The Infamous Stringdusters Bring High-Energy Bluegrass to D.C.’s Lincoln Theater – Review and Photos

Review by Dan Rozman

Photos by Mark Raker

The historic Lincoln Theater in Washington, D.C. was alive with the sound of high-energy bluegrass on April 19th as the Infamous Stringdusters took the stage. Formed in 2005 and hailing from Charlottesville, VA and Nashville, TN, the Stringdusters have become one of the most acclaimed and hardest-touring bluegrass bands of their generation over their nearly two decades together. The band, consisting of Travis Book (bass), Andy Falco (guitar), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle), Andy Hall (Dobro), and Chris Pandolfi (banjo), hit the stage at 8 pm sharp, launching into an impressive 2-set, 22-song show spanning 2 and a half hours.

Set 1 kicked off with the band’s original “Canyon” seamlessly transitioning into the Bill Monroe classic “Goodbye Liza Jane Disco.” The quintet then took the crowd on a musical journey down the “Night on the River” before a sublime rendition of “Sweet Blue-Eyed Darlin’.” The Police cover “Walk on the Moon” kept the energy high, leading into an extended jam on “Long Time Goin'” that had the theater bouncing. After the poignant “Tragic 2,” the Stringdusters brought it home with “Place Called Home” and their take on the Grateful Dead’s “I Know You Rider.”

Following a brief intermission, Set 2 opened with the driving “Rise Sun” and the thunderous “Wake the Dead.” A hushed “Silence” gave way to the beautifully melodic “Sunny Side” before Baltimore native Cris Jacobs joined the band for “Heavy Water” off his new album “One Of These Days” – for which the Stringdusters served as the “house band.” The metallic fury of “Metal” then flowed into the band’s cover of The Police’s “Head Over Heels.” Originals “Building” and “Night Birds” kept the energy palpable before a scorching “Get It” and the fan-favorite “Blockygrass” brought the set to a roaring close.

The encore was a one-two punch of the Grateful Dead’s “Casey Jones” and the Infamous Stringdusters’ anthemic “Fork in the Road,” leaving the Lincoln Theater crowd euphoric. With a seamless blend of masterful original compositions, classic bluegrass covers, and ingenious mashups and segues, the Infamous Stringdusters once again proved they are one of the most exciting and innovative bluegrass acts on tour today. Their 2024 tour comes back to the DC metro area at The Annapolis Baygrass Festival in September.

Setlist

  • Set 1
    • Canyon>
    • Goodbye Liza Jane Disco
    • Night on the River>>
    • Sweet blue-eyed Darlin
    • Walk on the Moon>
    • Long time goin >>
    • Tragic 2 >>
    • Place called home
    • I know you Rider
  • Set 2
    • Rise Sun
    • Waker the Dead
    • Silence >>
    • Sunny Side
    • Heavy Water (with Cris Jacobs)
    • Metal>>
    • Head over Heels
    • Building
    • Nightbirds
    • Get it>>
    • Blockygrass
  • Encore
    • Casey Jones
    • Fork in the Road

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