Billy Strings Pays Tribute to John Hartford with Suite of Covers, Debut Blind Melon’s “No Rain” During Night Two of New Year’s Eve Run

Photo Credit: Stevo Rood

Billy Strings continued his New Year’s Eve run last night, Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, returning to UNO Lakefront Arena for the second of three concerts at the New Orleans venue. After warming up on Sunday evening with a pair of debuts, the namesake and his band were eager to come back with more tricks up their sleeves than night one. Strings used the concert’s framework to weave in memorable moments for attendees, from an extensive suite of John Hartford covers to mark the bluegrass great’s December 30 birthday to a first-time delivery of Blind Melon’s “No Rain,” which doubled as a nod to the Big Easy, and in turn, the song’s leader, Shannon Hoon. 

The ascent of Monday night’s performance got its wind on Highway Prayers’ “Malfunction Junction,” combined with “Know It All.” It represented an amalgamated two-song start, setting the tone for thoughtfully placed sequences that would wade in and out of the setlist. To that effect, “Fire Line” ran into Frank Wakefield’s “End of the Rainbow,” the latter extended further and, without stopping, fused to “Dealing Despair.” Strings and company used newer numbers, “Seney Stretch” and “Don’t Be Calling Me (At 4 am), to present an entry into set one’s final original, “Heartbeat of America.” 

For keen listeners and fans of the bluegrass/ folk trope, knowing Hartford’s Dec. 30 birthday might have been a factor in securing their ticket in the hopes of hearing choice covers during Monday’s stand. Sure enough, the alignment of time gifted the audience a suite of four songs: the Hartford-associated, traditional “Roving Gambler” (also a nod to the NYE concerts’ theme), followed by “With a Vamp in the Middle,” “All Fall Down” and “Way Down the River Road,” sans pause. 

Set two saw a return to Strings’ typical concert format, originals and thoughtfully placed covers that showed off the prowess of each player. After “Escanaba” was played, the band added a new song to their repertoire, performing Blind Melon’s “No Rain” for the first time. Notably, the play had a much deeper meaning than just a fan favorite of the ‘90s; the song’s leader, Hoon, passed away in New Orleans before BM’s scheduled tour stop at Tipitina’s on Oct. 21, 1995, adding a layer of lore to this particular cover. 

 Following the night’s debut, “Gild the Lily” was one of the night’s best-received plays, arriving ahead of another pair of covers, this time Jimmy Martin’s “Sophronie” and a final ode to Hartford, this time led by Billy Failing, on the well-loved “Steam Powered Aereo Plane.” To end the set, the group delivered “Hide and Seek” before shifting and assembling around a single mic for the night’s encore of “Richard Petty” and “Uncle Pen.” 

Notably, during Strings’ 2023 NYE run in New Orleans, he also paid tribute to Hartford with an expressive suite of covers in homage to the great.

Strings will return to UNO Lakefront Arena tonight to ring in 2025 with a final performance. For tickets and more information on Strings’ future touring plans, visit billystrings.com. For those unable to attend in person, stream tonight’s concert via nugs.net.

Billy Strings 

UNO Lakefront Arena – New Orleans 

Dec. 30, 2024

Set I: Malfunction Junction > Know It All, Fire Line, End of the Rainbow > Dealing Despair, Seney Stretch, Don’t Be Calling Me (At 4 am), Heartbeat of America, Roving Gambler, With a Vamp in the Middle > All Fall Down > Way Down the River Road

Set II: Hellbender, Dust in a Baggie > Going to the Races, This Old World, Red Rocking Chair, Love and Regret, Cabin Song, Escanaba, No Rain#, Gild the Lily, Sophronie, Steam Powered Aereo Plane^, Hide and Seek 

Enc.: Richard Petty+, Uncle Pen+

Notes:

# Debut, first time played 

^ Billy Failing lead vocals 

+ Band around one mic