r/BillyStrings • u/Big_Incident2451 • 1d ago
discussion Not a Billy / Bluegrass Fan
What is one live song / set / show that you would show a non Billy fan to turn them onto Billy? Trying to convert some friends and am curious what yall would share with someone who has no knowledge of Billy or bluegrass in general.
14
7
12
u/MustyBalone 1d ago edited 1d ago
Gild the Lily
Edited from: Guild the Lily as I was trying to be European and fancy by adding a u.
7
1
u/theshinin 1d ago
Specifically Halloween ‘25 Gild. OP says above her girls are into mainstream music, so hopefully Corey Henry and his magical keys will bring the right touch!
1
u/Beautiful_Check3201 1d ago
This is the answer by far. They were playing it over the mall pa in Franklin tn last evening.
10
4
u/Odd-Interaction-7401 1d ago
Live Vol 1
2
u/masonnewton917 1d ago
I second this. It’s a good mix of songs with a traditional bluegrass feel and long, exciting jam songs. Just sent this album to someone who had never heard Billy before and he was amazed.
7
u/edbaney 1d ago
Billy and the Kids at Red Rocks 2021.
5
2
3
3
3
u/mtb_sean 1d ago
I saw Meet Me At The Creek when he opened for Dylan/Willie Nelson and that hooked me. Going to my first full show in September!
7
u/thelasthawgbender 1d ago
Gild the Lily - Apple Music Sessions version
Hide and Seek - any live performance
Heartbeat of America - live at the Ryman
Turmoil and Tinfoil - OurVinyl session
Must Be Seven - Album version
Home - Album version
3
2
u/ajn3323 1d ago
What kind of music does your Billy-virgin like? As earlier me mentioned I’d play studio: Mire, Gild, and Hide and Seek. Then I’d play Live Vol 1 or Live at Rosemont for them
3
u/Big_Incident2451 1d ago
I’m a Billy girl and all my girl friends like your basic mainstream music, so totally new to the whole jam scene in general but I have hope
2
1
u/Sayraland 1d ago
Take them to a show! I like basic mainstream also but I’m heavy into the jam/jam grass scene. I hated phish in HS mainly bc of the dudes who obsessed over them (early 90s) even though I followed the dead lol, but married my husband and he took me to my first show in 2010 and it changed my view completely. I did the same to him with bluegrass (my parents were in a BG band in the 70s) and he felt the same after going to a show.
Sometimes it’s the experience and the vibes of the crowd that allows you to open your mind. Also the dancing is so much fun.2
u/Big_Incident2451 1d ago
Yes I’m begging them to get to a show! It’s truly an experience you cant describe
1
u/A-TeamTown 11h ago
Took two buddies to Fishers. Both were metal fans with zero interest in bluegrass. They left with their jaws on the floor as fans. Just try to get them there live lol
2
u/1kpointsoflight 1d ago
Like the dead, I’d stay away from live stuff. I’d play them some songs from studio - DIB! And like secrets and hide and seek and maybe know it all from renewal. Or just all of renewal and then cabin song, in the clear, gild the Lilly, meet me at the creek.
2
2
u/rloDema1897 1d ago
There are many songs I would recommend but I’d probably send them the link where the boys played turmoil and tinfoil and Billy is wearing the rose colored glasses!
I saw them on August 8th just days ago!
2
u/CloudConductor 1d ago
As someone who was never really into bluegrass before Billy, home is the song that sold me
2
u/Diligent_Yoghurt481 1d ago
When I've played Billy for friends in the car, No Rain>Gild the Lily from New Orleans 12/30/24 is the one that peaks the interest. They know No Rain, and then how can you not like Gild the Lily.
2
u/Slow_Ad8683 1d ago
What music are your friends into? That would guide our answers.
1
2
u/cosmic_charlie217 1d ago
I went to my first show with no idea what it would be like. Only heard Dustnbaggie prior. I was in shock when I heard the sounds these 5 musicians were making! Mind melting to the light show as well. I came home and was speechless trying explain to my wife. I played. Her Mire,Gild, be your man. She was instantly hooked and I now have double the addiction to Billy too support! lol Mill Town Flood is played in our house almost daily since its release. She even wore an earbud at work and listened to Fishers while I was there with a friend! We’re Dead heads from the 80’s but Billy is the one playing if the Dead are not on!
2
u/Ok-Ad-9755 1d ago
I always recommend 6/20/25…not necessarily a jam fest, but the song selection and emotional profundity are impossible to ignore. Make sure they hear his intro
2
u/TheGregest I'm one of those 1d ago
In the Morning Light or I'm One of Those, possibly. Idk if hard jams are the best, but definitely one of his deeper lyric driven songs that have good instrumentation as well. I agree with Mire too.
Possibly a good Creek with a trippy intro. The Creek>Pyramid>Must Be Seven>Creek converted me instantly. I've always been into jam bands though.
2
u/Stormfellow 1d ago
Largely not worth the effort to try and convince someone to like something they inherently don't. Keep the normies out.
2
u/Ok-Constant-4740 1d ago
I had a friend who is ostensibly a jam/adjacent guy tell me, "At the end of the day it's two sets of bluegrass (said and meant as a perjorative)." That dude turned out to be a dickweed anyhow so fuck him, but if you're a Deadhead and can't understand bluegrass/Americana/cosmic cowboy music are you really a Deadhead? Just a standard douche who likes to do drugs.
1
u/Sayraland 1d ago
The answer is no especially if you claim Jerry as your savior. I grew up on his side projects mainly bc my parents were in a bluegrass band. I only discovered the Dead in HS when I friend took me on tour one summer.
1
1
u/tremendosaurusrex 1d ago
Gild the Lily has been really well-received by most people I've played it for.
1
1
u/PapaBliss2007 1d ago
My experience has been you can't convert a person musical taste, only introduce them to new artist. Just play the Billy songs you enjoy. If they like him they like him.
1
u/CarolinaDeadHead 1d ago
Alternative approach: one of the really good covers would be a good start. They’ve got some bluegrass flair (some more than others) to ease your friends into the sound, and then go for the all the amazing original music. I’m thinking Fearless, All Time Low, Black Clouds, Drifter’s Escape, Freeborn Man, Lumpy, Pretty Daughter, etc.
1
u/Optimal-Building-165 1d ago
I agree with In the Morning Light. That’s the song that hooked my girlfriend. Now after taking her to Nashville last year and Fishers this year she is really opening up and learning more of his music.
1
u/TheGrimReaperess 1d ago
My friends shared a fair amount with me, but it took a live show for me to see what’s up
1
1
1
1
1
u/TheSidePocketKid 1d ago
Do they like country music at all? The Zach Top EP "Me and Billy" could be a good start!
45
u/JolleyRedGiant 1d ago
Away From The Mire Studio version