The String Cheese Incident Opens New Year’s Eve Run With New Song Debuts In Chicago

The String Cheese Incident kicked off their New Year’s Eve run at Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on Thursday. SCI delivered two new song debuts to open up the three-night stand in the Windy City.

Keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth led Cheese through “Close Your Eyes” to open up the show. After a piano run from Kyle ahead of a chorus and bridge, the sextet dropped into a groove. Guitarist Bill Nershi took the first run of the jam beginning with some acoustic slide before Michael Kang took over and added some shred on the electric mandolin ahead of Hollingsworth and company bringing the song home.

Kang then led the band through the classic “Black And White” which segued into the somewhat rare “Love Is Like A Train.” Next, SCI unveiled new original, “Lend Me A Hand,” sung by bassist Keith Moseley. A paring of vintage tunes in Kyle’s “Don’t Say” and Billy’s “Restless Wind” followed ahead of set-closer, “Hi Ho No Show.”

Cheese got the second set underway with the second original debut of the evening, “Crazy,” sung by Nershi. Kang then helmed “Water” which led into an “All Blues Jam.” “Let’s Go Outside” capped off the seamless section. Next, SCI delivered just their second version of “Pickin’ To Beat The Devil” after debuting the Pure Prairie League tune during their Austin run in November.

The band then offered their 2019 collaboration with Beats Antique, “Bhangra Saanj.” Michael Kang’s “Shine” then led into another 2019 tune, “All We Got,” to wrap up the second set. The String Cheese Incident returned to the stage to encore with Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On.”

Watch pro-shot video of “Close Your Eyes” below:

Setlist (via SCI Facebook)

Set One: Close Your Eyes, Black and White > Love Is Like A Train, Lend Me A Hand*, Don’t Say > Restless Wind, Hi Ho No Show

Set Two: World Gone Crazy**, Water > ‘All Blues’ Jam > Let’s Go Outside, Pickin’ To Beat The Devil, Bhangra Saanj, Shine > All We Got

Encore: Ramble On

Notes:

*Original – First Time Played – Keith Vocals

**Original – First Time Played – Billy Vocals