Talks like Jerry did…. “Sometimes I just want to go back to playing regular old bluegrass. Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built that now I have to feed,”
Yeah, I noticed the similarity to what became the impossible position Garcia found himself in too. This is definitely not a puff piece. All's not well, and Billy speaks openly about problems he's having, and how he's dealing with them. It doesn't sound like he's spinning out, but rather doing an honest assessment of his situation, and considering what changes he might have to make, and especially since he's got a baby on the way.
Alan, there's some speculation on Reddit that he might have developed cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which would be really sad if that's the case. He's such a happy stoner.
>>>Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built<<<
Count me in the grumpy old man club. The "monster" doesn't work for me, but if he did get pure and scale his act & venues way down (which he never will) I'd see every show I could get close to.
That full traditional bluegrass show/TV special he did from the Ryman Auditorium absolutely blows me away. In my uneducated opinion that's as good as or better than any bluegrass ever played, performed in a venue that's proper for acoustic music.
Maybe he'll start doing full shows like that intermittently along his regular tours or an occasional full tour of traditional bluegrass. If he does he'll get my money (although I seriously doubt he needs my pennies).
It seems like that might be good for his mental & emotional well-being. He comes across as such a quality person, and I know someone who worked for and toured with him for a couple of years and she had nothing but good things to say about him (which is actually pretty rare) so hopefully he figures out how to balance his success with his general happiness.
This last tour, I decided not to see Billy at the LA Forum. In the last few years, I've seen him at the Santa Barbara Bowl (capacity: 4500), the Wiltern (2300), and the LA Greek (5900), and seeing him at the Forum along with 17,500 other freaks just held no attraction for me. Maybe that's because I saw my first GD show in 1978 at the 1700 seat Uptown Theater in Chicago, and my last one in 1994 at Soldier FIeld, which holds 61,500 people, and I figured that maybe I didn't need to go down that road again. Anyways, I'm glad I went with my gut on this one and stayed home. Maybe I'll catch up with Billy again at some point in the future, and be able to do it in a place where we're both comfortable again.
Great and insightful article. It's refreshing he's vocal about all of this. I don't see how he'll keep up any pace with health issues and ear issues so I am personally catching what I can while I can.
For those who have listened to a few songs and it does nothing for them. I get it. Go to the show if you haven't, it's very different and arguably the best experience I've had at a show in the last 20 years. It took me a bit to ramp into it. The show style adjusts to the location of the venue too which is nice. The talent and nuance in everything he does is palpable. And like the dead, some are up, some are good, some are mind blowing, and some are just fine.
I don't love the arena shows, the smaller venues are of course better but we're not in control. You can still find some smaller places which is why i'm heading to Bama in a couple weeks and why I traveled to California twice in the past year. It's sad he's already feeding the beast but not surprising given the talent. I'm surprised he wouldn't just do a residence of shows in Nashville and take the travel out for a while. Let others travel to him. Maybe when his son is born he will shift gears. This one doesn't seem like it will last forever.
I looked up a couple of those watches. Yikes... not only expensive AF but imho pretty ugly. I'd take a well made antique pocket watch over any of those
Many of us already carry around pocket watches that set us back $500-$1000, and they have cameras and phones in them too. I really don't get the redundancy of the watch fad.
It gorgeous, and I'd say it's a fine example of "turning an everyday utilitarian tool into an heirloom piece of finely calibrated jewelry." But watches? Seems like bling for folks who maybe can't pull off the gold chain look.
Six nights in a sweet AirBnB the same city is better than six nights on tour buses.
Good article and glad it wasn't rehashing the same life story again and hope the guy manages to keep his sanity in the crazy world of rock stardom. Would have been wild to be hanging out under a bridge in Europe at 5:00 am and look over see Billy Strings.
I just read the whole article. Those stomach issues sound more than a little concerning. He seems pretty young to have problems like that.
It really does sound like he's not personally satisfied with his current product & situation, maybe he should tell his accountants and business managers and other handlers to fuck off and actually shut it down, then rebuild a much more manageable career that would make him less rich but more happy.
But it's probably already too late for that, so I hope he learns to be happy with the superstar life, something that he doesn't sound too happy with now.
>>>really don't get the redundancy of the watch fad<<<
I prefer simply glancing at my wrist when I want the time rather than digging a hunk of metal out of my pocket, especially when sitting down, which is my default position these days.
>>>>I prefer simply glancing at my wrist when I want the time
I have gone back to wearing a watch this year. Much simpler way to go than always looking at your phone (and then getting distracted by notifications). Still don't get how people spend $$$ on them. Got mine for $5 at a garage sale and spent another $25 on a new battery (retails for around $400 so feel I got a deal).
>>> But it's probably already too late for that, so I hope he learns to be happy with the superstar life, something that he doesn't sound too happy with now. <<<
> maybe he should tell his accountants and business managers and other handlers to fuck off and actually shut it down
Dave Chappelle did just that, and returned to stand-up when he was ready and did it on his own terms. He's a rarity, but an example that it can be done.
Free for subscribers tonight and tomorrow on nugs.net.
Some of the Zoners said those of us who thought the EDM lights and metatastic growth were detrimental were just being sticks in the mud.
Turns out that Billy knows it's not the way too.
As far as his health issues, I chalk it up to his years of opiate addiction. You can take the junk out of the junkie, but the signs of being a junkie never go away.
Anti anxiety meds can affect the stomach. That's what I'd look into first. My guess is any batch can differ a bit, despite the pharmaceutical industry's attempts to keep things rigid.
I guess Ally's situation explains why the show didn't stream so well.....!!
>>>>I chalk it up to his years of opiate addiction
I have read a lot of Billy interviews and he is very candid about his prior drug use. His big thing was crack, meth, and liquor. He said he tried heroin just to see what the allure was (killed his biological dad) but I never got the impression he was deep into the opiates.
One of his more humorous meth stories was how he once went on a binger and spent three whole days holed up in his house by himself playing guitar. His friend came over and we he answered the door, the dude was like "what's wrong with your face." Billy ran to a mirror and was in horror to see his face had turned green. He thought it was the meth was going to die but then realized that three days of non-stop playing had caused his copper guitar strings to start to disintegrate and got green dust all over him.
Thank you for your patience, understanding and kindness. We appreciate you sticking with us as we work to create a whole new Saturday experience for you.
Check out the updated schedule here. We’re super grateful for all of our friends and family stepping in to make for one memorable day. Don’t miss a minute of today!
Keep an eye out for more notifications, offers and news. Trust us… it will be worth it.
We are overwhelmed by your love and support at this exciting time.
We’ll be in touch with more news real soon.
Have the best day!
> Some of the Zoners said those of us who thought the EDM lights and metatastic growth were detrimental were just being sticks in the mud. Turns out that Billy knows it's not the way too.
Well, that's one way to look at it, Dave, but I still think you were being a stick in the mud. Folks were having fun, and you felt like you had to let them know that you weren't. Whatever.
As for what Billy knows now, that's hard to say, so how about if we just look at some of his words instead? Like these, for example: "Sometimes I just want to go back to playing regular old bluegrass. Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built that now I have to feed."
I'm not seeing regret for the growth or the lights in that statement, but rather discontentedness for what the thing has become; namely, the monster that is the production machine he has to feed now. It looked to me like Billy was having huge fun playing to big crowds under fancy lights while windmilling his rock star hair or dancing one of his goofy little jigs, and I'm guessing if he really had a problem with those things on his way up the ladder of success, he would have done something about it sooner. Instead, what I'm reading in Billy's statement is knowledge and understanding that's the product of having experienced the eventual, detrimental effects of rapid unchecked growth. My take is that he's sees it that way now, but didn't before.
As for your comments about opiate addiction, Dave, I won't even address them here because Ken already did a fine job of swatting those ill-founded notions away.
So they are issuing refunds to everyone who went to Renewal Fest. By all accounts, it was great music from start to finish and a killer time was had by all even without Billy. Dude is A+ class act.
As for your comments about opiate addiction, Dave, I won't even address them here because Ken already did a fine job of swatting those ill-founded notions away.
IME, unless someone is seriously disregarding their body and living something resembling a homeless/street life, or they experience serious damage from improper injection and/or xylazine induced necrosis, short term opiate use really isnt that hard on the body and does not produce lasting health effects on the same level that things like meth or alcohol can, and compared to the average drug addict, especially the average opiate addict, billy's period of hard drug use was pretty brief.
just look at junkies like burroughs - dude knew how to properly and safely inject, had the money to maintain a somewhat normal middle class type of life, lived to the ripe old age of 83, and kept pursuing his art up to his death, all while addicted to heroin right up until the end. looking at what we know about billy's past drug use, even if he was regularly using heroin, its far more likely that any lasting health effects would be due to meth, alcohol, or lifestyle. billy's period of hard drug use, afaik, predates the explosion of things likefent/fent analouges, xylazine and nitrazines, so health effects relating to those things would not have been a consideration like they are for opiate users today.
personally, i have a lot of empathy for billy wanting to dial back the bigger stage production and overall "monster", but if playing more traditional bluegrass to smaller crowds means there will be less hard hitting, creative, and long improvisations, id be pretty bummed out. IMO his strong roots in bluegrass is a huge part of what makes the jamband/GD show format work so well for him and causes him to avoid the jamband cheese that such a huge majority of jambands fall into, but still, at the end of the day, the primary draw for me are the psychedelic improvisations. honestly i couldnt see myself going out of my way to see billy if he isnt jamming, although id be fine with no lights, a smaller crowd, and more traditional bluegrass songs bookending big psychedelic jams.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Talks like Jerry did….
Talks like Jerry did…. “Sometimes I just want to go back to playing regular old bluegrass. Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built that now I have to feed,”
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
Yeah, I noticed the
Yeah, I noticed the similarity to what became the impossible position Garcia found himself in too. This is definitely not a puff piece. All's not well, and Billy speaks openly about problems he's having, and how he's dealing with them. It doesn't sound like he's spinning out, but rather doing an honest assessment of his situation, and considering what changes he might have to make, and especially since he's got a baby on the way.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
I think he might want to go
I think he might want to go gluten-free or otherwise realign his gut bacteria....
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: An organ grinder’s tune
thought i was the only one
thought i was the only one but another buddy was like yeah 4-5 songs and i'm good...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
There's some speculation on
Alan, there's some speculation on Reddit that he might have developed cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, which would be really sad if that's the case. He's such a happy stoner.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
>>>Lose the big light show,
>>>Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built<<<
Count me in the grumpy old man club. The "monster" doesn't work for me, but if he did get pure and scale his act & venues way down (which he never will) I'd see every show I could get close to.
That full traditional bluegrass show/TV special he did from the Ryman Auditorium absolutely blows me away. In my uneducated opinion that's as good as or better than any bluegrass ever played, performed in a venue that's proper for acoustic music.
Maybe he'll start doing full shows like that intermittently along his regular tours or an occasional full tour of traditional bluegrass. If he does he'll get my money (although I seriously doubt he needs my pennies).
It seems like that might be good for his mental & emotional well-being. He comes across as such a quality person, and I know someone who worked for and toured with him for a couple of years and she had nothing but good things to say about him (which is actually pretty rare) so hopefully he figures out how to balance his success with his general happiness.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
It's lonely at the top
It's lonely at the top
but it's a bitch at the bottom
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: roland
> thought i was the only one
> thought i was the only one but another buddy was like yeah 4-5 songs and i'm good...
You and your buddy are not the only ones...4 or 5 songs is too much for me... (as I duck and run for cover)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
This last tour, I decided not
This last tour, I decided not to see Billy at the LA Forum. In the last few years, I've seen him at the Santa Barbara Bowl (capacity: 4500), the Wiltern (2300), and the LA Greek (5900), and seeing him at the Forum along with 17,500 other freaks just held no attraction for me. Maybe that's because I saw my first GD show in 1978 at the 1700 seat Uptown Theater in Chicago, and my last one in 1994 at Soldier FIeld, which holds 61,500 people, and I figured that maybe I didn't need to go down that road again. Anyways, I'm glad I went with my gut on this one and stayed home. Maybe I'll catch up with Billy again at some point in the future, and be able to do it in a place where we're both comfortable again.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: dimethyllovebeam
He's so young to be this
Thanks for the article, Mike. He sees the big picture bc he's smart. He'll find his equilibrium.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Great and insightful article.
Great and insightful article. It's refreshing he's vocal about all of this. I don't see how he'll keep up any pace with health issues and ear issues so I am personally catching what I can while I can.
For those who have listened to a few songs and it does nothing for them. I get it. Go to the show if you haven't, it's very different and arguably the best experience I've had at a show in the last 20 years. It took me a bit to ramp into it. The show style adjusts to the location of the venue too which is nice. The talent and nuance in everything he does is palpable. And like the dead, some are up, some are good, some are mind blowing, and some are just fine.
I don't love the arena shows, the smaller venues are of course better but we're not in control. You can still find some smaller places which is why i'm heading to Bama in a couple weeks and why I traveled to California twice in the past year. It's sad he's already feeding the beast but not surprising given the talent. I'm surprised he wouldn't just do a residence of shows in Nashville and take the travel out for a while. Let others travel to him. Maybe when his son is born he will shift gears. This one doesn't seem like it will last forever.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Also - playing with phish,
Also - playing with phish, accident or not, will only grow the madness.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: gypsy tailwind
^ plus his addiction to john
^ plus his addiction to john mayer watches
the horror
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
I looked up a couple of those
I looked up a couple of those watches. Yikes... not only expensive AF but imho pretty ugly. I'd take a well made antique pocket watch over any of those
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: gypsy tailwind
6 nights asheville
6 nights asheville
slow down billy
https://www.billystrings.com/tour
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
> those watches
> those watches
Many of us already carry around pocket watches that set us back $500-$1000, and they have cameras and phones in them too. I really don't get the redundancy of the watch fad.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
There is an inherent
There is an inherent connection between the crafts of watchmaking and luthiery
something about the complexity of turning an everyday utilitarian tool into an heirloom piece of finely calibrated jewelry
it's there if you look
https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/martin-guitar-two-millionth-rgm-introd...
but agree it still doesn't make watches any less redundant
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Yes but that headstock is
Yes but that headstock is actually pleasing to my eye...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
It gorgeous, and I'd say it
It gorgeous, and I'd say it's a fine example of "turning an everyday utilitarian tool into an heirloom piece of finely calibrated jewelry." But watches? Seems like bling for folks who maybe can't pull off the gold chain look.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
>>>6 nights asheville
>>>6 nights asheville
separated by a week.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Six nights in a sweet AirBnB
Six nights in a sweet AirBnB the same city is better than six nights on tour buses.
Good article and glad it wasn't rehashing the same life story again and hope the guy manages to keep his sanity in the crazy world of rock stardom. Would have been wild to be hanging out under a bridge in Europe at 5:00 am and look over see Billy Strings.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
With the exception of Denver,
With the exception of Denver, those Winter dates aren't all that far from Billy's home in Nashville. No one-nighters too.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Lance minimum goad Newberry
I just read the whole article
I just read the whole article. Those stomach issues sound more than a little concerning. He seems pretty young to have problems like that.
It really does sound like he's not personally satisfied with his current product & situation, maybe he should tell his accountants and business managers and other handlers to fuck off and actually shut it down, then rebuild a much more manageable career that would make him less rich but more happy.
But it's probably already too late for that, so I hope he learns to be happy with the superstar life, something that he doesn't sound too happy with now.
>>>really don't get the redundancy of the watch fad<<<
I prefer simply glancing at my wrist when I want the time rather than digging a hunk of metal out of my pocket, especially when sitting down, which is my default position these days.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>I prefer simply glancing
>>>>I prefer simply glancing at my wrist when I want the time
I have gone back to wearing a watch this year. Much simpler way to go than always looking at your phone (and then getting distracted by notifications). Still don't get how people spend $$$ on them. Got mine for $5 at a garage sale and spent another $25 on a new battery (retails for around $400 so feel I got a deal).
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: gypsy tailwind
>>> But it's probably already
>>> But it's probably already too late for that, so I hope he learns to be happy with the superstar life, something that he doesn't sound too happy with now. <<<
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
> maybe he should tell his
> maybe he should tell his accountants and business managers and other handlers to fuck off and actually shut it down
Dave Chappelle did just that, and returned to stand-up when he was ready and did it on his own terms. He's a rarity, but an example that it can be done.
Free for subscribers tonight and tomorrow on nugs.net.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Hitchhiker awaiting "true call"
Drew Emmett is my bluegrass
Drew Emmitt is my bluegrass fix.
Nobody in MLB listens to bluegrass but flash those watches and you get in the locker room.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Philzone Refugee
Some of the Zoners said those
Some of the Zoners said those of us who thought the EDM lights and metatastic growth were detrimental were just being sticks in the mud.
Turns out that Billy knows it's not the way too.
As far as his health issues, I chalk it up to his years of opiate addiction. You can take the junk out of the junkie, but the signs of being a junkie never go away.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Ally going into labor. Gonna
Ally going into labor. Gonna be a different kind of renewal
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Yep. Billy flew home to be
Yep. Billy flew home to be with his wife. The band carried on without him with a little help from his friends.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: KeseyB
Anti anxiety meds can affect
Anti anxiety meds can affect the stomach. That's what I'd look into first. My guess is any batch can differ a bit, despite the pharmaceutical industry's attempts to keep things rigid.
I guess Ally's situation explains why the show didn't stream so well.....!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
>>>>I chalk it up to his
>>>>I chalk it up to his years of opiate addiction
I have read a lot of Billy interviews and he is very candid about his prior drug use. His big thing was crack, meth, and liquor. He said he tried heroin just to see what the allure was (killed his biological dad) but I never got the impression he was deep into the opiates.
One of his more humorous meth stories was how he once went on a binger and spent three whole days holed up in his house by himself playing guitar. His friend came over and we he answered the door, the dude was like "what's wrong with your face." Billy ran to a mirror and was in horror to see his face had turned green. He thought it was the meth was going to die but then realized that three days of non-stop playing had caused his copper guitar strings to start to disintegrate and got green dust all over him.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
Hello family,
Hello family,
First of and foremost… THANK YOU!
Thank you for your patience, understanding and kindness. We appreciate you sticking with us as we work to create a whole new Saturday experience for you.
Check out the updated schedule here. We’re super grateful for all of our friends and family stepping in to make for one memorable day. Don’t miss a minute of today!
Keep an eye out for more notifications, offers and news. Trust us… it will be worth it.
We are overwhelmed by your love and support at this exciting time.
We’ll be in touch with more news real soon.
Have the best day!
Love,
Team Billy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
> Some of the Zoners said
> Some of the Zoners said those of us who thought the EDM lights and metatastic growth were detrimental were just being sticks in the mud. Turns out that Billy knows it's not the way too.
Well, that's one way to look at it, Dave, but I still think you were being a stick in the mud. Folks were having fun, and you felt like you had to let them know that you weren't. Whatever.
As for what Billy knows now, that's hard to say, so how about if we just look at some of his words instead? Like these, for example: "Sometimes I just want to go back to playing regular old bluegrass. Lose the big light show, play to a 500-capacity room max, get intimate and actually play real bluegrass instead of whatever monster we’ve built that now I have to feed."
I'm not seeing regret for the growth or the lights in that statement, but rather discontentedness for what the thing has become; namely, the monster that is the production machine he has to feed now. It looked to me like Billy was having huge fun playing to big crowds under fancy lights while windmilling his rock star hair or dancing one of his goofy little jigs, and I'm guessing if he really had a problem with those things on his way up the ladder of success, he would have done something about it sooner. Instead, what I'm reading in Billy's statement is knowledge and understanding that's the product of having experienced the eventual, detrimental effects of rapid unchecked growth. My take is that he's sees it that way now, but didn't before.
As for your comments about opiate addiction, Dave, I won't even address them here because Ken already did a fine job of swatting those ill-founded notions away.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: treat island
I got the same sense from the
I got the same sense from the article, and from other things I've read, Mike.
Young William, wishing you happy and sweetest times with your family.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
(No subject)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: fishcane
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Zzzzzz
Kid's already giving the
Kid's already giving the thumbs up he's ready to rock out.
Happened upon this To Lay Me Down this weekend. Dude gets so much right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8DF9x6qGF8
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
So they are issuing refunds
So they are issuing refunds to everyone who went to Renewal Fest. By all accounts, it was great music from start to finish and a killer time was had by all even without Billy. Dude is A+ class act.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Localcountyline
Agree Ken.
Agree Ken.
And Billy, if your fans are really your fans they will totally get why you should take WAY more than
"a sec" to be with your family.
You, and your family, more than deserve it.
Enjoy this new chapter.....I imagine you will.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
Billy suits up for the
Billy suits up for the biggest game: Fatherhood.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAjXa_9yD5E/
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Alan R
Baltimore gets all the shows
Baltimore gets all the shows :-)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: The Sound of Steam and Caffeine
And...
And...
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
(No subject)
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
O brother epic!!!
O brother
epic!!!
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Dude has hit No. 1 on the
Dude has hit No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
I'm a little surprised
I'm a little surprised/perplexed Dan Tyminski isn't among the special guests.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Ken D.
Billy's new mini-spaghetti
Billy's new mini-spaghetti western movie. Dude is non-stop:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5NJeNNz_iY
The Good, the Bad, and the Billy
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: cultivate kindness
> Dude has hit No. 1 on the
> Dude has hit No. 1 on the Billboard album chart.
And that's not just Number One in Turlock, CA, I'm thinking.
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Mice elf
rumored sequels
rumored sequels
For A Few Blotters More
The Hellbillys
Two Mules For Little Maggie
High Plains Pickster
Top of Page Bottom of Page PermalinkFull Name: Dr. Benway
As for your comments about
IME, unless someone is seriously disregarding their body and living something resembling a homeless/street life, or they experience serious damage from improper injection and/or xylazine induced necrosis, short term opiate use really isnt that hard on the body and does not produce lasting health effects on the same level that things like meth or alcohol can, and compared to the average drug addict, especially the average opiate addict, billy's period of hard drug use was pretty brief.
just look at junkies like burroughs - dude knew how to properly and safely inject, had the money to maintain a somewhat normal middle class type of life, lived to the ripe old age of 83, and kept pursuing his art up to his death, all while addicted to heroin right up until the end. looking at what we know about billy's past drug use, even if he was regularly using heroin, its far more likely that any lasting health effects would be due to meth, alcohol, or lifestyle. billy's period of hard drug use, afaik, predates the explosion of things likefent/fent analouges, xylazine and nitrazines, so health effects relating to those things would not have been a consideration like they are for opiate users today.
personally, i have a lot of empathy for billy wanting to dial back the bigger stage production and overall "monster", but if playing more traditional bluegrass to smaller crowds means there will be less hard hitting, creative, and long improvisations, id be pretty bummed out. IMO his strong roots in bluegrass is a huge part of what makes the jamband/GD show format work so well for him and causes him to avoid the jamband cheese that such a huge majority of jambands fall into, but still, at the end of the day, the primary draw for me are the psychedelic improvisations. honestly i couldnt see myself going out of my way to see billy if he isnt jamming, although id be fine with no lights, a smaller crowd, and more traditional bluegrass songs bookending big psychedelic jams.