Article Contributed by Russ Boxer
Published on December 17, 2025
Billy Strings | Moody Center — Austin, TX | Saturday, December 13, 2025 | photos by Russ Boxer
Billy Strings and company brought the heat back to Austin on Saturday night, December 13, 2025, lighting up the Moody Center with two unforgettable sets that balanced technical firepower with deep emotional resonance.
The band—Billy Strings on guitar, Billy Failing on banjo, Royal Masat on bass, Jarrod Walker on mandolin, and Alex Hargreaves on fiddle—continues to push the boundaries of modern bluegrass while honoring its roots. In Austin, they leaned fully into that duality, delivering a setlist that flowed like a conversation rather than a checklist.
The first set opened with “Red Daisy,” a lively and familiar entry point that immediately snapped the room into focus. From there, “California Sober” rolled in with its laid-back groove, offering a moment of communal sway before the band shifted gears.
“Run Down” and “Away from the Mire” followed, the latter stretching into one of the early exploratory moments of the night, with Strings and Failing weaving lines that felt both restless and intentional. “New Country Blues” grounded the set in tradition, while “Show Me the Door” added a dose of raw emotional clarity.
The mid-set run of “The Lonesome River” into “Running” felt especially poignant, the band locking into a groove that pulsed with momentum and longing. After a bit of Billy banter, the group slid into “Seney Stretch,” offering a quieter, more reflective pocket before revving things back up.
“Don’t Be Callin’ Me (at 4AM)” brought humor and swagger, setting the stage for one of the standout transitions of the set: “Dust > Love or Confusion.” The seamless segue nodded to Jimi Hendrix while allowing the band to fully open things up, with Hargreaves’ fiddle soaring and Masat anchoring the chaos below.
After thanking the crowd, the set closed with “Gild the Lily,” a thoughtful and textured ending that felt like a deep breath before intermission. I will never get sick of that song.
The second set kicked off strong with “Taking Water > Ice Bridges,” a pairing that showcased the band’s dynamic range—from urgent propulsion to intricate, winding passages. “Age” followed, its lyrics landing with quiet weight, while “Ain’t It a Cold, Cold World” leaned into old-time grit and resilience.
After Billy storytime, “Long Forgotten Dream” unfolded slowly and deliberately, drawing the audience into its reflective core. “Home” felt especially fitting in a city like Austin, resonating with themes of belonging and rootedness that echoed throughout the night.
The band then injected a bit of playful nostalgia with “Smoke Smoke That Cigarette,” before tearing into “Know It All” and “Richard Petty,” both delivered with eloquence and precision. It was crowd-pleasing intensity. “How Long Have I Been Waitin’ on You” added a tender, yearning moment, balancing the set’s forward momentum.
As the night edged toward its peak, “Crossing Muddy Water” offered a moment of reverence before the band dove headlong into “Creek,” a high-energy closer that sent the room into a frenzy.
For the encore, the band returned with “Drifter’s Escape,” a fitting exclamation point—bold, defiant, and unrelenting—leaving the audience buzzing long after the final notes rang out.
A Personal Homecoming
This show carried personal weight for me. I recently relocated from Chicago to Austin, and as excited as I was to catch Billy Strings in my new hometown, I couldn’t shake the quiet anxiety of walking into a massive arena without knowing a single soul.
That feeling didn’t last long.
As I pulled up to the Moody Center, the very first person I ran into was Sam Gordon—friend, familiar face, and owner of one of the coolest tie-dye operations I’ve ever encountered: Toasted Goat Treasures. Sam had camped overnight and lined up early that morning to secure a spot on the rail for his 33rd Billy Strings show.
If you’ve spent any time around this scene, you’ve likely seen his artwork swirling through the crowd. If not, you can find Toasted Goat Treasures on Facebook, Instagram, or Etsy.
Moments like that are reminders of why this music matters. Billy Strings fans aren’t just an audience—they’re a community. No matter the city, if you’ve been around long enough, you’ll always find your people.
Saturday night in Austin felt like a homecoming, even in a city that’s still new to me. And that, more than anything, is the enduring power of this scene: the music brings you in, but the family makes you stay.
