Happy Birthday Michael Kang: 5 Live Collaborations Through The Years
By Nate Todd May 13, 2020 • 3:12 pm PDT
Today (May 13) marks The String Cheese Incident mandolinist, fiddler, singer and songwriter Michael Kang’s 49th birthday. Being an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, Kang is in high demand as a sit-in artist wherever he goes. Over the years, Michael has joined a number of bands and artists from the jam scene and beyond.
To celebrate Michael Kang’s birthday, check out some of his notable live collaborations throughout the years below:
Phil Lesh & Friends – Red Rocks 1999
In the summer of 1999, the Colorado-based String Cheese Incident hopped on the Summer Sessions tour which featured Gov’t Mule, Galactic, moe. and legendary Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh. When the tour rolled into Red Rocks, practically SCI’s back yard, Michael Kang and Cheese keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth (along with Bill Nershi and Michael Travis for a few songs) counted as “Friends” for the Phil & Friends Red Rocks performance on August 14, 1999.
Video via Burning Shore Profit . OG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Cir7yo36E&t=870sAdvertisement
EOTO – Trinumeral Festival 2008
At the 2008 Trinumeral Festival near Ashville, North Carolina, Kang joined his SCI band mates Michael Travis and Jason Hann in their jamtronica project EOTO. The highly improvisational group features Hahn on the drum kit and Travis handling tonal elements like bass, guitar and keyboards. This gave Kang the ability to bounce back and forth between fiddle and electric mandolin.
Video via FunkamedicKyle Hollingsworth Band – Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom 2011
A few years later, Kang teamed up with Kyle Hollingsworth Band during their show at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom in Denver. The sit-in saw Kang and Kyle performing Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On,” a cover that has been in the Cheese repertoire since 2000 as per Friends Of Cheese.
Video via Bigger Guy ProductionsBassnectar – Electric Forest 2015
In 2015 Kang joined Bassnectar during the latter’s set at Electric Forest. The performance saw the meeting of the mind’s of two of the festival’s marquee acts. For the 2015 EF performance, Kang provided fiddle on Bassnectar’s “Dubuasca.”
Video via Chris CAdvertisement
Michael Kang w/Bob Weir Sweet Water Music Hall 2016
In 2016, Kang took part in a benefit for Bob Weir‘s primary lyrical collaborator John Perry Barlow. Dubbed “Everyday Miracle,” the benefit took place on October 24 at Sweet Water Music Hall in Mill Valley, California. Kang’s portion of the benefit saw him playing guitar on a slowed-down version of his epic “Just One Story,” alongside Jeff Chimenti (keys), Tracy Blackman & Leslie Mendelson (vocals), Steve Kimock (guitar), Jason Hann (drums), Lukas Nelson (guitar) and Robin Sylvester (bass) with Bob Weir himself joining in as well.
Video via Deadheadland FilmsAdvertisement
