The String Cheese Incident Picks With Del McCoury & Sons At Campout In The Pines

The String Cheese Incident headlined the Campout In The Pines event in Eau Claire, Wisconsin over the weekend, held on the same grounds as the Blue Ox Festival. On Friday, SCI welcomed members of fellow festival performers Del McCoury Band for a picking session.

Cheese launched their set on Friday with live favorite “Smile” followed by “Close Your Eyes,” both songs nearly reaching the 10-minute mark. The band then brought out bluegrass legend Del McCoury along with his sons Ronnie McCoury and Rob McCoury.

“We are just really happy to get to play this show with the Del McCoury Band,” guitarist Bill Nershi said introducing the sit-in. “Anytime we run into those guys out on the road is always a treat. We would like to welcome the McCourys to the stage right now, Del and Ronnie and Rob. Please make them welcome.”

“How’s The String Cheese Incident sound here tonight,” Del said as he took the stage.

“I figured out what key to play songs in with Del,” Nershi added. “I take whatever key I’m playing it in and raise it by a fourth and it’s perfect for his voice.” Billy was referencing Del’s renowned tenor.

“May the fourth be with you,” keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth quipped before the band launched into a cover of “Sitting on Top of the World,” on which Del showed off his famous high register. Billy joined him on the chorus and also handled a verse. Kyle then provided some honky tonk piano followed by solos from Nershi and Michael Kang on his electric mandolin.

Kang then picked up his violin for the traditional fiddle tune, “Shenandoah Breakdown,” made famous by Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe. The tune saw smoking solos from Ronnie McCoury on mandolin and Rob McCoury on banjo.

SCI then went it alone for a pair of covers beginning with “Tore Up Over You,” originally by Hank Ballard and also a favorite of Jerry Garcia Band. The group’s beloved take on Talking Heads‘ “Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place)” followed, which gave way to the relatively new tune “Roll Around The Sun.”

The set came to a close with a pair of Cheese classics, “Sirens” and “Texas,” the latter hitting the 20-minute mark. The band returned for a two-song encore, kicking off with a cover of Bob Dylan‘s “Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)”, trailed by “Hi Ho No Show.”

Official Audio (via nugs.net)

Setlist (via Friends Of Cheese)

Set: Smile, Close Your Eyes Sittin’ On Top of the World[1], Shenandoah Breakdown[1], Tore Up Over You, Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) > Roll Around the Sun > Sirens > Texas

Encore: Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn), Hi Ho No Show

Notes:

[1] with Del McCoury, Rob McCoury, Ronnie McCoury

Photos

The String Cheese Incident kicks off a West Coast stint on August 29 in Salem, Oregon. Find their tour routing and ticket info below.