Sitting on Top of the World - Billy Strings

Billy Strings playing a tune around the campfire with friends back in 2012.
#billystrings #bluegrass #guitar

[@IsaiahKeiser]

Obviously every guitar player wants to play in front of an arena full of people chanting your name, but I think this is all what we really want. A warm fire, a decent guitar, and a few good buddies to play for. This is what music is, and why I think it’s so beautiful.

[@matthewbalise9208]

Truer words have never been spoken

[@greenhans33]

Naw! Bs. Bands on tour want a break. They want to play in front of a fire and be with their friends. They want to sleep in their own bed

[@kevc-69-]

Indeed!

[@seppldumichauch6629]

This works everywhere

[@Steve-si8hx]

This is what sounds the best to

[@willalfano8]

the fire crackling like a vinyl record

[@garymericano]

That's all I hear is straight fire🔥

[@cstroud]

Better than vinyl like the other dood said straight fire 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@CryptoPodcast]

Hell yeahh, thats amazing 🔥🔥🔥

[@reginagrayson2465]

Nice....😊😊

[@tedlivermore6955]

Yeah it does actually,kinda shows how old we are

[@AstralTranzient]

"You don't like my peaches, don't shake my tree!" I felt that.

[@DeadHeadCrypto]

Don't shake the tree if the fruit ain't ripe 🔥(~);} 🔥

[@DYLDO5000]

steve miller band

[@FallNorth]

1914 song by Irving Berlin! How you like THEM apples! :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4qtpqeHmLiDo6M

[@michaelbennett6959]

Billy Strings is one of the few people on YT that you can leave a thumbs up BEFORE you watch the video.

[@detroyt232323]

What you know about Ionia Michigan 😉😎🎸

[@semtex6412]

see, it's funny. coz i did just that 😅😅

[@expressmullet1985]

Billy said "normally I'd play it like this". And immediately encompassed the entire music catalog and spirit of doc Watson, David grisman, and jerry garcia. This man should be considered a national treasure.

[@lowieh.3451]

great moment

[@howlinhog]

Back in the day Billy was a regular around my home in Michigan playing at festivals. I have a digital recorder and would set it up all the time. I have hundreds of recordings over the years and a lot of them are with Billy sitting around a campfire after the festival was over for the day. Him and Don Julin camped right next to me in their chrysler minivan one time, it was a blast back then. Those are some of my best campground recordings.

[@axr7413]

Share them!

[@howlinhog]

@axr7413 I ALWAYS asked if I could record and I always made it clear it was for personal use. I always purchase the music from anybody I record so that my recordings never become a replacement for their ability to make a living. I only share with the artist themselves. That is a rule I made for myself from the very beginning.

[@axr7413]

@@howlinhog perhaps you could ask the artist for permission? Or collaborate with them somehow? I know thousands of people would love to hear.

[@howlinhog]

@@axr7413 I have personally handed Billy every copy of every recording I've ever made. Other than the campfire recordings. Those are a collection of whatever that night presented. If he wants to do something with them that's fine. I highly doubt that an artist of his caliber needs to use my recordings.

[@tomsanda6798]

Billy rocks

[@minnietrout814]

The crackling of the fire in the background is the perfect accompaniment to the guitar and the voice. REAL MUSIC!! 👏👏👏

[@jeffalbillar7625]

May God bless you, Minnie

[@cravinbob]

BS

[@MtnMoss]

Pretty much the best venue for some guitar strumming’!

[@stevetrivago]

Well said, but I’ll take the words “the guitar” and put “his guitar” I’ve had a few nights that I wished the guitar player left it home… 🙂😲

[@mylesayres6060]

Even got the shovels scraping coals. 🤌

[@brianhylkema13]

I wonder if clean cut short hair Billy had any idea that in just a few years he would literally change music and revitalize the entire bluegrass genre and inspire generations to play guitar. And he's just getting started. Damn

[@bareflavourreviews4840]

When did he do that?

[@Johndoe-gd4tb]

simmer down champ

[@alan4sure]

@@bareflavourreviews4840 having trouble keeping up to date?😄

[@brianhylkema13]

@@bareflavourreviews4840 last week sometime

[@danjoines3758]

@@bareflavourreviews4840 d

[@jasonpohlmeier1931]

Few things on the internet make me smile as reliably as: There's a latch right there That's not a latch A hinge That there ain't no hinge That there's a clasp If there was an album of these old solos I would buy it.

[@ingridgustavsson3012]

Holy crap it always blows me away every single time i watch this young man play. Just like this. Nothing fancy. No stage. Just raw talent. I do believe he's about the best I've ever seen.

[@TheSeawolf277]

Me too, dudes a prodigy

[@mikeg3938]

Imagine just chilling around the bonfire with this shit 😵‍💫😵‍💫

[@sixstringedwithabowl]

it would be a tragedy to lose this archive of Billy videos, you are literally doing gods work making these moments available for us to watch. Thank you so much

[@caraperkins923]

I miss hearing Billy play at campsite jams, attending festivals in places like Lowell, Michigan! I remember a "neverending" jam where he was totally into the tune Eat My Dust...mesmerized!

[@wackybruce]

I wish I could’ve had that experience, I never heard of him until the KZbin algorithm blessed my life in early 2020. I bet today it is indescribable to have seen him before his come up. I love that the come up happened for him, I only hope he continues to get bigger and more and more people appreciate the phenomenal musician that he is, but simultaneously I wish I could have seen him with a small handful of people at something local. Maybe they’ll invent a Time Machine before I die 🤣

[@TNSDREOFFICIAL]

went to hoxyville a couple years back, last time ive seen him live, hopefully he has some stuff planned for this summer!!

[@unclereub4024]

I just heard of this cat from theos pod and what a lucky break I caught tuning in....God willing and the creek don't rise, will be listening him strum a tune for years to come

[@tedlivermore6955]

That version of cocaine blues was sweet eh

[@leonjames22]

Same brother can't believe I never heard of him before that I guess the mainstream pushes out the wrong people for us to make famous lol this dude been killing it for years but I guess bluegrass is a niche type of music glad I EVENTUALLY found Billy.

[@andrewjay7962]

Y'all are just noobs who don't know music. It's that simple

[@tedlivermore6955]

@@andrewjay7962 Another angry electric power chord man sitting on your couch,amp turned to 10. Bend those strings boy.🤣

[@andrewjay7962]

@@tedlivermore6955I play mostly acoustic on my Taylor Grand Auditorium Koa. Only angry little gremlin is you friend. So relax and tuck your tampon string back in

[@michaelglewwe46]

One of my favorites. Oh to be at that fire with a cold beer listening to this. My god.

[@tedlivermore6955]

Damn right eh

[@jjbigbell7176]

I can not get over how much I love this guy, absolute fokin legend💯🤘

[@robertseguin4875]

he is a old soul, thanks for sharing

[@Improvise1013]

Caught Billy for the first time in Cary 2 weeks ago and it was such an amazing, blissful moment. Felt so disconnected from the whole world and all its problems and the music just transcended me above it all.

[@ChrisTopher-vh8tu]

Protect this man at all cost! We’ve lost farrr too many revolutionaries at an early age.

[@classicsportsradionetwork7357]

Somehow I can't help but think the same thing.

[@agnidas5816]

we lost him and he;s still alive. he ain't play like that now

[@jonathangarzon2798]

The moment they sign with a label they are lost. Look at his new videos, the biggest red flag is the radical change in clothing.

[@wesleymaxwell5257]

@@jonathangarzon2798 what are yall talking about. He just did an entire traditional doc watson tribute arena show with no guitar effects and brought a bunch of friends and bluegrass OGs. Also he constantly covers and pays homage to all the people that paved his way. If a record deal, artist success, and clothing changes your opinion of him, your not a real fan of him. I think its amazing he's reached his level of fame and still staying humble and paying it forward. Just my thought.

[@wackybruce]

@@wesleymaxwell5257 I agree, I was there in the front row for the Doc tribute and it was magical. Billy has high respect for traditional bluegrass and pays homage to it frequently, often mixing old classic covers into his sets. He does all that while also flourishing in his own unique brand of bluegrass. Anyone on this thread who wants to mark him as a sellout would have to say the same for every professional musician in existence

[@philippechaize3369]

The young Man is a proper monster. everytime he blows my mind.

[@rogerkirkendoll1844]

Man, he's got a world of talent. He picks the hell out of those 6 strings !!

[@jonathanroberts6434]

Omg, if you ever get the chance to see him in concert go. Outlaw Festival was so much fun

[@DR-er7si]

Six String Billy

[@diggie9598]

Talent won't get you any skills.

[@andresherrera4158]

A dream that is. Isn't it just amazing how he just sits there, killing time, and out of him comes out perfection in its maximum expression...casually.

[@hvillehughes08]

I love his knowledge of all the greats that paved the way before him. So talented and has definitely brought me tons of joy just in the short time I've listened to him. I'm on the 🐐 wagon and I aint getting off

[@halfstep1973]

"I usually play it like this" 🐐🐐🐐

[@david5704]

It's so amazing that you have these awesome videos recorded before Billy was well known. It's like watching a video of Hank Williams Sr. when he was first starting out.

[@Yougotadollar]

So true!!

[@michaelcrosby6955]

Billy’s great. He’s no Hank Sr though.

[@dannytripper]

He's to Bluegrass like Stevie ray Vaughn was to blues

[@blueblur6447]

Its like... He is Billy Strings. What does everyone always have to be someone else. He is great, done.

[@jerry-st7rc]

I love billy but his name has no place with hank sr. Hank was not a bluegrass picker, he is and was something we have never heard til this day. Closest thing to Hank sr is probably george jones.

[@LynnwoodBrown]

Thanks Lower Standards for the early-day gems from our man Billy! So great to see his blossoming talents!

[@tedlivermore6955]

Yep,awesome clips

[@debraalexander9069]

It's great to see the younger generation keep up the bluegrass music.

[@macktheknife8443]

For guitar players, seeing this man play is really mind blowing. The speed, the accuracy, makes no mistakes at all, and how he sings while doing all that. To most of us his playing is unbelievable, and makes us wonder if we could ever get there if we had 200 years left to practice.

[@jefffirnhaber6250]

Still trying!

[@steelcityspeedshopj.r6942]

Never in my wildest dreams could I ever learn to play like this. I finally have seen him live in front of my own eyes and it was about the most mind blowing guitar playing I’ve ever seen. Well, actually it was Definitely the most mind blowing playing I’ve seen. The dude is as legit as it gets . And let me tell you. Go see him ASAP. I’ll never pass the opportunity to see him ever in my life if within 200 miles of me

[@tedlivermore6955]

​​@@steelcityspeedshopj.r6942Wish I coulda seen him in a small venue,he,s so popular now its all big shows which I,m too old to attend.Good for him though,love the guy.

[@jesseskelton1098]

Damn...this kid is the definition of a national treasure

[@ReVerTFx]

LETS GO BILLY STRINGS!!!! First heard of his music in 2019, and then saw Him live: april 2022 in San Diego. One of my favorite performances ever. Long love billy strings and his band !

[@nasty1641]

You are an absolutely stunning musician! Such a fan of yours Billy, keep up the great music for the world to enjoy! You rock dude 🤘

[@RogueTriicks]

What I wouldn’t give to be able to sit next to a campfire with Billy Strings serenading away 😂

[@kapstersmusic]

Pure Gold! Thank you Lower Standards for continuing to post these.

[@chelton87]

This young man is so amazing I’m grateful to him for all the joy he’s brought to the world

[@cravinbob]

Bigger than Jesus?

[@brownianl]

Yup

[@wildcard9724]

@@cravinbob No, not quite as big as the Beatles....

[@mikechivy]

@@cravinbob found the nut job

[@florentinepogen]

This is so awesome to see. I wonder if he had any clue what the future was holding for him. Raw uncut talent.

[@danielcaruthers7120]

I said the same thing

[@ME-xq8bg]

I just started playing guitar and I’m in awe of how he picks and strums that piece of wood so easily.

[@jacoblong644]

Keep at it. If your into folky jams learn to alternate and flatpick sooner than later. You'll thank yourself in a few months when you can play and sound like a whole string band

[@tedlivermore6955]

Are you still playing? Just wondering.

[@jankyfuture999]

I'm immediately reminded of the late, great Roy Clark. This young man may is easily among the most skilled Bluegrass guitarist/singers I've ever heard. Quite impressive.

[@ritivikparkash7081]

off camera, 2 guys poking through ash at a bonfire: “there’s a latch right there” “… a latch?” “a hinge! you want it?” “that there ain’t no hinge… that there is a clasp.”

[@LowerStandards33]

🤣

[@jeffalbillar7625]

Happy Fourth of July my fellow Americans! Thanks again Lower Standards for the upload.

[@Baby-dl8yp]

Lower Standards I love you!! I could listen to Billy in his cradle 🥰🎶❤️🥰🎶🎶

[@dianeisenhour3107]

Thank you for posting this, and please continue! I love this guy and so glad he's doing so well in the industry! Not enough bluegrass around anymore! Thank you Billy🐐

[@wowthatwasit]

Happy 4th indeed! Some well-meaning lad throws a limb into the fire WHILE young Billy Strings is performing! ❤️ Billy’s response to the question he is asked…his music is so organic to him..he must respond with the music. Some are standing too close to this FIRE!

[@tommylower2729]

It's a well-shot video. The lighting is on point, the sound is amazing and you even respected the rule of thirds (33). The fire crackling in the background adds so much!

[@REZNAP]

Perfection

[@Vigilante311]

Whats the rule of thirds?

[@zakwatson4967]

@@Vigilante311 not placing him in the centre of frame 😊 it’s more pleasing to our eyes.. you’ll never unsee it

[@Vigilante311]

@@zakwatson4967 cool thanks i was curious about that

[@jjezebel37]

Best song I've woken up to this fine Sunday. 😘💕

[@aaronm2183]

Thanks for sharing this with the world.

[@Baldyjock4846]

I have no words for how much i loved this. Edit....love this.

[@dr.psycho4633]

Alter Schwede, was für ein geiler Sound. Danke Mr. Billy Strings!

[@thirstyhamster3112]

Awesome! Thanks for posting, and Billy, thanks for playing!

[@kevinrobinson5196]

God is Great he makes it look easy, he made Billy , Billy makes it look easy. God is Good!

[@stacyvanvranken5934]

Wow this is from before I ever saw Billy the NYE show in Pontiac. That was my introductory set of shows. I have loved the band ever since. He looks so young here.

[@barbaralee6410]

Thank you so much for posting these gems from the past!

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

Billy is the man.

[@12345AgainstOne]

Thank you for these gems.

[@Eric-lo7tc]

What we've got here is...NO failure to communicate! What a great player/picker!

[@adamgietzen5009]

I always appreciate the personal spin on covers like this but when people like Billy can casually nail the original it makes it all the more impressive

[@darrenwilsonV2]

Billy Strings has to be one of the word's greatest pickers. Incredible.

[@sampaflow1871]

Such an amazing video. I was super busy with work and stopped everything to soak up this video. Pure GOLD!

[@marybaker8061]

❤❤ that comentary at the end and playing is why its fascinating...

[@davidlrose0465]

Outstanding, and thank you.

[@awesum0]

Love all these gems you have!

[@litedawg]

This man is a gift straight from God above. I don’t think there are 50 people alive that can play and pick as clean as this guy can. Bravo.

[@neomage2021]

The one other guitarist he immediately reminded of me, even though music style is very different, was Joscho Stephan. Absolutely amazing. I can listen to Billy Strings all day long. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hprFo6annrmYq5o

[@lordc0ckswagger442]

Agreed . Makes me sometimes feel like I got no business even strumming my guitar. But then again, it makes me want to practice more. Life's all about growth, bottom line. I'm never gonna gonna stop strumming.

[@lindaballard7386]

Check out Buckethead Guitar GOAT Would love to hear a collaboration

[@briaginter4837]

I love times like this sitting around a fire with a guitar

[@adropofgoldensun27]

I appreciate the great talent of Mr. Billy Strings!

[@daggad02]

I think it is beautiful to hear him play with a few flaws. Makes it real..like you are there. Awesome video !

[@natalielee35]

This is my favorite performance I've seen and heard from billy, I listen to this on repeat I love it so much

[@wendyraymond1751]

Absolutely incredible so enjoyed this thanku so much love and God bless always x

[@aaronmerrill4730]

You will forever collect ad revenue from me, for having some of the best Billy Strings live performances on all of KZbin. lol So intimate and casual yet so utterly pitch-fxcking perfect, and proof that a legend walks among us. Seriously, thank you so much for sharing these. ❤️

[@arroncox840]

The crackling of the fire makes it sound like a record.... that's amazing.

[@user-fl4fi7ni5f]

always an amazing thing to see a legend emerge..and im not a country guy..and ive been a musician for 30 years..but some people u just know...

[@trxe420]

"Do you always play it in Em, in the chorus?" When you hand around with people who know nothing but good times and music. The man shows up to a fire with a guitar, as it should be, as it was intended.

[@SoDogtravels]

So much respect for his talent

[@OneFootForton]

Love hearing the way he plays it at the end.

[@SAMLILLY]

Geez Louise your freaking amazing lord bless this man! 🙏

[@stevenhowson1693]

Such a young looking billy. A ledge at such an early age.

[@mikesimmons4519]

What a talent this young man was and is

[@jmachatch6696]

So glad I stumbled upon this. This kid’s got the gift!

[@Quistophaaa]

Another Song for the books.

[@tomsanda6798]

I didn't know this song and always said i was sitting on top of the world,just like u say shes gone,and i in woods drinking.but now sober and away from drinking buddies,now im truly sitting on top of the world.thanks billy.

[@raceit502]

You know we apperciate you for these uploads right? Well we do

[@RustyCyler]

Pure natural talent.

[@mandrewcurry9416]

Yeah man. A fav from forever. Many thanks!

[@hearpalhere]

What a fun night that must have been! Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@chicoinchico]

This is usually the first song I play when I busk, just about every day for the last month or 2. I love how everyone plays it a little different.

[@mrsynister666]

This style really touches my soul.

[@EZGrace]

Holy hell, how does that guitar not catch on fire, again, another example of Billy doing something with an acoustic few others can.

[@Hhbdr]

Wow. You just keep getting better. Amazing. Thank you!

[@66Nick66]

Just the sound of a shovel in the fire is music to my ears!

[@ronaldlipton339]

As Billy mentions Doc Watson played the version Billy plays at the end, but Doc played it in open D tuning. Billy plays the same notes in standard tuning - impressive. What really impresses me is his knowledge and command of the music of his predecessors.

[@pshawnmcgraw]

Love these old videos so much!

[@tengufactory]

Proud of you billy..

[@Uncle_Mark2600]

What a great video!!! Such a great talent!

[@Debunis]

Thanks for this videos!!!

[@user-qu6lx7zz3l]

Er ist einfach genial, das ist für mich Amerika, so wie ich es mir als Europäer vorstelle, kraftvoll und ehrlich

[@fwagner9]

Sadly enough, that is the America we used to be.

[@iansmith7321]

That's a Michigan fire

[@mikeroullier6875]

I wish I could play half as good as Billy!!!! Well done buddy!!!!

[@gazicj]

riiiiight!!! seriously. I have the same 6 strings, I have a flatpick, I have two good hands with ten good fingers. In other words, he and I have the same tools. How someone can play so fast--and coax sounds like that out of an acoustic guitar--is beyond me. Seems impossible. Yet, it clearly isn't! Anyways, nothing left to do but smile smile smile, and practice and woodshed and practice some more. Maybe, someday, ya never know, I'll somehow be able to create similar--even 1/10 as good--sounds. Ya never know. Imma keep trying. There must be a way.

[@Onionbaron]

Only three strings?

[@mikeroullier6875]

@@Onionbaron pretty funny stuff!

[@romeovezo1691]

Thank you Billy !

[@REZNAP]

Massive Respect! My foot just starts tapping like crazy

[@CorneiliusLibowitz]

Thank you so much for posting another one of these gems....i really needed this after today's tragedy, which happened 15 minutes from my house....and about 15 minutes from the place where i first saw Billy and the Boys play in 2018.... On a brighter note, sure looks like you guys busted up a bunch of pallets....except for the nails, they're great for burning.

[@joecochran9976]

MOVE.....MOVE NOW!!!

[@CorneiliusLibowitz]

@@joecochran9976 Move where? I' happy where i'm at.

[@blakeholmes8691]

I’m that guy at our camp outings that will play as long as my friends will listen, and I will always do that because I love it

[@ronstoner1823]

He's got talent like I ain't never seen!