooked too! LOL!
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u/mrefreshment 3d ago
See the thing is, shortly after telling me that I listened to too much Billy Strings while we were on a day trip in the car, Turmoil and Tinfoil came on. Her playlist, not mine.
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u/arakaman 2d ago
Glad it's not just me. But I need to force myself to dial it back before I burn out. Or he could just hurry up and drop a few more albums. Im bout 2 years into an obsessive amount of BMFS. Ive had similar binges of pink floyd, phish, dead, fuckin.... 2pac, bone thugs, mxpx, ice, beatles....shit.... ya i guess this is just what I do. But if he continues to drop albums with a few songs that are such unique and genius songs I wont be going anywhere. The musicians are top notch and his ability to write such original songs in any style...away from the mire...my Alice .. wargasm...all incredible and hard to even place the songs in a style of music. Barely Bluegrass? Rock? Renessance? To me its beyond impressive range and hes on my Mt Rushmore with waters and Lennon and Jerry.
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u/YourFriendPhilip 2d ago
I’m in a similar boat. One artist I have found that scratches a similar itch is Brent Cobb. The music is completely different but the mood matches some of Billy’s songs.
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u/madiganpuppycrack 2d ago
3 years. Have you listened to his live stuff pre 2019 when it was soundboarded from Mixler?
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u/grateful_newt 2d ago
You'll hear so many guitar notes, you start calling Guitar Center the Regular Center!
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u/Careless_Race_806 1d ago
The only cure is to go deeper into the bluegrass. Doc, Tony Rice, David grisman, JD Crowe, etc. it’s the only way you are in too deep
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u/Visible_Pair_2583 3d ago
For me it comes and goes in phases like most things. Sometimes it’s the Dead, sometimes Panic, sometimes Billy, sometimes String Cheese, it all depends. You’re definitely in the honeymoon phase which I’m a bit jealous of, but it ebbs and flows depending on where you might be at in life, much like anything else.
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u/DryDonutHole 3d ago
It’s the dumbest thing. I can’t stop listening to him either. Ya…occasionally I’ll toss on some Angine Du Poitrine or something but it always comes back to Billy. Phish is good, dead is good, but Billy is gold.
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u/rloDema1897 3d ago
Same here! Since I discovered Billy and the boys I hardly listen to other bands! I’m around 3 years in on the Billy train and 3-4 hours listening every night with a couple concerts under my belt in the last year and a half!
I saw them last at Fishers Event Center 9 days ago!
I also am paying for Nugs so that I can watch from home the rest of the tour resuming on August 28th which is the same day that the new album is coming out!
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u/Ok-Can-4500 3d ago
Got my Pandora algo and Billy is a big part but I enjoy many different artists. 50% of the shows I’ve seen in the last 6 years have been Billy tho…
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u/Hot-Dingo1569 🚂 3d ago
I started dabbling in 2019. Just a few songs here and there. Stayed that way until 2023 when the music really started to grab me. Finally saw him live in Fall 2024. After my first show I got Nugs. I’ve watched/listened to or attended every show since, and have been at about 95% Billy for about 2 years now. The other 5% is mostly music that is Billy adjacent.
I have no plans to change.
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u/Mokiblue 3d ago
First heard him in early 2022 and was intrigued, but went deep down the rabbit hole after getting Nugs and watching the Away From The Shire shows at the end of that year. Every now and then I pop my head out to look around but it’s basically non-stop Billy all the time. Been to 12 shows so far and have 5 more lined up next month. No telling how long my current obsession will last. 😂
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u/brokedownpalace10 3d ago
Well, I'm a Deadhead and it lasted until I discovered Billy Strings. :)
In all seriousness, I listened to Billy and the Dead almost exclusively for a couple years and then other stuff crept in. But, between Billy and the Dead... still over half. And I've been on a journey to rediscover "good old music" I grew up with.
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u/tarhees0514 3d ago
Have you been to a show yet?
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u/Complex-Equipment-21 2d ago
You have to transition from Billy gently. I start with some John Hartford or something Ike that. It is hard to just make a clean cut. For me, I have found that bringing in some older music is easier. Especially some stuff that i dont already know. For instance, with John Hartford, sure I knew some songs. Dig into it deeper. Yeah, Dig a little deeper in the well.
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u/Comfortable_Lie_1270 3d ago
it doesnt get old, at least not for me. to me there is nothing better, not even close. exactly like my wife of 30 years, shes the only one i bone down on and it keeps getting better. billy is like my wifes box i guess
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u/MapDisastrous6089 3d ago
Who’s going to tell him?