Billy Strings crushes Doc Watson's "Streamlined Cannonball" 7/23/23 Essex Junction, VT

Billy Strings performs Roy Acuff's "Streamlined Cannonball" on July 23, 2023 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction, VT. Brought to you by Less Than Face Productions.

[@normhoward1752]

I am 68 years old, and have been listening to Bluegrass since I was 18. Bluegrass is in great hands Billy.

[@crocodilegrundee4514]

Yes it is!

[@JeromeMcCarthy-cb8vc]

Was born in 68, been listening to Bluegrass since I was 19. Yes, Bluegrass is in good hands, my friend.

[@JeromeMcCarthy-cb8vc]

Not only is he probably the best guitar player, but he has the perfect Bluegrass voice.

[@danielmyers5897]

Billy Failing (banjo), Royal Masat (bass), Jarrod Walker (mandolin) and Alex Hargreaves (fiddle). All of them amazing. And then billy is not only a great guitar player but a great singer and band leader. And really a great musician which demands a soul and an artistic sensibility which guides and expresses the whole experience of the band’s performance of anything.

[@stargazer6753]

You said it all.

[@brucesteele3052]

Strings is not 'going somewhere'. He's already there.

[@debrabeck9630]

I’m so glad to be old enough to have heard both Doc and Billy perform this song. Nice Bob Wills’ “Haw,” there, too. ❤️

[@mikewills6753]

I'd like to hear BS do some of ol Cuz's music.

[@jed1166]

I’m an old rocker / metal head, but can’t listen to anything “Billy”, without smiling!

[@spacelemur7955]

Welcome aboard, Grandpa Newbie! Always room for new friends here.

[@jed1166]

@@spacelemur7955 Thanks!

[@stevehoward3981]

I took you challenge and you are absolutely right. You have to smile. All of his bandmates are also master musicians.

[@1kaj1]

Wish you’d give the bassist a turn.

[@crocodilegrundee4514]

@@1kaj1 Listen to everything’s the same, the bass player gets a good run in that one.

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

I hope Billy Strings stays grounded. What a great young musician.

[@ricks7469]

Well...he claims to be California sober so that should keep him away from hard drugs and liquor.

[@jasonjarvis73]

Damn. Just, wow. What a great performance of an all time great train song. Doc would be happy about this.

[@J-Lo7218]

and he even wore a train conductor's hat! :-)

[@petermiller4714]

I wish my dad was alive to hear this great band of top notch musicians. My dad has been to Doc’s house and he played for him. One of the highlights of my dad’s life. Keep jammin and making great music.

[@philhardwick100]

I was amazingly fortunate to see Billy at Red Rocks with my daughter. Kicking my bucket list into space.

[@fretfix1]

Love the Bob Wills calls during the fiddle break. Nice tip of the cap...

[@Grandpa_Moses]

God bless young Mr. Apostol and the rest of his band, all stellar! The pure talent on that stage is immense

[@jeanma500]

Bluegrass is a gift from god, thanks for keeping it alive.

[@jayeiben9431]

Not only bluegrass but I've seen him cover Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Allman Bros, and more. Amazing

[@rlrobertson1256]

I was born listening to this beautiful music. If you don’t feel like shaking your tail feather to this music. Mercifully I really feel for you. This gives me hope regarding our youth!!! I have tears in my eyes!!!!

[@danielcombs3207]

I love good bluegrass music. I really appreciate Billy’s playing and love his voice. Doc Watson is the first person I thought of the first time I heard him. Doc and Merle Watson were favorites of mine as a young man. I was lucky to have seen them play in the mid 70’s. The playing made your spine tingle. Billy definitely has the talent.👍🏻

[@valeriebreeden9291]

Omgosh I love v this kid. I like his version much better than Docs. This kid is going places. He's already played with everyone. This is how bluegrass should sound

[@lanefrank6208]

One of the many things that I love about Billy is that he lets each band member shine. He's a very gracious leader.

[@Kenneth-qd3js]

Yup but it’s really just how blue grass works every player has a little solo part cause their all really good players

[@timothyclair4978]

That's Bluegrass

[@spacelemur7955]

Bluegrass and jazz have always been like this. It help make both a real joy to listen to. In any case it's cool you found your way here!

[@mikebastiat]

His hipster followers don't know bluegrass

[@spacelemur7955]

@@mikebastiat Not yet, they don't, but can you think of a better portal? It's likely that a fair number will become fans of the genre, so be welcoming. 👍🍻

[@yellowlab5624]

Doc And Merle are certainly smiling !

[@perrycotton3001]

God Bless Billy Strings! Keep the candle burning, keep the music alive for new generations . When I hear Billy and his group there something very “deep” in my soul that stirs. I’m in the hollers and hill of Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia, in the wood, Can even smell the wood smoke! My great,great,great grandfather was a fiddle player from Tennessee. “It’s in the blood” I guess.🦝🐾🎻🪕

[@rachelgreen1528]

OMG, Mr. Piticco, those back up licks are as smooth as glass! (Dave)

[@LindaEmberley]

Them fingers on fire brother, fire 🔥 yee haw

[@wolferine6466]

That’s a nice looking crowd as well. Everyone vibing.

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Everybody bags on Roy Acuff because he wrote as almost a waltz but Doc rightfully picked up the tempo but Doc was writing for Doc. Roy was writing for guys like himself and Tennessee Ernie Ford. Also the timing. Roy:country Doc:Bluegrass and that 60’s culture.

[@aguitarandapiano]

I did not know that 3:04 was humanly possible. That is absolutely INSANE picking. The whole mandolin solo is incredible

[@scheistundzebreath]

I've seen Doc several times. This kid is GOOD.

[@subliminallime4321]

At some point y'all are gonna have to stop referring to him as "kid"

[@alvinmarcus5780]

Whole band is crushing it. 😍

[@Blalack77]

I love Bluegrass and coke.. I mean, just Bluegrass lol. I've always liked Bluegrass - just what I would hear - I never got that deep into it. But Billy Strings is giving me a new appreciation and renewed interest. Bob Dylan is the greatest musical artist of all time in my opinion but Billy Strings is young. That would be a be all end all duo - Billy Strings and Bob Dylan doing something together. Also, Billy Strings gets a lot of well-deserved credit but his band is exceptionally good too.

[@ValhallaBeckons]

I love bluegrass so damn much. It speaks to me on a very deep level. Being near the Smokies helps, lol.

[@patvandurme1227]

I’m 71 (and a half😜) and I was never a bluegrass fan. I am hooked on Billy Strings! I watched his performance at the 2022 Lollapalooza and was extremely impressed. He will bring in lots of fans, whether they are young, old, bluegrass fans or non bluegrass fans!!! I watch a lot of videos of his. He will do a lot of work with artists like he has done with Willie Nelson and Jackson Browne.

[@briandavidson7024]

I got lucky and stumbled across Billy Strings just as he was about to blow up, the scary thing is I don't think he's at his prime yet. I look forward to seeing what the future has in store.

[@kenthatfield4287]

Billy is a good singer as well as a guitar player.

[@HangtownTactical]

Yessir. Very underrated singer

[@darrellbrock5687]

Down below us at Hickman my relatives Casey Jones family. My grandmother sent me to play meanest damn bunch I ever run into.

[@charleslee7425]

he is the very best i'v ever heard and this band should always stay with him they also are beyond pro-

[@sandburgmartin7947]

The originator, Roy Acuff, and "Bashful Brother Oswald" who did the train whistle sound effect, would be proud. They were slow tempo compared to this great picking though.

[@tito.tarantula]

All this talk about AI killing the music industry may very well be... when it comes to the industry. But one thing that will never die is the way good, heartfelt music makes you feel when played live by musicians who live for and love what they do.

[@downhomeonthefarm6464]

Bill Monroe is probably grinning ear to ear somewhere

[@mariannelynch80]

Billy Strings is Awesome I like listening

[@dwsimmons1820]

I think Roy Acuff actually wrote that song.

[@jaybizzz7377]

Billy strings changed my life. Infinite gratitude. Bmfs

[@terryjames548]

Dude’s freakishly good at bluegrass. Hot doggie!

[@jimmytehgeek]

Billy Strings rocking a railroad cap performing a train song...

[@HuntOfficial1776]

Pretty amazing if you ask me😂

[@banjoblast]

I wish i could press "like" every time I listen to this great performance. There'd be a grand more "likes".

[@MatthewMARCHAND-ub6en]

Love this Michigan kid! Just plays, no weird facial expressions, no bs, just playing!

[@lowellcalavera6045]

😂 You haven't watched him very often. He pulls plenty of "guitar faces".

[@justinb5553]

Many facial expressions

[@rimmersbryggeri]

@@justinb5553 He's no Joe Walsh though. LOL

[@kellyclark7517]

Yessssssss….BS🔥

[@kenhawkins1033]

The facial expressions are not bs. Most players are not even aware of them once they get into the sound. Although, I'm sure some are phony, most I think are purely subconscious.

[@johnnyfreedom3437]

I never knew a guitar could be played like that! I've been following guitar players all my life and Billy is unbelievablely great!

[@crocodilegrundee4514]

Yep it’s called flat picking. It’s a bluegrass thing, and it’s really difficult to play that fast picking every single note with a pick.

[@jimwortham8634]

Billy all I can say is wow so glad I clicked

[@adkBanjo]

Supa dupa! Thank you for the video upload!

[@garyhudson3170]

Saw Billy Strings play at Friday Night at the Park in Northport, MI back in 2014. He was great back then. First park concert we saw in NP. Thought that show was going to be “typical“ of all of the shows/performers to follow. Nope!

[@Mark-xy7tx]

Thank god for this guy 🤠👍👍👍

[@gobairsroach]

Billy Strings is off the chain. Can't imagine there's a better picker alive or dead.

[@codyeynon8467]

He's the real deal, no doubt. However, I am not a fan of comparisons. What does "better" actually mean?

[@rancholuna8076]

Better

[@theboxcar24]

True to the tune, crackles like a dry cedar campfire, and faster than a speeding locomotive. He might even be Superman.

[@milesfromneworleans]

Doc‘s smiling in his grave!

[@darrelltalbott4830]

Who’s going to fill their shoes? Thanks y’all

[@RayMorrison-m9c]

Now that’s Blue Grass

[@doalaboo7090]

I used to play bluegrass w a friend that could ALMOST play that good. Sit 3 feet away watch him play and not git his fingers tanglef up was absolutely amazing. I just tried to keep up strumming

[@RonRay]

Billy, that was fantastic.. but your G string was just a little flat. (The last note played.)

[@alfrede.neuman8898]

Zane Fairchild is the top flatpicker in the world. He’s got YT videos that will cause your jaw to drop. He plays all genres of music

[@benspencer9523]

Apart from the fact I think the sun shines out of Billy's arse, I would like us to all appreciate that if it wasn't for the internet I'd have no fucking idea who Billy Strings is. But here I am, sitting in a truck on the other side of the world tapping the steering wheel like there's no tomorrow. Thankyou tech nerds.

[@TheKyPerson]

I am 73 and I grew up watching WSM every Saturday. I love Bluegrass music and I've been blessed to see Bill Monroe and Doc Watson in concert. I went to grade school with Sam Bush and I used to go see him and the New Grass Revival every time they were in town. Billy is so good and his band is stellar. If anyone asked me to play some real American music, this is what I'd play for them

[@구루둥]

피킹으로 저렇게 어쿠스틱을 치는 선수는 이 세상에 저 Billy Strings 밖에 없을 듯

[@tomb.8485]

I have seen Doc Watson and this was an awesome job! How about playing Shoefest!

[@avalanche9026]

No doubt the kid is next generation American folk blue grass king.

[@garnerjoyce606]

Wave

[@fuzzybutkus8970]

Doc didn’t write it. That’s Roy Claxton Acuff.

[@notrachelk]

Big fan of Billy, but the Pink Floyd cover isn’t translating.

[@annihilator257]

It's a long steel rail and a short cross tie I'm on my way back home I'm on that train, the king of them all That Streamline Cannonball She moves along like a cannonball Like a star in it's heavenly flight The lonesome sound of the whistle you love As she travels through the night I can see a smile on the engineer's face And although he's old and gray A contented heart, he waits for his call On the Streamline Cannonball She moves along like a cannonball Like a star in it's heavenly flight The lonesome sound of the whistle you love As she travels through the night The headlight beams out in the night And the firebox flash you can see I ride the blinds. It's the life that I love Lord, it's home sweet home to me She moves along like a cannonball Like a star in it's heavenly flight The lonesome sound of the whistle you love As she travels through the night

[@FedUpSouthernGirl]

I had to check to be sure this wasn’t being played in 1.25 when it first started

[@ioanniskostoulas3843]

Mando player Jarrod looks like early 70s Sam Bush...

[@jcpalmer6051]

Billy B Goode!

[@GPgundude]

If ya don’t like that then ya just don’t like music!!

[@zymmer4]

This is not learned..It is given to him on arrangement..and thus it is and we are happy.

[@donnelson7797]

First time hearing him. What a talent. He’s got Doc’s flatpicking style down pat

[@tylerstooksbury2063]

That intro though… 🔥

[@donnymost4818]

He looks ridiculous in that cap. This kid ain't no train conductor.

[@steby123]

O.K. so Billy plays one of my favorite Doc Watson song distinctly better than I do !!!!!!

[@sterlingsmith4937]

Love these guys!!! Keeping it alive!!!

[@jamesbattiest3885]

Billy you good my hands won't let me play very well anymor

[@duelette]

So much talent has came out of Michigan! I know some more talent that is just as incredible!

[@kezzaobee1462]

Love Billy Strings ❤

[@derekwolford3948]

I like Billy...but Doc was so smooth.

[@fletcherdale4371]

This is Excellent!

[@ChristyTedder-tp9dg]

BILLY MAKES ME LOOSE MY RELIGION❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@jimblevins1927]

The most unlikely looking crew,at 1st glance, just made one of the toughest displays of artistry look easy,well done Billy and crew, started listening to you about 3 days ago,can't believe just how good you and your band is, signed,a fan for life!

[@jeffstanton5526]

I love Billy, but the video is blurry.

[@Dloomis494]

Both Essex Junction shows were outstanding but this was certainly a high point.

[@railtie765]

🇺🇸🎶🎶🎶🎶👍👍👍👍

[@billygibson5141]

Uh… fuck yeah dude holy shit

[@stephaneckes7438]

All these kids proove that Countrymusic really is alive and present...but ignored in the country I live,by the media!,in Germany.Shame on them! Trucky.

[@wladimirtay69old]

You are a creative person! Success awaits you! You're getting ready to perform on KZbin! Great and brave performance!

[@Jay-fb2lv]

Hes already bees successful for a while now.

[@GGT950]

Very

[@sharonanderson8375]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@davidcandler9766]

Fandango tastic

[@dustbat]

First heard this song by Roy Acuff so long ago.🦇

[@franprudhomme4506]

Love love 💕 love it!!

[@markslay716]

👍

[@patmyer5917]

Best iv ever heard,😊

[@garysmith6857]

OUTSTANDING 👍 Real country music 😊 to bad its gone!!!😢

[@dominiquelimoges8329]

Avec Billy aux manettes, juste un magicien entouré de magnifiques musiciens, le bluegrass folk américain a encore de belles années devant lui. 👍😎

[@normstewart8879]

Just curious Billy, would Doc have used a capo on that? Sorry I couldn't get tickets to any of your three Asheville shows. I had a pretty good weekend working Milton Harkey's Bluegrass First Class Festival, a mile or two away at the Crown Plaza Resort. Would have been great if you could have come and joined us. Love you mon!!

[@liddlebirdie]

Of course, you're asking Billy and not me, but I know for sure that Doc played it out of a C position, as does Billy, using a capo. Doc had his capo on the 4th fret in this video Streamline Cannonball - Doc & Merle Watson (6/24/79-Sm) and Billy is on the 5th fret here - his voice is a little higher than Doc's, I believe.

[@tobypuente8841]

The hottest flatpickin acoustic player ever... But when he electrifies it, it sounds a million others electric guitarists

[@prajnabala]

de puta madre!

[@Kenneth-qd3js]

This guy is the best blue grass picker ever

[@alan4sure]

One of them for sure.👍

[@Kenneth-qd3js]

@@alan4sure I’m an old man been a bluegrass lover my whole life this guy is above and beyond everyone before him just amazing

[@spencertherren6806]

BMFS.🤘