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What’s up Sorry State readers? I hope everyone has had a nice week. We’re finally getting some warmer weather here, and that spring feeling is in the air. I’m welcoming it with open arms; I could use a break from the winter weather. Last week, I made the annual February pilgrimage to Asheville to catch four nights of Billy Strings. It was nice cause they split the shows up to have an off day in the middle. A show Tuesday and Wednesday night and then Thursday off, followed by two more shows on Friday and Saturday night. The break on Thursday night was a nice breather in the middle to keep things fresh. Over the four nights, 96 songs were played with no repeats. That’s what keeps me coming back; no two shows are ever the same and can feel totally different. Lots of originals played and some real choice covers spanning Jimi Hendrix, Doc Watson, Bob Dylan and more. Sydney and I were in agreement that Friday night was our favorite night of the run. The energy was off the charts and the long, psychedelic jams were flowing. My personal highlight from that night was the 22-minute ripping version of his original song Hide and Seek that blasted off into space and then came back down to earth before going into a cover of Ralph Stanley’s I Only Exist. Even with all the shows I’d been to, I’d never heard that one before in person and was happy to finally catch it. A somber song about feeling so down in the dumps you don’t even feel like you’re alive, merely just existing and going through the motions of life. I’m sure that’s a feeling most of us have felt at some point or another. I always love when they play some crazy, long-ass song that sends your mind to another dimension, but then grounds the plane with some good ‘ol fashioned bluegrass. It just feels right. The whole city of Asheville turns into a giant circus of people who came to see the shows, and everyone is in on it. Every restaurant you go to has special menu items, and every waiter is talking about how either they’re going to the shows themselves or someone they know is attending. The damn mayor even came out on stage the final night and gave Billy the key to the city cause they love him so much. Since 2021, he’s played 19 consecutive sold-out shows there, and she talked about what a huge impact he made when he played there last year after the hurricane, bringing a lot of business when the city needed it most. Asheville loves Billy and I think he feels the same way. I think he’ll be playing there for a long time and I plan to be in attendance every time. Thank you Asheville and the band for another wonderful week in the mountains!