When String Cheese Incident took the stage at the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene Oregon on Saturday, Michael Kang said that it felt like home to be back in this part of the country, and that since it was the end of this part of their summer tour, that we should all have some fun. And with that, the band launched into “Shine” and began the first of two nights of solid shows.
On the first night, the band seemed to really relax into the beautiful Eugene evening, taking their time building jams and foregoing many of their own songs to play a total of seven cover songs. “Missin’ Me” led into the Allman Brothers’ “Jessica” much to the delight of the dancing summertime crowd. After the song was finished, bassist Keith Moseley said “Wow, something about being back in Eugene feels really good.” SCI’s “Farther” was followed by Stevie Wonder’s “Boogie On Reggae Woman” and then Peter Rowan’s “Sweet Melinda” segued into Kool & The Gang’s “Hollywood Swinging”, which picked up in tempo and led into a powerful “Colliding” that included an “Another One Bites The Dust” jam to end the set.
With the band and crowd alike properly pumped up, String Cheese Incident came out of the gate in the second set with keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth’s song “¡BAM!” and went right into James Brown’s “Cold Sweat.” Riding the momentum, the band jammed through a 20-minute “Howard” and the Celtic-tinged dance anthem “Bolly Munster” before Moseley suggested that we all catch our breath for a second. He then talked about the SCI Sound Lab, the online apparatus through which the band will be releasing new material as they write and record in their new studio. With that, the band played new song “Get Tight” which is available for free download through the String Cheese Incident website.
After “Desert Dawn,” the band invited out Dwayne “Danglin” Anglin, who had surprised the band backstage at setbreak. The Wailers singer provided vocals on Bob Marley’s “Exodus,” before leaving the stage for the band to close out the set with “Colorado Bluebird Sky.” Jerry Garcia Band’s “Don’t Let Go” closed out night one. Maybe it’s a feeling in the Eugene air due to the Kesey family and Merry Prankster connections, but the band played the same song to end a show they played in Eugene in 2015.
Sunday was another beautiful, cloudless day, with temperatures in the mid-80’s. Fans that arrived early relaxed in the ample shade around the Cuthbert Amphitheater before the show got started. Whereas Saturday’s show revolved around lots of cover songs, Sunday would find Moseley, Hollingsworth, Kang, Michael Travis (drums), Billy Nershi (guitar), and Jason Hann (percussion) digging into their own catalog with strength and vigor. Nershi’s “Song In My Head” got things going and the band worked through “These Waves,” “Djbouti Bump” and “Hi Ho No Show” before they offered up the second Peter Rowan cover of the weekend with “Midnight Moonlight.” The boys developed some nice extended jams throughout the evening, with the section that led from “Stop Drop Roll” into longtime fan favorite “Texas” being just one example.
The second set began with String Cheese staples “It Is What It Is” and “Smile,” then went into a drums segment that saw special guest Jarrod Kaplan jump in with Hann on percussion. The rest of the band returned, and invited out Jeff Pevar (Jazz Is Dead, Phil Lesh) to play guitar on John Coltrane’s “Impressions.” The lanky, animated guitar slinger managed to bring the energy up yet another notch as he traded licks with Nershi and Kang. Things slowed down a bit with the beginning of a beautiful “Hotel Window,” which was then also jammed into the stratosphere. A happy, rollicking “Sweet Spot” closed out the set.
After thanking the joyous crowd, the band played the uplifting “Can’t Wait Another Day” and then invited Kaplan and Pevar out for a cover of Peter Gabriel’s “Shakin’ The Tree” to end a great weekend.
String Cheese Incident has been around since 1993. They’ve endured the growing pains that affect touring bands, including a hiatus in 2008. Since coming back the band has worked to find the sweet spot that allows them to enjoy the best things about the band and yet maintain the space for personal creativity and freedom. The result is a band that is as tight as ever, playing in a confident yet free-wheeling style that has earned them their place in the upper echelon of American touring bands. Their wide range of musical styles and commitment to both their fans and their music has rightfully garnered high praise from those attending their concerts. The two shows at the Cuthbert Amphitheater were a testament to their hard work and commitment to their musical inspirations.
7/23/16 – Cuthbert Amphitheater – Eugene, OR
S1: Shine, Missing Me > Jessica, Farther, Boogie On Reggae Woman, Sweet Melinda > Hollywood Swinging > Colliding > Another One Bites The Dust Jam > Colliding
S2: ¡BAM! > Cold Sweat > Howard > BollyMunster, Get Tight > Desert Dawn > Exodus* > Colorado Bluebird Sky
E: Don’t Let Go
*With Dwayne “Danglin” Anglin on vocals
7/24/16 – Cuthbert Amphitheater – Eugene, OR
S1: Song In My Head, These Waves > Djibouti Bump, Hi Ho No Show, Midnight Moonlight, Falling Through The Cracks, Stop Drop, Roll > Texas
S2: It Is What It Is, Smile > Drums*, Impressions**, Hotel Window Sweet Spot
E: Can’t Wait Another Day, Shakin’ The Tree@
*With Jarrod Kaplan on percussion
**With Jeff Pevar on guitar
@with Jarrod Kaplan on percussion, Jeff Pevar on guitar
One Response
Great article & photos Greg. See you soon. Carlton