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Billy Strings hosted a Masters of the Universe-themed show at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, dressing as He-Man while his band and guests wore related costumes. The set mixed music from the 1980s cartoon with covers including 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?” and Snap!’s “The Power.” Strings said the Halloween performance also brought memories of his late mother, whose birthday was Oct. 31.
Billy Strings turned a Baltimore Halloween show into a Masters of the Universe tribute, dressing as He-Man while his band and guest musicians wore costumes from the animated franchise. At CFG Bank Arena, the group performed cartoon themes alongside pop and rock covers tied to the show’s music and online memes.
The performance opened with music from the 1980s series, including the “He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Theme,” “Eternia Theme (Prince Adam Theme Song)” and “Masters of the Universe Theme.” Strings later added songs with different connections to the franchise’s pop-culture afterlife: 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?”, associated with a He-Man internet meme, Snap!’s “The Power,” Slayer’s “Skeletons of Society,” Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” and Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough.”
Strings’ band for the show included Alwyn Robinson, Jimmy Olson, Royal Masat, Jarrod Walker and Chris Sterr. Guest performers Mary Tuttle and Sierra Hull also joined the musicians for several songs, according to Stereogum’s report. Strings said he had invited musician friends from Traverse City and arranged some of the cartoon’s themes for guitars.
In an Instagram Stories message after the show, Strings said he had discovered the cartoon only a few months earlier and began watching episodes before developing the Halloween set. He also described the night as bittersweet: Oct. 31 was his late mother Debra’s birthday, and he wrote that he believed she would have enjoyed the performance.
A Halloween Set Built Around He-Man
The show was a distinct themed performance rather than a standard set with a single costume reference. Its cartoon themes, character costumes and carefully chosen covers connected the original series to later pop music and internet culture. For attendees, that gave the night a shared concept that shaped both the music and the onstage presentation.
Strings’ own account also added a personal dimension to the event. He said the Halloween date is difficult because it coincides with his mother’s birthday, while explaining that he thought she would have loved the show. That detail helps explain why the performance could be both celebratory and emotionally complicated for him, without changing the reported facts of what happened onstage.
The set also brought together musicians Strings described as old friends and current collaborators. His post praised the work that went into preparing the material and singled out the experience of performing again with Sterr and Olson, as well as playing with Hull and Tuttle. The report does not establish whether the show was recorded or released in full.
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How Strings Developed the Theme
Strings said he became interested in Masters of the Universe after starting to watch the old cartoons a few months before the performance. In his Instagram Stories post, he described arranging musical themes for guitar and writing two pieces for the show, which he named “Prince Adam” and “Teela’s Quest.” The source report does not provide recordings or further details about those original compositions.
The set drew on several layers of the franchise’s cultural footprint. The cartoon themes referenced its television history, while “What’s Up?” nodded to a widely circulated pairing of the song with He-Man imagery. Other selections, including “The Power” and “Strong Enough,” echoed the night’s theme through their titles. Strings did not explain the reason for every song choice in the post quoted by Stereogum.
Strings also raised the possibility that next year could be the last Halloween show for a while. He said he may want to spend Halloween trick-or-treating with his son as the child gets older, but added that he planned to make next year’s event a large one. That was a statement of intention, not a confirmed announcement of a final show.
“I just fell in love with Masters of the universe a few months ago and started binging a bunch of the old cartoons.”
— Billy Strings, in an Instagram Stories post reported by Stereogum
The Future of Halloween Shows
Strings’ comment about possibly taking a break after next year does not confirm that the next Halloween performance will be his last for an extended period. He said he was thinking about the possibility and connected it to wanting to spend the holiday with his son. No next-year date or venue is provided in the source material.
The supplied report also does not give the exact calendar date of the Baltimore show, a complete song-by-song setlist, or a full account of which guest musicians appeared on each number. Strings’ post refers to playing with “Molly and Sierra,” while the report identifies the guests as Mary Tuttle and Sierra Hull; it does not clarify that difference in naming. The source material does not include a complete video or audio release of the performance.
Plans for the Next Halloween Show
Strings said he would start planning for next year and wanted to “do it big,” but he did not announce a date, venue, theme or guest lineup. Any specific plans remain unconfirmed based on the available report.
Whether he continues the Halloween-show tradition after that is also open. Strings linked a possible pause to spending the holiday with his son, so the next update may depend on his family plans and future touring schedule. For now, the reported development is the Baltimore performance and his reflection on the show, not a formal announcement about the series’ future.
Key Questions
Where did Billy Strings perform the He-Man-themed set?
He performed at CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, according to Stereogum’s report.
What songs were included in the set?
The set included themes from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, plus covers such as 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up?,” Snap!’s “The Power,” Slayer’s “Skeletons of Society,” Foo Fighters’ “My Hero” and Sheryl Crow’s “Strong Enough.” The source does not provide a complete setlist.
Who joined Strings onstage?
His band included Alwyn Robinson, Jimmy Olson, Royal Masat, Jarrod Walker and Chris Sterr. Mary Tuttle and Sierra Hull also performed several songs as guests.
Did Strings confirm that next year will be his last Halloween show?
No. Strings said next year might be the last Halloween show for a while because he may want to spend the holiday with his son. He did not confirm that the performance would be his final one or announce plans for it.
Why did Strings describe the night as bittersweet?
Oct. 31 was the birthday of his late mother, Debra. Strings wrote that he was missing her and thought she would have loved the show.
Source: stereogum.com
