Billy Strings’ “Leadfoot” Music Video: Turning Eyes and Opening Ears

Billy Strings has always had a knack for the dramatic. We’ve seen him dress as Hulk Hogan, a hobbit from Lord of The Rings, and many more wacky outfits. Strings has transferred his knack for the dramatic onto the screen, as he recently released the music video for “Leadfoot,” a single off of Strings’ upcoming album, Highway Prayers.

Strings’ has always been one for all things psychedelic. He is one of the founding fathers of psychedelic country, and his showmanship and style are grounded in that fact. That being so, with his new music video, Strings leans into the sentiment and creates a bohemian music video embodying a psychedelic trailer park gothic aesthetic.

Videos by American Songwriter

Uncanny Costumes

Strings’ stage manager, Nate Flores, sports the wart-ridden latex mask personifying Strings’ fictional lead character. The character is an odd cross-mix between Gollum from LOTR and Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Needless to say, Strings’ and company let their imaginations run wild with this character. Artists Norman Cabrera and Will Carsola can be thanked for bringing the character to life.

In addition to “Leadfoot,” Strings’ also wears a mask portraying him as an old man trying to stop the hijinks. Reminder, Strings’ is no actor, but he gives a valiant effort and delivers what the masked character demands.

Grotesque Art Work

Adding to this trailer park gothic theme Strings is seemingly going for is visual effects artist, Josh Meeter. By pairing Meeter’s drawings with Strings’ music, the two create something gothically grotesque and so unsettling to the eye you can’t look away.

Visually articulating the setting of the song, Meeter brings an old-time storybook feel to Strings’ ballad. Littered with beer-drinking raccoons and dilapidated country roads, the animations bring out a whole new level of Strings’ lyrics.

Proved through his music, Strings is one of, if not the most, imaginative artists currently playing the game. He doesn’t fear risks. He plays by his own rules, and he has successfully branded himself as an artist who interacts with other mediums. The music video reminds viewers of when musicians used to put just as much elbow grease into their music videos as they did their songs. Let’s hope Billy Strings starts a trend because the “Leadfoot” music video is a masterpiece of the 21st-century version of counter-culture.

Strings’ album Highway Prayers is set to be released on September 27, 2024.

Photo by Douglas Mason/Getty Images