Hey if you live in the Portland area we live in the Denver area and you've heard a fire on the mountain and you've never been there you should remedy that as soon as possible it's time to go it is definitely time to go the weather's getting cooler and you need some hot new belly that taste delicious that's the spot fire on the mountain go check it out the best chicken wings you ever had your life specials at each location there's three locations here in Portland two in Denver and apple we talking about just a minute all these amazing beers at their borough not that yeah I was talking about they may first well this is like such an awesome place to go hang out with your family and friends were talking very inviting got a great atmosphere very ambient and then of course they've got these amazing beers at apple's been yep about bigots that they got the well like all the craft beers they got special ones for certain seasons everything you're like national one for ladies and they have the electric I missed out person and they have the electric mud which is a chocolate chocolate chocolate chocolate oatmeal stout wonder and ride which is a golden ale which they say pairs great with their wings very Pollock cleanser and I love that this once this witty it's %HESITATION Hoosier amber with a question mark like users are who's your employer get it yeah and they have the the other staples red headed stranger lefty lag or I mean you got to go and check out they got a great list of craft beers for you to sample that they make on their own if you go to the at the Fremont location that's where the brewery is you can see it it's right next door to the location there this like they're saying this is a super dope place to go hang out kick it if you're looking for a place to like have your holiday party for it with your office or go kick it before a concert to go get something to eat have some fun yeah like meeting collaboration over some wings and they have deep fried oreos man changed so that too fried oreos they got me but good luck saving room for dessert though right out of each location has specials each month so go to their website at Portland wings dot com and check out what they got going on each of the locations like I said there's three here in Portland two in Denver and check this out if you don't live in these areas and you hear this in your mouth water in our stomachs empty go online to port the wings dot com give yourself some other sauce make that stuff at home listen to no simple road it'll be a whole transcendent chicken wing experience you'll have even if it's like if you sat in the lotus position and you can eat the chicken wings I think you might levitate that's right fire on the mountain check it out what you want me to wait I'm not waiting here we go when expecting you to wear shop tour we look at a lot going on these things holidays are not around the corner anymore there are there are right in front of your house hanging out going Hey what are you gonna get us for the holidays well %HESITATION that shocked her bus dot com to get the Grateful Dead inspired merch they have and then give that to somebody that you love it's in your life mile over the holidays because that is exactly what's going to happen when they open the hand designed box without all over print %HESITATION what is it all over print design thank you all over the box with all the extras that are there and some of you folks are going to get a Grateful Dead may may right so you're not just gonna like oh Hey I got you something from all of these men and give it to it's not fully open like oh my god I got a cassette tape it's building and you know they're gonna do too they're gonna smile when they open it they can smile to get that bootleg and wait till they put you or them we give this to put it on and when you have the comfort they're gonna smile again that's right and they had a much stuff going on right now your gonna smile because you're getting free shipping when you put in the promo code no simple road when you check out all one word road you were going to get free shipping where they got going on apple tell me tell you a lot what I told you the unlock code all they are from a lot they have they have the numerical designed and they have that in the hoodies and the T. shirts available now it what is it November and November the drop in the attics of my life design that this came up with and now they have the not fade away run of tees and hoodies with that Cadillac deville on the front yeah yeah they got a lot they're busy over there so yep it's that time of year go to shop tour bus dot com or ask shop tour bus and Instagram put in the promo code no simple road all one word get yourself something get somebody else something gets up make yourself happy Sweden Germany the Netherlands Germany United Kingdom all the way up until Ireland United can then they come back take a Christmas break and they kick it off December thirtieth again in New Orleans you know I I hit record why you're saying all that just because it was so interesting eight they're they're taking a break for thanksgiving that that right thanksgiving and Christmas to be with family and then discontinued this amazing tour that Billy strings in the boys and blowing up and everybody we didn't see you there how you doing is there an NML an apple this campaign under some broad family were back and we are super stoked this week to have Billy failing a week from Billy strings band are banjo brother yeah man this is a momentous occasion for no simple road we've got one more member of Billy strings band on the show we're gonna work our way across that stage slowly but surely and %HESITATION we had a blast talking with Billy about his journey and his lifespan all the good stuff and you're going to hear all about it here in a minute and Hey if this is your first time listening to no simple road well the Welton we appreciate welcome to your new favorite podcast and you're in you know you're asking yourself probably at this point like why do I care about these people who cares if they talk to you know to somebody I what do I want to hear from them for well let me tell you we are aficionados we dare I say experts I'm totally kidding we are %HESITATION just music fans like you guys man and %HESITATION we just happened to have started this podcast N. love having these conversations so we get to talk to really awesome people about some really fun stuff search yeah N. you know it's amazing how much just even one single conversation can change the way that you experience live music like talking with the musicians and then going and seeing them play really did alter the whole concert going experience for us and I hope that that's what these conversations do for all you out there like we all love Billy strings with a Billy failing we love the music and then you hear them and you hear who they are and who the person is and you go to the show and that experience you're having at the shows no deeper because you're connected to that person energetically and also like you're rooting for your friend that's up there jamming on the stage and that's fucking cool N. two huge honor for us to be able to do the show in the first place but it's even double he John %HESITATION for us to be able to like be involved in your live music experience in helping make that did help me get to know somebody better weather home life their personal life there like say that it really does connect to you and that's our goal and if you are a listener than welcome back again yeah yeah it's we gotta get a sound bite of that song what yeah I'm sure a lot of the area and the you know we are in the last few weeks have changed the the format of the show so what we used to do is we would have the conversation with whoever we're talking to and then after the conversation with the artist or musician or whoever then there would be like another one hour after that of us just hanging out talking to each other and %HESITATION we had a suggestion from a listener a few weeks ago from sky dog and he was like Hey man why don't you guys make the %HESITATION interviews standalone episodes and then you're saying that you do at the end make that a standalone episode put it out on a different day so we're getting two drops in the same week and we were like you know what let's give it a shot and see how it goes and I think is going pretty good I think so too I mean we've gotten good feedback so far so good I haven't heard anybody mention that they didn't like it so that's a plus okay I like are into it got pretty interesting because it's over any errands posed a couple interesting questions that took us down a rabbit hole hopefully we learned about each other as well as ourselves discussing stuff without talking to yourself and so and and so the reason I say that so what we're skews me so what we're doing is on Fridays were dropped in these episodes with our interviews and then on Mondays were dropping the standalone episode of us just hanging out and %HESITATION this coming Monday it is Halloween almost at thanksgiving this coming save that all we have this coming Monday is Halloween and because it's a holiday we wanted to do something kind of special for all of you and the same listener's guide dog hit me up a few weeks ago was like Hey man I'm gonna put together a quiz show for you guys and work with you what would you guys be down to do a quiz show with me we're like yeah we would so last weekend we record he did he get that shit out of the park yeah like literally knocked it out of the park %HESITATION he put together an entire thank you well how would you describe it an entire quiz show he got five segments wrote nine questions for each segment created an entire chaos around that changed the trajectory whether if you're winning or losing by that point and made it super fun and he also tailor made it to our knowledge basic area I would say the most part yeah there was a bunch of Grateful Dead questions in there there was yeah he threw some trickery in there too and %HESITATION yeah some fun things a year you're we had so much fun with this is like mater Sunday and we've been that we were talking about all that night and for several days afterwards it was funny the questions that are that are brought up and then you wait wait till you hear this we had so much fun doing this we are laughing in it we had the time flew by like that I like and I really did right so my point in in I want to do it every week hello yeah right my point in telling you that is that on Monday we're gonna be dropping the quiz show for all of you is a little special treat for Halloween the trick or treat day so yeah man that's coming up and it got highly competitive it did get out things are still kind of terse around here but let me tell you nothing you sales in comparison to having a member of the Billy strings band on a simple road we are super honored that Billy failing spend some time with us always grateful for the time that the musicians get to spend with us but definitely especially %HESITATION in between tours you know when you just kind of want to kick it in late leave that life behind for a minute and to be able to spend some time talking about you know all your amazing accomplishments and fun things that you're up to they're really awesome ten time you know the meteoric rise of Billy strings and Billy strings band and the you know the they are very sought after for everything right now and for that for any of them to come and sit down with us is is really cool yeah so I I really appreciate it Billy thank you so much ma'am for being so gracious with their time and hanging out with this and it was a blast and anytime you want to come back and promote anything we're here for you brother and so everybody I think we're gonna get you to the interview is that sound good we're gonna do any business yeah we got a little bit of business say we got all the neighbors do little business and then get to it okay that sounds good go to W. W. W. dot no simple road dot com that is where you can sign up for the no simple road newsletter you can get noticeable road merch there it is the holiday season and you know what what better thing to get somebody that is part of the no simple road family since November of March yeah T. shirts and hoodies and coffee cups and fun stuff that you'll actually use and that will look good on you and the people that you love you can also if you don't want to get like another hoodie or another T. shirt and you don't know what to get somebody melon I do one hour terror readings with the Grateful Dead tarot deck so you can sign up for terror reading there and %HESITATION you will get a one hour terror reading over zoom with Mel and I and you will get a play list based on the cars the people because each card in the Grateful Dead terra tech represents a Grateful Dead character or song that's right %HESITATION you will get a synopsis of your reading and an audio recording of it and pictures of all the cars you because those cards I mean it's a does really good and super fun deal yeah so you can go to click on the merge tabmis emperor dot com and the first thing that comes up there is a terrorist and you can sign up and schedule it there hello no simple wrote at no simple wrote on Twitter Instagram and Facebook also you want to do something really amazing for the holidays you can become a monetary contributor to the no simple root cause of spreading love light and happiness into the universe by going to patrie on dot com forward slash no simple road and becoming a patron you can sign up for as little as a Buck a month that's what it's less than a quarter shots twelve and twelve and a half cents now for breaking it saying if you were if you think that in our interview with Billy failing is worth twelve and a half cents you can go to patriarch dot com sign up become patron and then you will be putting fuel in the twelve have said they're going to buy you much in this world federal by you would open up a soda no Sapporo okay all right all bullshit aside what name me one thing either of you that twelve and a half cents will buy you know I can't think of anything a dime and two pennies and said not to get that yeah nothing nothing I would say that those may be the bazooka gum thanks they could maybe get that may be confirming because a where are you going to find the solo one they are dying yeah in a place on time whatever if you want to do some for the show that doesn't cost anything you can go to apple podcasts and you can leave a five star review you know what I did the other day what I went through my apple podcast app the library of my apple podcast app and I five starred every show that I follow on the apple podcast well that's great you know because if if there if I'm following them I listen to me every week and if I haven't given them a five star you all know how much yeah so take a minute just go through there and drop us a five star or leave us a review in there that would be super dope to has anybody left us any yeah I just got a new review did we get in October yes we did okay now got a birthday month once acted as having to you right now all right so well then I will there's still a little time left as the weekend give give us a Halloween review %HESITATION the mail have to birthday month for %HESITATION and then we'll see what we can do for Erin in November cool all right and the you can call nine seven one eight oh eight fifteen twenty four that number again is nine seven one eight eight eight fifteen twenty twenty four and that is the type that line that's right it's not hot it's not coal is tepid you call it tell a story about the last show you went to that time you saw what should his pants and have to run the party party or you saw a naked guy fallout %HESITATION I don't know you could find a tent at the festival or some kind of story or you can add to the noticeable road cookbook which is right worked on we just need more submissions Vanessa provision something that you do for the public holiday recipe all that being said some holiday some spooky recipe or as traditional thanksgiving recipe from your culture or the way your family does it be cool right yeah so that's nine seven one eight two eight fifteen twenty four the notes of Perot tepid line and I think we're done with the business and ready to get on with this year I know I'm ready to listen yeah yeah the last bit of business like we always say is open your mouth tell a friend tell a family member about us there's something for everybody we've had a lot of guests yeah like I said in the beginning if this is your first time listening to know some Perot welcome to the family we love via thanks so much for turn in the sun and tuning in and dropping in with us and I really really know you're gonna dig this conversation of Billy failing so without further ado the no simple road crew gives you daily failing the name so the many so it took me a minute to remember but what what do you have or have you been busy yourself now just hanging out around the house taking up the garden you know and %HESITATION %HESITATION Billy on Erin nice to meet you Aaron's nice to meet you too man and you know if you know your microphone this by the way I was just talking in the space yep that's Mel as she said and then I'm apple the third member here read on good to meet you guys man %HESITATION I'm you know like apple said you've been you've been a busy cat Billy been very busy it's a so good stuff though yeah yeah it's amazing that in time it's a trip to watch man like from the outside of this you know as a as a fan and spectator to what's going on I can't even imagine how you feel like it it it's gonna be the most surreal trippy thing ever it is yeah I mean that you know can I come in from you know where Billy you know where I started with billion kind of where we're at now it's it's quite the the transformations it's all super a super exciting stuff I mean we were looking up like you know trying to do your research before getting on with the other night you were waiting tables right when I was yeah can you tell us a little bit about like how that started how you guys got together yeah sure so %HESITATION yeah I mean I I guess you know if you rewind too you know twenty thirteen twenty fourteen kind of that range in there you know I was I was just out of college kind of you know knew that I wanted to have a career in music but you know it's the classic thing where like you know it takes time for it to develop into something where you're able to support yourself so I you know I lived in New York for a while I was waiting tables there and %HESITATION you know playing gigs at night and that's actually there is a bluegrass jam in New York City at a bar called Mona's okay and %HESITATION yeah Billy Billy and don julen we're playing the city winery and they stop by the moon is jam after you know I think they're playing with del and Dawg okay city winery and %HESITATION you know billion dont stop by and I was at the gym so that's that's actually originally where I met Billy and so you know fast forward several months to a year %HESITATION I moved to Nashville and %HESITATION you know again it was kind of starting a new era and a new the new city so you know I was doing kind of whatever I needed to do to get to make ends meet and %HESITATION actually I was hanging out with the my friend just real Kevin linsey live at their place back then and %HESITATION they they mention that Billy was moving to %HESITATION to Nashville and I had sort of you know I I'd seen billion don play at the festival called Ron you know just a little bit before that and so I was like yeah I had kind of a wild idea that maybe he'd be looking for a banjo player so that's the while you're Clinton you know we we kind of reconnected at that point and I was able to kind of hop on %HESITATION abilities transparencies wow you know that go ahead apple well that I would say I was just gonna Adams with at the beginning I was gonna say that because we like we said we were allowed me an errant no end up reading the same article were were in your home town we're up here in Portland Oregon well yeah when I saw that it was like a hotel piece from Portland and as Salt Lake like one of your favorite places to play is revolution hall %HESITATION yeah which is one of our favorites and then your brother your brother still work there yeah he does and one of our favorite we go there it's like stepping back in time it's like going to high school it's like going to you know to the assembly or something and then you go on that dope venue and it just they we we just saw %HESITATION to feel and friends there a couple weeks ago %HESITATION suite yeah and then we had the extreme pleasure of seeing you got you wouldn't believe playing out at Edgefield %HESITATION yeah when you guys add those two days which there start to put on great events there again in that places so it's so inviting and so comfortable even when it's sold out it is there's room to dance and play and have fun and yeah blew us away yeah yeah it it's amazing I had been I had been a bug in your manager prior to the shows and like the Monday after I started late all right you know what fuck it I'm just gonna send email every other day one o'clock all whatever but man it's a well how does it feel free to like come back home and like play these venues that you've been you know that you have gone to yourself and now you're on the other side has a feel for you looking out plan in a beautiful because it's such a beautiful night to those nice yeah right amazing yeah I mean it's those are some of my favorite shows are like being home plan for like my family and you know all my friends from home and stuff like that it kind of makes it you know that much more special and not to mention I you know I've been to a bunch of shows at the edge field and you know all those McMenamins Benny street school can I yet go there with this you know with delay in the band and all that yeah there's there's definitely something special here in Portland it's a yeah the the musical community the people that are going out to see live music here it's it's a different animal we we actually came from Las Vegas like six years ago that's where we all live and I come in from there to here it is a it's a departure man thank you I when we first got here I was like if we go to a show be like it looks like the forest vomited people into the crowd of this place but it's definitely a different thing man and like now that you've had the opportunity to basically go all over the place and play do you see that like the scenes are different from place to place are you getting a feeling of like the when you play venue of what that city in with that crowd is like yeah for sure I mean I I think you know we have a lot of people who like can it come on tour with us instead so it a lot of times we'll see can of the same faces in the front row %HESITATION but you know generally speaking like it's a little different in each of the places you know like Colorado does its own thing Portland is its own thing you know the plan in the south it's its own thing you know I feel like every time we roll through Kentucky it's like a wild and crazy thirty right %HESITATION so mentioned the bluegrass scene in New York City yes that's a thing that's definitely a thing yeah there's there's a lot of great pictures up there %HESITATION and actually %HESITATION our new fiddle player Alex are grades that lives there okay you know still still there in the Brooklyn thing and part of that that community and that's that's a great great bluegrass scene up there you know it the success that you guys are seeing right now is it's touching all music it's really like I feel like we're getting to see something really unique happen right now because yeah it's it's you guys are destroying genre yes John realists it seems like you know simple road is five years old almost six right and was it %HESITATION with read what the first year was it so we had talked with reed Mathis awhile back about the whole idea of genre and and it's like really kind of falling by the wayside but you know in the years passed before say the two thousand years right leg it was all about you know R. M. B. country music you know hip hop and everything was so separated with no account for the artists growth as a creator you know you just kinda have to keep this pumping out the same type of music same kind of album with what Erin was talking about with you and billion what the group band of you guys is doing is creating something that everyone enjoys yeah and it doesn't matter if you're consider self a bluegrass player or not which I mean from your perspective what does that look like to you I mean it may be the normal because that's all you know but for like the older folks like we've seen we've seen that the specific genre categories before so now to see this this is something brand new for us so how do you stand with that like how do you see it oh man yeah I mean I think I'm into it everybody in the band has you know we're not necessarily exclusively like a bluegrass sure N. like out in terms of our influences %HESITATION but yeah I mean in terms of the crowd that were planned to you know it's super cool to see bluegrass people the C. you know people of all ages you know we have when we play Lollapalooza a couple months ago as a bunch of fat we're playing right before Metallica so is a lot of the middle metalhead crowd and you know that it took him a second they're kinda like you know a little bit but you know it is cool to see them kind of getting into it by the end of the set as well that's the that's the thing that like I've noticed is like the metal heads dig it the bluegrass guys dig it the new grass guys dig it people like you know outlaw country dig it the jam band collapsible deadheads it's like that's this it's it's like intersection of everything and you know they we have a buddies names Bryson he he like he tours he goes on tour with you guys when you're around and and %HESITATION yeah I know is bossy wasn't happy when he just took off for two and a half weeks he was wearing he's wearing a shirt and I'm sure you've seen it Billy strings saved music right yeah yeah I I can't imagine from from the flip side from the stage died for you guys as a band seen stuff like that and then stealing that like that responsibility I guess do you feel that like from the fans that that's they're putting that on your do you feel like that's just something organic that's going on honestly you know the most of the flag you know if I feel any pressure of any kind it's mostly coming from myself you know where I'm thinkin like yeah you're your own worst critics I've always kind of trying to hold myself to like a higher standard do you know where honestly like a lot of the people that we play for you know much more forgiving yeah I play a wrong note or something like you know more times than not you know that's something cool and something weird that I played where you know I might view it as a mistake you know listeners are much more kind of %HESITATION giving of that stuff yeah we are own worst critic you say we want and also DVD you get you had a hell of a voice also thank you to listen to you sing with a with Delhi and stuff I mean you did it it just it just amazing in the the %HESITATION like the cast the cast that's up there everybody in the band because I know when we first started out in a lot of people I know you know it was all it it's Billy strings but then we quickly realized we saw you at work peach festival %HESITATION yeah we saw you peach festival this year and that was the first time we got a chance to see you all live and we quickly realized there plus from seeing all the YouTube clip it's like these this is an amazing band everybody on this stage is playing that like their highest level right and seen that it takes it to a whole nother level because it's not just Billy strings it's the entire band I mean you guys keep up with him and put on I love it too because the show like the lighting the whole production it's like subtle it's not too much and everything it's perforated it's just such a great experience is that is that something Billy that's an intentional thing is to keep like the lighting in the stage show a little more secondary to music because like we like going to see a physician and other bands and you know you go sufficient Kuroda's just destroying it with lights all night you're not to the whole time it with you guys it's a different thing the music is more the thing that's melting your face is that is that more intentional on your guises part yeah I mean I know that %HESITATION you know our our lighting guy Rogers super great at what he does like he %HESITATION I think he has a good sense of kind of one or plan you know the blue grassy staff it's like more chill and then when we get into like super psychedelic space in our jams you know then he's kind of cuddly sons okay yeah I saw that with the seconds that will use the second set on that Saturday night %HESITATION yeah you guys I didn't I like apple said the first time we saw you play with a peach and so we didn't get like the full experience of your show but at Edgefield we got the you know full two sets and you guys came out in that second set and honestly man we've seen a lot of bluegrass this year like we did northwestern summit we sing green sky was just we've done a lot of Sinaloa I haven't seen anything like that before it was wholly and totally unique brother Anna just thank you first of all like for what you're doing because like I could afford man you guys are doing something that really hasn't been done in a very long time like you know those guys like Flatt and Scruggs and and Tony rice and they've they've brought bluegrass out of the hills and guys are changing it and it's it's fucking dope brother well yeah I mean it's for us it's like we we look up to those guys you know the ten Tony races and that whole generation and so it's you know we're kind of just plan will the music as we want to play that and you know it's it's cool that there is people that are stoked on it and you know yeah you can go to there's a lot of lot of people are stoked on it you know yeah Billy we also have like another cool connection with Tom next bill yes so when did you start playing in that bill banjo well Sir I got one of his banjos in twenty I guess twenty eighteen okay M. and yes I mean that's that's kind of my main banner that play with on stage %HESITATION is this banter that but from Tom that that just loved it so how did it change your playing if at all or like what you know like the connection what was that for you because that those are some pretty magical instrument they definitely are %HESITATION yeah I mean I think I'm you know the other bands that play with a lot of them to get technical here and it's like a Gibson with the flat fret board and you know more can a classic bluegrass set up %HESITATION where you know that my next bill banjos you know radius fret board it's kind of like you know it this is the way that like the pot works makes it sound good playing then it's it's a very good amplified banjo very kind of playable as well so it's kind of opens up you know improv territory a little bit more %HESITATION you know for the on stage staff in that sense it when we were at %HESITATION at string summit we had the pleasure of talking with Tom for a little while and Mel Mel has never really played an instrument before well no I I never not really never have okay over the pandemic a little bit of like the ukulele but you know something %HESITATION hall but he had the the galaxy with him wow and then there's a picture Mel Stanton where in the galaxy in you could see that like something happened and she was like I want a banjo or learn how to play banjo as did the northwestern summit definitely brought something out in me and and then I think Tom not bill definitely sealed the deal you know that the sound of the banjo is so as it's just very intriguing it so quick and it's so like progressive and it's continuous and I just love that pace I love the pace of a bluegrass banjo and I I didn't know with my easier like again no simple was five years old before that I was just like a random music lover wasn't really paying attention like you're saying like to get you know to get a little heady right like I never get her to get heavy before I didn't I I just enjoyed sounds enjoyed music but then when you start to have more of a discerning ear you really become aware of what sounds you like to hear and what sounds good and what sounds good exactly and so you know I've been hearing the banjo at summit all the listening the dwellers in torrent and like check yes you know %HESITATION just all the grades and I my dear was like that's what it is that's what you love and I was just like blown away so when you know Tom Knechtel brings this gorgeous man you know alike it's like a unicorn you know and you made this thing like what is this crazy you know so I just became like you know kind of like an raptured by it you know and like and I ended up buying a banjo lately I don't know if you ever heard of one of those are seen wanted %HESITATION yeah so I bet that yeah oh my gosh it's adorable it's the cutest thing in the world yeah I like it you know what's great is that like and and this is for you for the other Billy for all of you know Alex all your musicians just your random normal playing no pressure just you guys doing your own thing in our inspiring these people random people older younger kids you know older people to just start playing music and I think that's the best thing that you all are doing is inspiring more music to be played and to be played their way their style is we just doctor cigarette hollow last night yeah they were awesome too and their you know their new players as well and they're fantastic you know so just I mean it and they were very encouraging to you know like very like keep data plug out of don't stop you know and I remember when I bought my banjo lately as the what's the advice you would give he's like don't stop playing and playing and like the two things and so I just remembered that in like like I said just the inspiration of you guys just doing your normal thing your normal everyday plan is really like you know I'm sending messages to people's hearts so right on man read on yes thank you yeah that's something that you know we don't hear very often from you guys is like what turns you on to to this music in like why this it could have been anything handling yeah well I'm I guess well I'm trying to think the first well so my dad had a banjo land around the house because he %HESITATION he doesn't play very much anymore but he for a long time when we pick up the banjo and site I was able to learn a couple tricks from him and around that time I'm my older brother just say showed me yonder mountain string band and so I an alleged under that those you know it was super into them at camp getting started in yeah my dad also had a the Bela Fleck tales from the cue stick planet record I guess the the bluegrass sessions record okay so that %HESITATION yonder mountain elevation record where it kind of the to the early favorites and so yeah I mean I can add you know once my dad taught me some stuff I I kind of sort of just started picking up tidbits on my own %HESITATION and I played electric guitar when I was in high school mainly as like kind of my favorite thing is more into that classic rock side of things but okay and when I got to college you know there I had some friends that I would pick with and so they kind of started being more opportunity to play bluegrass with people and so I can add developed on that track you know just because there is you know it's so spontaneous just take with people and yeah Luisi as opposed to you know getting a practice spacers hi well you interact in it we saw lately like in that article two we realize that living up it's a little different now but there's not a big bluegrass scene out here in the west coast and in Portland area and it sounds like that really going back to the east coast like Berkeley and stuff yeah that up for you a lot for sure yeah I mean I think you know there's there's you know bluegrass musicians almost everywhere that can come out of the woodwork are you know once you know where to look %HESITATION that's very true yeah yeah but yes so I actually lived in Eugene for awhile okay and when do you have %HESITATION for a couple years before I went to Berkeley and that %HESITATION you know I had some friends that packed with there and %HESITATION you know then musician buddy from Portland who was that going to Berkeley any kind of convinced me to audition in you know I I knew that I wanted to pursue music but I wasn't fully kind of committed to it oh wow yeah and so this is that was kind of one of the moments when I made a decision to kind of fully go for it think about them and what a trip like every day we make thousands of decisions that you know I am I gonna turn right at the street to make it take the long way am I gonna have you know a soda or beer like million things that we do that we just like off handedly don't even think about and he sometimes those decisions like am I gonna do the audition for this thing or not like I don't know if I really want to do do you change your entire life it set you on this path that that's insane to think about like that there's this one pivotal moment where your life like turned a corner and now here you are yeah that's crazy don't don't freak out everybody it's okay chill out %HESITATION lack all right shows not over interviews not over we just have to take a break for a minute catch our breath talking to Billy failing and I'm sorry the first thing I do in some cases don't freak out as a free why do people always do that well is this a pause or another shows wind resistance is the pause it's whatever you want it to be that's right really is whatever it is what you mean all right yeah so guess what like if you're not feeling good %HESITATION you want to feel better and you're up in the Portland area you can come and see us at one of our fine sponsors defined premium cannabis we have a location in Hillsboro and one in forest Grove and we will take our time with you will make you feel at home no rush we'll send you out with the discount when you tell us the %HESITATION listener no sample road ten percent we'll give you a free T. shirt one bike to back any leave get more discount could you get fifteen percent on the second visit us a lot of stuff yeah if you keep on visiting an Aston wall make sure that you get taken care of and that you leave our shop with more knowledge and more product to make you happy and Terry on your way and make you feel good yeah they muscle real good are they having like legal weed is all about making you feel better yes so and it's confusing like you said it is when you go in apples can take Kerry or somebody force grows intake area and when you leave you're gonna be happy and you feel great so go check out to find premium cannabis man yeah do it yes it's interesting how many of those you know moments there are because you know I I couldn't you know I can still be working at the restaurant today if I hadn't met bill Ayers you know and %HESITATION doing whatever but if this doesn't anything to do with what we're just talking about but I was just thinking this is a weird for you man like when you talk to people like us and we know shit about you already well I mean I it's not too weird I I know that there is a you know there's interviews that I have done before and stuff like that that's out there already but yeah it's it's cool yeah you know more than weird it's you know just it's nice to know that people are interested in paying attention engine yeah yeah yeah for sure look at those crowds were worth fucking paying attention Billy which is really comfortable with where you're at right now in life is that Oakley right to say that you feel because it seems like you know you're not bothered by it you enjoy it like that the attention you're you're growing clearly as a musician and you're doing your own site stuff right you yeah so yeah here and there you know it's it's been a super particularly like twenty twenty two for me has just been bonkers have busy it's been like you know it had a pretty busy tour schedule my wife and I got married in may all congrats you know we went on our honeymoon %HESITATION you know we just bought a house said so it's like it's one thing after another Vanstone don't let up do you eat it it seems like I don't know if it's just because the lands that were in because we're around the music scene and it seems like after cove it all of us are going through that right now the brakes are off this thing and the train is going a thousand miles an hour for everybody got to make up for after last in you know it's good in a lot of ways and it's hard it's really hard like that I look at your tour schedule and I'm like I don't know how your stand I don't know how you're talking to us right now thank you like two days and then you're you're at it again and then you know yeah um boom boom and up until Halloween you got these huge shows plan like all this stuff going on European tour and I yeah how do you keep your head in all of them and what what grounds you Billy well I think %HESITATION just keep in balance you know like getting to go home to my wife Katie and in our dog Charlie Acadian Charlie %HESITATION you know I I have a lot of a lot of Canada like a different side of things that I'm into when I'm at home like I like to ski %HESITATION like to you know write a mountain bike stuff like that that's completely different from what I do you know on tour as a musician so it's it's so that kinda like not burning out on one thing that's in that balance seven a good good life at home to go home to and I'm off the road what what part of the country are you in I live in Colorado okay that that that's one of the few places that we thought we moved from here ever Colorado is one of the few on the list yep yep what what part of Colorado boulder right now we're in boulder county okay and so you how is nationally what did you leave because of you know Katie or to start new fresh or you know how is that what that move because natural the cool spot for you to be in as well yeah for sure I %HESITATION yeah Katie was out in Colorado and so that was kind of the main motivator yeah that'll do it well in the environment to write is in Colorado so enrages yes so it's it's it's a nice place to go home to you know coming off the road it's a lot of nature and economic some things down %HESITATION seasons yeah we don't have the the desert man there's two seasons hot and cold as it here is different I would imagine the like the just the simple motion that's happening all the time like you're onstage in your plane you're backstage moving around then you're on the bus you're going somewhere else like there's people around all the time when you're on tour when you get home from that is it a little jarring at first like surreal click to to transition from one thing to the other yet I think you know for a really long tour do you know if the tour is been very fast paced it can be kind of like whiplash sometimes you know get getting home and having like free time where you're not on the schedule %HESITATION I I can't even make we just did like small in a five day for day stuff and like coming home after that after five days here were were were worn out or we will not just that not just the war no part but like your home and there's nobody else there in your in the hallway by yourself and it's like oh shit there's nobody else around this is the odd for the you know what I mean I guess that's why I asked you about that because for you guys I imagine it's a thousand miles an hour and then now I'm home but like you said that's that's the stuff that keeps you grounded and keep your head head right I mean otherwise there's nothing hold your feet to the ground it's just see you later yeah I'd say it's you know it is more of kind of just a relief when I'm off the clock you know and I can take a nap whenever I want to you know yes free to see fed you know it's it's kind of a good counterbalance to what about these %HESITATION Halloween shows that you get your alt notorious for last year was it %HESITATION that was about wizard of oz right yeah yeah and then this talking to Dorothy I know I where where these ideas coming from because that sounds like a really fun lake everything from start to finish the planning the costumes the performance the the whole thing here yeah I love that you can get it yeah it's %HESITATION it is super fun actually to kind of have a theme to Aruna shows like that yeah you know it did %HESITATION gives it a fun fun twist but %HESITATION yeah %HESITATION after last last time we'll watch the wizard of us together and we're kind of coming up with ideas how we can like right the set list to mere the story and you know just little little things like that and I think we each learned %HESITATION you know a song from that movie okay I did somewhere over the rainbow all so yeah we're we're starting to get kind of geared up for for this Asheville it's gonna be exciting to see what what we come up with for the S. and hello yes adapted to away from the shire shire hi that just to be honored for a second that like lord of the rings like one of my favorite things ever and when I saw their shows announce I was like I my god I want to be there so bad but yeah yeah next time maybe we'll get into maybe will live stream it it'll be it'll be something I want to say specially at Asheville two week we keep here that's on our list of places we really want to visit because we hear about the scene in Nashville but you're in is it in South Carolina right or is this not national BNFL grand south yeah Asheville South Carolina yeah yeah okay you can easily Fuhrman it might make sure yeah I don't know why that was I had to get that right my head felt that way to Mandela north now okay well and I I I had a question that is gonna be a dumb question the mail right on may even be out answer this at this point I when I saw the interview I don't know what the different styles are a keeper what is a claw hammer claw hammer yeah and like it was one thing that you said you kind of stole it late read that about you isn't as great players you are and then hear your struggle with a certain style what is what is that difference okay so I can do that the usual style that I do is like three finger Scruggs style where you have %HESITATION basically a thumb tack into okay I think your pecs and so that you can of playing these finger picking patterns M. and that's sort of the basis for you know that approach to banjo okay okay the Scruggs style and clawhammer is a little different it's more %HESITATION how can I put it it's like you're not using picks and your kind and I'm using your fore finger and your thumb in this kind of take you where that strum pattern that's a little more percussive right yeah it's definitely more progressive %HESITATION more kind of rhythmic I mean that that three fingers styles not rhythmic but it's it's more of a redneck focus I guess different styles and you don't strumming style yeah yeah okay that explains because our hammer sounds kind of like a Neanderthal you know I I did I got a look that up I I'm glad I wanted to ask you that since even he said he had to struggle with that which trying to cut a deal with her musician that's like really good still struggles with a certain style and stuff because we're always you know everybody's always learning yep and then I remember that too it's funny because when we had we had a belly on the show back to the beginning of quarantine okay does he happened to be a hall everybody was stuck at home so we caught on a day where he was working on his virgin mojito and he was getting ready to go fishing of course and he was talk where we we were amazed to kind of hear him say he's like I don't think I'm that great you know I'm learning every day and to hear that from musicians like you guys that we see on stage it's like first of all that's amazing because how humble and then plus the river you know what what are you gonna do like on the bass then you hit a plateau and why even bother either yeah well yeah I mean it's it's interesting because like you're always it's kind of comforting to know that you can always be better than you are now now there's %HESITATION toward yeah and like having people like Bela Flack that I look up to where it's like you know he's better than I can be in like two lifetimes yeah it's it's sort of comforting in a way because it's like you're always reaching for something and it's never you know you're never quite as a plateau because there's always you know if you keep finding these musicians who are so much better than you to look up to it it kind of keeps keeps you moving forward is that motivation yeah but that's a whole way to think about it man because you know for a long time when I've I've played guitar on and off my whole life rate like when I would see somebody that was amazing at Qatar it will actually do the opposite of what you just said I'd be like why fucking bother you know yeah I mean like I'm never gonna have a good and and I can practice twenty hours a day wouldn't I'll never get there but what you're saying right now is the reason that we have players like you and like Bela and others is because you realize that it doesn't matter well it's it's your expression to lake with your specific billing your specific expression of the banjo verses like you know Tom Sir you know what it even both though they both know how to play and play well and play fantastically it's two different tones to different sounds as two different by Yeltsin different hard yeah there's no way that you can play the same thing even if you know the same notes because it's coming out of you differently and I think that's why especially when you're in a band %HESITATION you know with that like what you are where everyone is so %HESITATION you know they're crafted right there at the peak of their craft but they're not at the top of it yet you know what I mean like there's still like you said more to go so yeah it's kind of a wonderful thing to see like all these incredible expressions of this band that still has so much more to soar to end yeah because you're also doing your personal thing you you as a you know a song writer and and guitar player and banjo player you're yourself yep how cool yeah sure in you know in talking about like inspiration and stuff a lot of the musicians that we speak to an us to were and are inspired by Jeff Austin an early yonder and the that that stuff there's a I can't even I can't even put a word to it I don't know what it is with that it's apparent that there's something magical there because it's so many people's inspiration what was what was your like who introduced you to that and and how did that find you yes so %HESITATION I think my older brother just say showed me yonder for the first time and I think the way it kind of hit me was like you know I I'd I'd heard kind of you know the classic bluegrass you know Stanley brothers kind of stuff like that but yonder kinda hit me a little differently I love all that stuff also just for the for the record right but it is connected to it in a way where it was kind of you know some more like western you know it's Colorado hippies plan bluegrass and so it like I found you know it relatable and on a new level from that but yeah I mean and and there's just you know they have such fun with the music and legs it doesn't follow kind of like the traditional where bluegrass necessarily site that was kind of what what hooked me in we have Josiah and your dad to thing yeah I mean right on well the the does it with the bike the yonder where were we tell people that we we've always kind of liked bluegrass but we didn't really really get into it and tell like start in two thousand eighteen really diving deeper and we saw yonder mountain string band at northwest string summit in eighteen it was the year Jeff passed away right yeah it you know without Jaffe and when we were blown away great show had a great time but in a really good friend of ours band has followed them forever we have from the beginning I was like you guys sit down one one night came over here we're partying we had fun he's like let me take you back to Jay I mean some of the stuff that they David Jaffe all day it was like it was haunting yeah and it was dirty and it was the you know it was heavy and we were like what we had not heard bluegrass like that yes A. like he's like I need to take you on a learning lab school boy let's start at the beginning and it blew our minds because we are familiar more with the the you know the war later written rendition of yonder blew our minds and then also been he's a he's a huge fan and so were we of like kitchen dwellers torrent has that kinda getting ready you know voice and everything and it is state and you said this I forgot who was kind of said the same thing %HESITATION because you're younger and stuff to like you said not discount in the at the traditional stuff but it seemed like Austin and now may I opened it up to this whole new younger generation of musicians like I can do that like this is the I. P. here is this is my great like you said like you like kind of like hippies playing at stop and turned it into a new thing yeah for sure I mean it's the yeah it's kind of just a new energy yeah I hadn't been there before you know it it it opened up a new dimension of bluegrass the you know brought me and honestly like Kenneth through that is where I then worked my way back the more traditional bluegrass that kind of in a sense open that up for me %HESITATION same name for me kindly go backwards learning which is kind of cool like you get pulled in by one thing and then it makes you kind of want to learn the structure and education and the history behind it and then when you know those things and you can also update and evolve that as well as traditional styles but the way that you like to you know rock psychedelic Lee and kind of go off in the jams well in those players that we're talking about from the traditional guys up through now have all left their particular mark on music the I know that we don't get to pick as people but Billy like if you could choose what your market is on on music in this John or what would it be well I think that I don't know it's hard to say I do that's a tough question is a tough one I guess just bringing in new sounds to the genre you know I eight I try to kind of play true to like how I feel the music and you know bring my expression to it and you know just help you can add to this rich for music yeah yeah I mean just you know I I think there's like a lot that I want to do musically like even kind of beyond this as well do you know what are the what are the plans for the Billy failing band like what's there is anything going on right now are you do not not a ton going on right now I mean I I think kind of the primary focuses do you know what I'm doing to Billy but like there is it's cool there's there's room in that as well for you know like for the renewal album might contributed to some of the writing for a couple the tunes on that and %HESITATION but yeah I mean it it's you know I I figure at some point there will be %HESITATION sometime I hope to record another album at some point right on you know on my own you guys time you guys just did the the renewal festival and and %HESITATION %HESITATION that looks so fun that looked set in around seven fun yeah what was we weren't there all I see is pictures of you guys playing on this island with everybody in in the wall what what was I looking at okay so we %HESITATION we had a set the planned there's a stage set up on the island nine this pond and I guess is kind of more of a peninsula but Scotty our friend to that you know puts on winter wonder grass and that all side of things he was %HESITATION he put us in a boat and %HESITATION was throwing us across the ponds to the stage hell yeah and you know all the all the the festival were kind of floating around says so this is gonna be in the midst of that is this announced that you guys are just like all of a sudden in the boat thank you is and I'm not sure when it was announced but I think it might have been kind of day or a day before it kind of a thing yes Sir relatively spontaneous love it and then we're you know I think it's the first time I've arrived to the stage via boat can you just see the memes but many of the memes online about it I haven't do the funny as shit man that one of them was a you know the famous painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware yes and it was like billion the boys pulling up to the renewal set like and you guys are awesome that's great with the pictures that festival and that weekend and just everything that is very intimate did it for a festival it look because I mean we've been going to festivals all summer long but when I saw the pictures of that I was like wow that looks like a hang out in a festival they doing yoga and like you said the Ponda justly seem very friendly yeah this party ever in his backyard so yeah he was like yeah it was it was a ton of fun it was %HESITATION you know for us getting to hang out around one of best %HESITATION and around the festival ground I the kid in a red our bikes around the %HESITATION the campground and %HESITATION yeah that's been one of the stats kind of the start of like peak fall seasons all the leaves are changing it's just super beautiful right on %HESITATION got to do a little fishing one of the morning's %HESITATION so that's that's on the list now I know in plants here and now well believe thank you so much for being so rad and just sharing time with us and your talents and and unsparing me too late personally like same thing that you've seen you know artists that are like well like you have a very humble and gratitude fit lake attitude you know and it it comes through and then you also kick ass and I had that same awesome combinations you know like sweetness and I'm gonna rock your face off and so I just want to say thank you for those things and and for spending time so that %HESITATION our audience can know who you are and you do a little bit more about you know why we love you all so much you know absolutely didn't have to do thank you guys and I it's I got when I put one last question before we go because this is something that I love being here in Portland you know cannabis being legal more around the country and everything I'm the inventory manager for two dispensaries there's there's a there's a back and forth on how you deal we'd like Erin Erin Erin is one he's like he's like the mystique and like that outlaw part of it it has been taken away from it because belly is very open about his smoking because you can be now and then I'd like to see him hanging out with Willie Nelson Willie Nelson was like the pot smoking outlaw them did you know you did it in the cops spaces he didn't care yeah and now belly is kind of like the the will E. N. and the van to you you know it I'm just wondering what kind of what your take is on that because it's not a bad thing now and people cannot say that stoners can't get shit done anymore yeah well I think it's you know it's good it's I think for myself personally I I I I don't smoke very much just because I personally don't get shit done that yet some people are like yeah I but yeah I mean I think it's good I think it's you know it's normalizing its you know this this thing that that so many of us do that like why should there be a stigma around at all greed hundred percent it's cool it cool it bill is Canada you know taken that %HESITATION stance yeah and it and it's a whole lot better the thing I admire with that that too with though it is it's a whole lot better than promoting alcohol you know yeah share you know you brought some up before we go like what was that like plan of Willie N. like that's %HESITATION and bananas man it was it was pretty special %HESITATION you know each each night we come out for at can of the second to last song of his set which is that well the circle will the circle be unbroken and %HESITATION I'll fly away Canada as a medley and %HESITATION yeah bill is playing guitar and then the rest of the band with being gathered around like saying and and it is just super cool %HESITATION yeah one of the nice we got sing with Charley Crockett who I'm a big fan of it and do you know yeah well that's just right afterwards you know well I cannot state with Charlie crack it we're like oh man like it was so awesome I could see it in your eyes that's got to be like yeah that's gonna be like goose bumps T. like holy shit I'm getting goose bumps on stage playing with my heroes like you yeah you know it last question with like we were saying at the very beginning like theirs you guys have this huge groundswell interview this wave of motion and momentum going on right now and it's a lot like we said we were all home for two years and now the brakes are often we're going a hundred miles an hour for you what's the best part of all of this man I think just getting to play music and connect with people who are into it you know it's the music set the the forefront in %HESITATION just getting the make this the focus of my life you know it's I couldn't ask for anything better than basketball or better answer much more continued success and you know go higher without smoking when you come back to Portland Billy if you I mean you got family in and stuff up here but we need anything you know rap man doors open and yeah I hope to hope to connect with you guys at some point yeah I have a feeling we may be at renewal next year so yeah and a big congratulations again on Wednesday yeah you together I yeah we're we're pretty excited about it all you should be here Gratz and much brother will talk to you soon thanks thank you so much thank you guys his brother okay all right everybody was awesome yeah his voice at the end he sounded so like happy and alive and show yeah well I love the response of times of people aren't quite sure of what they're walking into and there's three of the first thing you see is also our studio up all these colorful lights and stuff and three of us staring at you gotta be weird man it had to be weird and also I would think like when you're used to being on the stage N. interacting with a crowd and not like that like one on one with fans yeah it's gotta be weird to man and he's fucking rad yes that was so much fun that was so much fun I like I said in the beginning I it's it's an honor for us to have anybody from Billy strings band on the show and Billy is a very gracious dude to take time with us as busy as they are that tour that they're doing right now is but manis yeah and then the tour just rolls on over into more to %HESITATION that's why it's so nice to see you get a nice little chunk of thanksgiving break nice little chunk of Christmas they're doing the whole European error can you imagine going over being in Europe in Norway and Switzerland and Ireland like I was sick of the holidays all right thinking a resident said Dale I was like I wonder how many folks from the U. S. the because there's a lot of people that do Billy strings tour out I wonder if a big portion of those people are going to be doing like going to Europe to do the European tour I thank you theft law you got some coin do that I was a little early I mean it's not like to hop on the bus across the Atlantic you know what I have been more than amazed in my lifetime to see the tenacity of Musicland insinuating internet live music community met life I I know people that have gone on tour with a ten dollar bill in their wallet like N. got into every show so you know I I don't put it past our our people out there but I just wonder how many people are gonna like go do the whole European thing and then also I wonder what the %HESITATION what the reception is like in Europe and Europe for bluegrass well we we talked to a guy can't be great we talked to several people got over their plates and it's amazing yeah I mean what specially like when you're playing Ireland were totally when we had when we had our early on with the chieftains stuff and everything I mean it it's the roots are over there yeah like the medieval music the Irish we like I mean there's there's deep roots and we turned it into bluegrass over once in the back good music it's a great reception everywhere yeah yeah that's true and believe in those guys are bring in it so it's I I would be really curious to see to like physically see the crowd at a Billy strings show in like Dublin yeah what does that crowd look like I want pictures of that guys if you could put those up on your Instagram that would be sued that that think that's one I'd pick out of the European tour Norway and Ireland yeah both of those super rad so yes like we said we will be back on Monday with the very first ever know simple road quiz show hosted by sky dog disciple and %HESITATION I look if you want to have a good time on your way to work %HESITATION I'm home from work on Monday system silly as shit too it's very silly and super fun so far and we got to make fun of each other %HESITATION we got a little heated low competition going on I'll just say this one of the questions I'm gonna give you up what he called a teaser teaser one of the questions was who could do the best impression of Christopher Walken yeah that's it yeah I mean that there is a certain kind of way oh man so yeah that's coming on a Monday so keep a keep your ear to the ground it'll be coming out at four A. M. Pacific seven A. M. eastern that's correct S. house that's where house drop in and and %HESITATION does to anybody that's like listen at four AM Pacific time the rocks well you know what people look up early for work go Fishin yeah other things out so here's my thought process behind that if I put it out of four here it comes out at seven eastern people on the east coast or driving to work and they got it and they have it I like to say I'm thinking of our house those people or or Philly or %HESITATION Delaware %HESITATION you get the PAF Boston Florida that Pensacola %HESITATION sales customer throw in there right mmhm so yeah we'll be back next week everybody with more stuff and things and this show quiz show where this I'm sorry for you guys to hear this I really really am if we had the best time so stoked for ya here thanks Billy for being on the show yep yep everybody have a great weekend we will be back next week with more stuff and things everybody remember smile at a stranger take care of each other safety third H. and play your guitar in your band practice practice makes thank you six of the