The String Cheese Incident

"I have seen 30+ incidents over the years...this was my last one. I chose it for venue, friends, and RRE...i knew it would be a hoedown. This show was an absolutely fabulous event. The opening "Shine" took me back to `00 Telluride. First set was the classic Cheese that I loved and missed. Second set was a frenzy of guests, new songs, and covers. The encore, though, I`ll never forget. With 12 people onstage for what Kang referred to as a "cluster pluck", they broke into a beautiful rendition of "Will the Circle be Unbroken". I turned to my wife (already starting to get teary-eyed) and told her I hoped they were done, because I didn`t think they could have ended it any better for me. The boys huddled off-stage to a relentless applause and came back out for the most special, emotional "Smile" possible. It was as if they were speaking directly to us, and we all got it. I bawled my head off, and it felt so good. As I looked around, I realized that I wasn`t alone. "Smile" has always been my favorite song. This could not have been a more perfect way to end a decade of good times and community. If this show wasn`t so perfect, I would have been at Red Rocks. No need...this was the closure I needed. Thanx for all the moments, boys. You have changed my life for the better. Good luck in your pursuits."

"I was not at this show but had to buy the download asap, the setlist made this a must. I got myself prepared for what I was about to embark on, and that included extra-curriculum activities as well as ice cold beer, etc. So how do they start this Sunday Afternoon show. Oh, I see, a wicked Shine. My unofficial anthem. And no, they aren`t slipping at all. Full throttle. Oh wow, pretty intense first song. Oh excuse me now, we are going to slide a "Little Hands" in right here. No way. Huge!!! It was to be an evening to remember. I harkened back to the days of 2000. My first gem, the Emerson Theatre in March of 2000. those John Anson Ford Amphitheatre treats no one knows about, but should have been there. The classic 2001 run at the Wiltern 3/2-3/01 and Jerry`s Birthday at the Los Angeles Greek Theatre Aug. 1st, 2001 when they broke out a miraculous Eyes of the World. If I remember correctly, the Rivertrance is arguably up there with some others. The Fox shows in Atlanta, Thanksgiving or otherwise, the Thomas Wolfe Shows in Asheville, Richmond, VA Columbus, OH, Bonnaroo. Vegoose, Portland NYE Shows, the Beacon, this show has got to be a top 3, PERIOD!!! If not the best. It was a superb show going back to a setlist represntative of their roots with a fullness of sound and controlled reaches which brought together an energy obviously heard as the crowd reacts to all the moves SCI played during this show. It was in one word and one fans opinion...brilliant! Welcome back to the cheese I once heard when I became inaugarated(sp?) into the world of the Cheese back on that early March day in 2000 at the Emerson Theatre. They are back, and they are rockin`. With guest appearance by Railroad Earth in the first set and Hot Buttered Rum String Band in the second set, it was agreat night of music. With the all dance for the first two songs of the encore where a couple of classics were broken out...Whiskey Before Breakfast, Will the Circle Be Unbroken and of course the salute to a time gone by, Smile, any true Cheese fan, from yesterday to today rocked with a band bringing it all, no stops, and played with their hearts and blew Berkley back into the 60`s with the energy the Cheese brought tonight. I recommend all to olisten to this show as it is truly a classic, at least, in this fans eyes. And I have a seen a few. Maybe it was the not attending, but I will say this, if I feel like this from a recording, I can only imagine what it was to be truly in attendance. My losss. But two words...RED ROCKS! Baby!!!! Wooooooooooo."

"I knew coming into this weekend this was gonna be the day... it was a sunday and it blew saturday out of the water... don`t get me wrong saturday was great but the vibe... the smiles on this beautiful saturday afternoon were just amazing... hot butter...earth... the CHEESE... probably the best cheese show I have seen in a year or two... download this!!!!!"

"killer shows. I can`t believe the band would let nershi`s leaving, make them quit. Nershi, I love you, but these guys have too much talent to stop playing as SCI. Have fun!"

"An absoluteley magical show. At the end of the set I sat up in the grass and realized I was sitting next to Mike Kang`s sister! She shed tears and I told her how wonderful the music was and how everyone was so happy. I thought so much about the earth and our place in it. Remember folks: THERE ARE NO FRIENDS; ONLY FAMILY. I`ve never felt so blessed in my life. Truly these men are bhodisatvas. Here to guide us home. Thank you, thank you so much. From the bottom of my heart. I cried all through Smile. I called my grandma and aunt to thank them for all they had done for me in my lonely motherless childhood (at one point I thought my estranged mother would be there "You turn around and you look at me, and I can see you smile" and we would be reunited. I turned around only to find the trees. In a way though I was reunited with my Mother.) We cried. I thanked everyone I saw. I thank you all for the love you showed that day. Ive never felt so close to the divinity we all share. What a day that was indeed. An endless day that will last forever. Thank you so much."

"Countier `n ol` Miss Bessies strawberry rhubarb pie! Maybe as yummy too! Reminds me of the old days! On my top ten shows of all time list. Long Way to Go was a big moment, huge Hot Buttered Railroad Incident encore. I might not get out to Red Rocks, so Smile could be my last SCI tune :) Fitting indeed:) See y`all in a year or two for the reunion tour."

"Top moments of life kids...Sunday goes down in my book as a wonderful, fantastically amazing, gigantic, dance-tastic and everything else I might be able to say about a perfect day. Bluegrass funky jammin` hoe-downs for life! Thanks for making music like you all do...inspiring!"

"What a great show! I can honestly say that it was the first time I have ever cried at a show! It Is What It Is was absolutely beautiful!!!! Thanks guys, we will miss you! See yall at Red Rocks!!!!"

"I cried like a little girl, damn near bawling, in my hotel room after this show. <--- Picks up his pride and moves on.* I will miss you guys. "

"As I read all of these posts I realize that many of you shared my feelings at about 6:58 pm west coast time in Berkely, California during that Smile. I am apparently not the only one that wanted to cry. I will be at Red Rocks but this show was a forshadowing of what that last day is going to be like. There was something magical about the whole environment as they closed this show. If you were not there and are going to be at Red Rocks get ready....if they close the whole thing with Smile you will without a doubt get teary eyed..please Billy it`s not too late baby, you don`t have to stop now."

"dam, talk about tears man, i get to go to Red Rocks luckily. but man i was dam near at tears at smile. greatest band, greatest crowd, greatest vibes, as keller said at vegoos, "Well I tell you, I sure do love me some string cheese incident that goes without saying" all i can say now is NERSHI DONT GO!!"

"i realy almost cried during smile...... i had to fight the tears it was emotional "

"what a breath of fresh air... "long way to go" and "sweet melinda" were the highlights for me. probably the last incident i`ll see and was not let down, by any means. definitely gonna miss these guys."

"I`m new to the Incident....I`ve seen one other show besides this one. Been seeing the Dead for years, that`s how I saw SCI the first time, with Phil. Love bluegrass also. My girlfriend grew up with the Hot Buttered Rum dudes in San Fran. So we went to see them open up at the Greek. WOW!!!! I was completely blown away. It was hot and sweaty and down right jamtastic. I could kick myself for not seeing these guys play more often. I just got back from Red Rocks, seeing Dylan and My Morning Jacket and now I want to hop right back on a plane and fly to Denver. I`ve heard this might be the end of this particular line up of SCI. I was saddened to hear this because these guys rock! I`m very humbled that I had a chance to dance and shake this past sun. When Railroad Earth joined them on stage to sing Way To Go (I think) it brought tears to my eyes. Seriously!!! Anyway, to all those who have been following this band over the years, consider yourselves very lucky. You`ve seen something very rare in the mediocre music of today. These guys rock! (I ordered the cd because my girlfriend, this being her first "jamband" concert, was shocked when she saw the tapers and I told her we could get copy somehow. what better way than straight from the source) Thank you SCI!!!! Thank you...... "