Bluegrass megastar Billy Strings and his talented band have recorded a concert for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, a long-running series where entertainers of every sort perform in the Washington, DC offices of National Public Radio. The name comes from the fact that the artists set up amidst the desks of an editorial office, in a fairly cramped space.
Bluegrass and folk acts have an advantage here, needing less room and having fewer sound reinforcement needs, and usually having experience setting up and playing in a tight squeeze.
Billy’s roughly 20 minute set includes several of his biggest songs: Red Daisy, My Alice, Malfunction Junction, and Gild The Lily. He’s accompanied by his touring band, which includes Billy Failing on banjo, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, Alex Hargreaves on fiddle, and Royal Masat on bass.
Absent the flashing lights and electric amplification, this set lays bare the plain fact that this is a bluegrass band playing bluegrass music.
Enjoy.
