After two incredible nights of music at The Aragon and a great afternoon with Family Groove Company at Kyle’s Brew Fest, it was finally time for the tour closer. I had been looking forward to this night for quite some time. There is no question that this show would be quintessential Cheese and one last chance to rage with my favorite jamgrass band. We arrived a bit earlier so as not to have to deal with the massive line we experienced the night prior. Due to the fact that I hadn’t gotten many shots of Kyle, Travis, and Hann I borrowed Mikey’s camera because it had a longer lens so I could make it happen. They opened with a song I called as the opener on the first night “Johnny Cash.” Here is the complete setlist from Friends of Cheese.

String Cheese Incident Live at Aragon Ballroom on December 10, 2011.

SET I: Johnny Cash, Rollover, Sometimes, A River, Pack It Up, Black And White, Colliding, Smile

SET II: Drums, Rivertrance, Howard, Way That It Goes, Barstool, Desert Dawn > BollyMunster > Desert Dawn

ENCORE: Land’s End

SECOND ENCORE: Restless Wind

This show was classic and contained much of what got me into SCI in the first place. I shot my photos during the first two songs and my last night in the pit seemed to fly by. Moseley took the reigns on “Sometimes A River,” beautifully bringing the initial energy down a peg, but with good reason. The boys from Colorado brought the funky goodness out with “Pack It Up,” Kyle just killing it on the keys the whole way through. Kang showed the overly packed crowd what he could do on “Black And White.” 
The flashing lights from the stage blazed across the crowd who bobbed back and forth to the beat. Some of the most amazing views of the entire run were seen from the balcony, giving a bird’s eye perspective to the stage and the people. The “Colliding,” which is a new tune, and something I got to see Kyle Hollingsworth Band perform back on the Front Range. However Cheese just took it to a whole new level as they continued to do with any solo songs that make it into their rotation. I think this song could be a powerhouse tune for years to come. They ended set one with a stellar Billy led “Smile” giving everyone something to well… smile about.

The second set may have been the best set of the music for the entire run. Hann and Travis came out for “Drums” leading the charge so to speak. The “Rivertrance” went in to untzy territory but that is to be expected with this song. “Howard” went all super space funk causing an all out dance party to break out. Kyle again took the helm on “Way That It Goes,” which ironically I had seen Kyle play at Brew Fest earlier that day. I didn’t take it personally considering they were two totally different interpretations of the song. Before breaking into “Barstool,” Nershi acknowledged that his daughter was in attendance and dedicated the song to her. The highlight of the whole show for me was the set closing “Desert Dawn” into the new track “BollyMunster” back into “Desert Dawn.” I remember commenting that the “Desert Dawn” was going to dark places. Basically it was like experience an entire 24-hour period in a three-song suite with “BollyMunster” representing the darkest depths of night.

String Cheese came back with a double encore including a sublime “Land’s End.” The “Restless Wind” was appropriate given the fact that it was the Roots Run Deep tour and also that it bookended the entire run. They started where they began back at The Fox in November, but musically they had come a long way. 
My overall experience in Chicago was intense admiration coupled with a serious feeling of gratitude for this wonderful band from the mountains. String Cheese Incident has represented a lot to me over the years and as lights dimmed on my 30th show with them I knew it has all been worth it. It’s taken them more than a couple years since they called it quits to truly get back into the groove. I can honestly say that they are back. Beefy jams combined with seriously strong execution have proven to me they are most definitely worth the trip. With five shows in just three days, meeting a ton of new people, hanging with some dear friends, shooting all three nights, and dancing whenever I had the chance, I could say that Chicago gave me my fill. I was ready to head back home with a newly reinvigorated love for the Cheese and a powerful happiness deep to my core. I look forward to the next time we meet on the dance floor. Winter Carnival anyone?

Review and Photos by Nicholas Stock
MusicMauraders.com

We arrived for night two at the Aragon to a massive line as people slowly filtered in. I was a bit worried about missing the pit, but I got in quickly and made my way up front. It was obvious the luxurious space we experienced on night one was nowhere to be found. Fuzzy people literally oozed off the floor in all directions. There were more photogs shooting the band, but still plenty of room to maneuver. String Cheese came out with a Kang fueled “Best Feeling” to get the night started. Here is the complete setlist from Friends of Cheese.

String Cheese Incident Live at Aragon Ballroom on December 8, 2011.SET I: Best Feeling> Eat My Dust, Doin’ My Time, So Far From Home, MLT, Born On The Wrong Planet, Way Back Home, Bumpin’ Reel
SET II: Rosie> Bonafied Lovin’, Las Vegas, These Waves> Drifting, It Is What It Is, This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody), Colorado Bluebird Sky
ENCORE: Kashmir> Whiskey Before Breakfast*
*Mislabeled on FOC

SCI continued to sound incredibly tight and primed from their weeks on the road for yet another night in the Windy City. We seemed to get an extended photo session in the pit before we were told our time was up. I roamed to the back and mingled a bit before I found Mikey and we tried to find space on the floor. As I stated previously the place was absolutely packed and even scooting in on the back of the floor seemed impossible. “Doin’ My Time” was tight, but the “So Far From Home” seemed like a cognoscente reference to how far they’ve come in the last few weeks and perhaps a nod to the fact that they would be heading back to Colorado soon. The “BOTWP” was executed nicely and featured a solid jam with Kang taking the lead. “The Way Back Home” was clean and probably another reference for their readiness to be back with their respective families. Travis busted out his snappiest of beats for an untzy “Bumpin’ Reel” to close the first set.

They began the second set in a big way with what had been dubbed as the “Rosieo,” it’s a combo of Kyle’s Rosie and the Chromeo tune, “Bonafied Lovin’.” We got a preview of this jam at Kyle Hollingsworth Band with Kang in Fort Collins, but obviously seeing String Cheese pull this off bumped it up to a whole new level. The “Las Vegas” got dark and gritty and just blew me away. The visuals featured projections of the Vegas sign with red lights bouncing around the ecstatic crowd. “These Waves >Drifting” was a bit of an energy drain, but I found the minimalist jamming to be special in its own way. I was stoked on the Kyle led “This Must Be The Place,” which is probably my favorite Talking Heads cover.

They closed the second set with a huge “Colorado Bluebird Sky.” It’s been interesting to watch this tune evolve into a massive jam vehicle, moving so far beyond its bluegrass roots that at times it was almost unrecognizable. String Cheese encored with a tight “Kashmir” that dissolved into a whompy jam before they segued into a beautiful instrumental version of “Whiskey Before Breakfast.” It was another solid show that pushed on until almost midnight. The over-sized crowd poured out on the cold streets and the harsh wake-up call of the cold air made steam rise off the Cheeseheads. I couldn’t be happier with their performances thus far and am more than pumped to finish it all up on night three.

Download the show here!

Review and Photos by Nicholas Stock
MusicMauraders.com

String Cheese Incident Live at Aragon Ballroom on December 8, 2011

SET I: Birdland, Lost, Song In My Head, Lester Had A Coconut, Sirens, Galactic> Just One Story

SET II: Search, Give Me The Love> Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Emma’s Dream> The Might Quinn (Quinn The Eskimo), Impressions> Let’s Go Outside

ENCORE: Valley Of The Jig

As you can tell by the setlist, this was some classic SCI. The audience was jumping around in pure jam-fueled ecstasy as they got underway. They sounded as tight as I’ve heard them since they’ve been back. It’s amazing what a few weeks on the road can do to shake off the dust. String Cheese has been on a steady climb with solid performances at Electric Forest and Bonnaroo this year however this is the first time they’ve done a tour of any sorts since they took a break in 2007. The newish Nershi tune, “Song In My Head,” had a Dead twang to it and really got the crowd moving. “Lester Had a Coconut” was stellar but the highlight of the first set was the “Galactic” into “Just One Story”. The set seemed to fly by even though they were taking their time with the jams. The Aragon looked good as the colorful fanbase mingled during the setbreak. It had been five years since I had caught a show at this venue. I wandered around talking to friends when I realized that the room looked a lot better than it did during my last visit.

String Cheese came back on stage with a powerful “Sirens” as Moseley drove the bus keeping the group in sync. The “Emma’s Dream” into “Mighty Quinn” was the peak of the whole show confirming for me that the magic is still very much alive with String Cheese. They came back for the encore with a rowdy “Valley of the Jig” that got a little untzy at times but managed to stay true to it’s grass roots. I was hoping for another song to close the show but with two nights left to play, the name of the game was to leave us wanting more. We left the show feeling great and as the snow started to fall in the breezy Chicago night I looked forward to a couple more shows. But first we grabbed a ride over to The House of Blues for some Sexfist…

Download the show here!

Review and Photos by Nicholas Stock
MusicMauraders.com

12/06/2011 Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA
Set 1: Drums > San Jose, Close Your Eyes, Pirates, Solution, Don’t Say > Looking Glass, Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms
Set 2: Happy Birthday Jason, Shine, Pretty Polly, Up The Canyon, Rivertrance, Best Feeling > Black Clouds
Encore: Ramble On

This show fell on Jason Hann’s birthday and although I was not present, I know this show was special.  They kicked off the show with a drums jam into San Jose, and then did the very rare Pirates.  Second set featured a happy birthday to Jason, then Shine, Pretty Polly, and Up the Canyon!  Ahhh! Can’t believe they did Pretty Polly.  Looks like an amazing show.  See you in Chicago!

This was a hometown show for me.  Nothing like taking the subway 5 stops to the venue…  The show was sold out and packed full of familiar faces.  Highlights of the first set were Yo Se, Little Hands and Walk This Way.  Set 2 got kicked off with a Bam! then Rhythm of the Road and then a beautiful Water.  Then there was a quirky Jellyfish, which featured a happy birthday tune for SCI’s road manager, Jesse.  Jesse ran around the stage and fed whiskey to each band member. The set closed out with Outside Inside sandwiching the U2 Song, Mysterious Ways.  The encore might have been my favorite part of the night, Blackberry Blossom explored all different kinds of musical spaces and then a rocking White Freightliner closed the show.  The band was clearly enjoying themselves during this show and Kyle mentioned how special the show was.  I can’t wait to hop back on tour in Chicago!

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Photos by Brian Spady

12/02/2011 The United Palace – New York, NY
Set 1: Cedar Laurel > Sittin’ On Top Of World, Blue Bossa, Windy Mountain, Way That It Goes, Song In My Head, It Is What It Is
Set 2: Just One Story, Sirens > Daryl, Don’t It Make You Wanna Dance, Dirk, BollyMunster, ‘Round The Wheel
Encore: The Bridge, I Wish

12/03/2011 The United Palace – New York, NY
Set 1: This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) > Rhum ‘N Zouc, Miss Brown’s Teahouse > Chameleon > Miss Brown’s Teahouse, Wheel Hoss, Sometimes A River, Colorado Bluebird Sky > Rollover > Colorado Bluebird Sky
Set 2: Let’s Go Outside, Restless Wind > On The Road, Betray The Dark > Drums, Joyful Sound > National Anthem > Bumpin’ Reel > Can’t Stop Now
Encore: Way Back Home

I hopped on tour in NYC and witnessed two incredible shows at the beautiful United Palace Theatre this past weekend.  Some highlights from the first night were: Blue Bossa, Windy Mountain, Daryl, Dirk, and Round the Wheel.  It was probably the best version of Dirk I have ever heard.  This show on Friday night was good, but I knew the band would throw down even harder on Saturday night.  There’s nothing like cheese on Saturday night, they always step up their playing and song selection and it elevates the show immensely.

Saturday night’s first set was non stop amazing jams.  They kicked it off with a beautiful rendition of Naive Melody, followed by a really bouncing Rhum ‘N Zouc which featured a back and forth drums jam which was conducted by kang and his fiddle.  He would face one of the drummers and play some fiddle notes and then the drummer would play it back with percussion.  Then Kang would address the other drummer and repeat. It was awesome to see this kind of musical communication.  Then it was a funky Miss Brown’s with the classic Chameleon thrown in.  Then a rockin Wheel Hoss, and Sometimes a River.  The set closed out with Rollover, sandwiched between the new Billy tune, Colorado Bluebird Sky.  This went over really well and the crowd loved it.

Second set began with the new Kyle tune, Let’s Go Outside.  Followed by a rocking Restless Wind > On the Road, which really set the tone for the rest of the set. Then it was time for the classic cheese disco funk party.  Betray the dark crept in with its electronic and dark tones, the lights went low, and the disco ball burst into life spinning one way then reversing and blanketing the room with points of light.  This is one my favorite musical spaces that cheese creates.  Then the band segued into one of the best Drums I have ever seen.  Clearly the extensive touring with EOTO has bonded Michael Travis and Jason Hann into an explosive tag team.  Then it was Joyful Sound, done a bit differently than it has been recently.  They dropped the extensive electronic breakdown and put kang’s mandolin solo back in.  Though it seemed the band was scrambling a bit on this one, it ended up being a great version of the song.  Then they surprised everyone by playing Radiohead’s, National Anthem.

They closed the show with a great version of Bumpin Reel > Can’t Stop Now.  All in all this was an incredible 2 nights.  I feel the band is only getting tighter and more comfortable with each passing night.  Boston review coming soon!

The Roots Run Deep tour continued its way north to Maryland yesterday.  Check out the setlist:

11/30/2011 Lyric Opera House – Baltimore, MD
Set 1: Lonesome Fiddle Blues, Smile, MLT, Give Me The Love > Let’s Go Outside, Come As You Are > Black Clouds

Set 2: Eye Know Why, Outside and Inside > Whiskey Before Breakfast, Brand New Start, Black and White, Big Shoes

Encore: Rosie

Kyle Hollingsworth is a native of Baltimore, Maryland so naturally this show featured a number of his songs… MLT, Let’s Go Outside, Eye Know Why, and Rosie for the encore.  All in all, a solid setlist.  Can’t wait to hear the recording. The boys are in Upper Darby, PA tonight then it’s off to NYC for two nights.  See you in NYC!

They jammed seamlessly into Missin’ Me, a great Kyle song that I had never heard live before. They pulled out a few songs I had never heard them play before, including Dudleys Kitchen and my personal favorite Hotel Window. The only part of the first set that rubbed me the wrong way was the jam our of Joyful Sound. Its such a beautiful song, that I feel a little weird about the heavy drum and bass ending to such a light and sentimental song.  I have always enjoyed the original jam much more, just because I think it fits the song better.

On the other hand, if they hadn’t gone heavy with the drums and bass on Joyful Sound then it may have been a slightly more awkward transition into Howard (which blew my mind).  Howard is such an amazing song, and I love the switch from its heavy metal like verses to its light hearted and jumpy chorus.   They definitely ended the first set on a high note, and had everyone more excited than ever, I heard more conversations dedicated to the calling of songs than ever before in the lobby of the Georgia Theatre at set break.

I called the Sand Dollar and they opened the second set with it, which is always a great feeling.  The transition into Cant Stop Now was extremely confusing for everyone I was with. We all thought they were going into Born on the Wrong Planet, and it seemed like they were all vying for a different song. That or they had conflicting set lists and couldn’t figure out who had the correct one.  Billy came to microphone at one point and began to sing something, but then stopped and the band resumed their light hearted argument over what song to play. Keith brought it all home and started the Cant Stop Now, which ended everyones confusion for the most part.  After the rather confusing interlude into Cant Stop Now they played Water which I felt was appropriate given its calming nature.

Cottonmouth jam was epic to say the least, and then they whipped out a new song called BollyMunster.   A mixture of Bollywood music and heavy celtic trance, this is a new Rivertrance or Valley of the Jig like song.  It was dirty in the best way possible, and we got down to follow suit.  My examination after the show shows me that most people loved the new song, while others couldn’t put their finger on what the song sounded like. A few people told me that the Bollywood music sounded like a DJ that they had already heard before, and that the whole time they heard the song they just kept waiting for the band to make it their own and they never did. With that being said, the song has amazing potential to be another coveted trance dance interlude if the band can make the Bollywood music their own some how.

The Close Your Eyes after BollyMunster was amazing, and I had been waiting to hear it for the whole tour.  That song reminds me that everything I need is within me. That I am all that is in the universe. Pretty great feeling to be reminded of in the middle of a dance party at the Georgia Theatre.

I had also never heard Round the Wheel played live before, and since I live in Colorado it certainly resonated with me.  We really have been waiting for the snow to fall out there, and I felt that the song itself, especially played in Athens, GA was an homage to the bands roots in Colorado. It was very fitting for this show and this tour, since most of the people who attended went through hell to get a ticket to the the 800 person venue.  Most of the Cheese brethren who attended had been seeing the band play for many many years.  The Round the Wheel closed the second set in such a way that I was reminded where they started and where they have come as a band over the last 18 years.

The encore was short and sweet, with just one song, but a great song at that.  I Know You Rider always gets me all sentimental, and I thought it was fitting that they played it for the encore since we would definitely miss them once they left the stage.  The whole show was incredible, and so intimate.  They really shed their skin in front of us, and experimented with new songs, and new jams in a venue that was the definition of intimate.  The  room had an incredible energy to it, a heightened sense of appreciation since what we were witnessing was so rare.  Thanks for such an amazing show boys! To Nashville, TN we go!

 Words by Julia Bentley

Photos by Brian Spady

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11/28/2011 Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Set 1 (acoustic): Old Train¹, Big Mon, Catfish John, I’ve Just Seen A Face, Steam Powered Airplane, Yo Sé, Colorado Bluebird Sky, Stingray

Set 2: Rollover, So Far From Home, Lost > Ring Of Fire, Long Gone², Same Ol’ River

Encore: Little Hands² > Rivertrance

Guests:
¹ with Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Andy Hall on dobro and Kyle on grand piano
² with Sam Bush on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Andy Hall on dobro

I can’t wait to listen to this one!  Acoustic cheese is always a treat and that encore looks amazing…

The tour continued on Saturday night in Atlanta, Georgia. Here’s the setlist:

11/26/2011 Fox Theatre – Atlanta, GA
Set 1: Restless Wind, 100 Year Flood > Boogie On Reggae Woman, Barstool, Colliding, Miss Brown’s Teahouse > Shine
Set 2: Southbound, Desert Dawn, Sirens > Bumpin’ Reel, Way That It Goes, Jellyfish, It Is What It Is…
Encore: Rollin’ In My Sweet Baby’s Arms, Way Back Home

I have not had a chance to listen to this show yet, but the first set looks amazing.  100 year flood has only been played one other time since 2007, at Winter Carnival 2011 and it’s one of my favorites!  Colliding is a new Kyle song, first time played.  Second set features Sirens > Bumpin Reel… a fitting combo with similar electronic influences.  I’m sure It is What It Is was a killer set 2 closer as it always is.  Then some bluegrass and an epic Way Back Home for the encore. Good stuff!

Then on Sunday, the band played a show at the newly re-built Georgia Theatre.  Here’s the setlist:

11/27/2011 Georgia Theatre – Athens, GA
Set 1: Song In My Head, Missin’ Me > Dudley’s Kitchen, Hotel Window, Under African Skies > Joyful Sound > Howard
Set 2: Sand Dollar > Can’t Stop Now, Water, Cottonmouth, BollyMunster, Close Your Eyes > ‘Round The Wheel
Encore: I Know You Rider
Download this show here!

I haven’t heard this show yet either but the setlist is smokin!  Solid first set with the infectious Song In My Head to start it off and then I what I imagine was a huge Under African Skies > Joyful Sound > Howard to close the set.  Set 2 opened with Sand Dollar, another song which has only been played once since 2007. Then a new one “BollyMunster” and a 17 minute Round the Wheel to close the show.  SCI is playing in Nashville, TN tonight and the first set is acoustic!  I can’t wait to get to NYC this weekend for some live cheese!

Check back tomorrow for more updates!