Photo via SCI’s Official Facebook

After an initial pair of performances as a part of their New Year’s Eve run on Dec. 29 and 30, The String Cheese Incident returned to the Mission Ballroom stage in Denver last night, Dec. 31, for their third and final stand. The Saturday night show was a packed three-frame extravaganza that included a pair of debut covers mixed into a trio of sets flanked with originals pulled from across the group’s expansive repertoire. Also included was a third set featuring a home theme as the band paid homage to their native state.

Set one heated up with “Joyful Sound” off the band’s 2001 record, Outside Inside, and continued into the Michael Kang-led “Come As You Are.” Then, Keith Moseley took over vocal duties for the night’s rendition of “Sweet Spot.” “Don’t Say” unfolded next and ran over into “Black and White.” Next, the group worked into the title track off Song In My Head, followed by a set ending, “Colliding.”

For The String Cheese Incident’s second frame, they arrived on “It Is What It Is, which ultimately remained incomplete as they moved into “Indian Creek.” “Sometimes a River” and “Big Reveal” came next. The ensemble’s collaboration with Beats Antique, “Bhangra Saanj” was played before one of the evening’s high points, “Jellyfish,” which evoked a call and response as the audience and band fed off each other’s matched energy. Then, the previous track ran over into “Just One Story,” which had been left unfinished the night before, Dec. 30, and marked the end of set two.

As the third and final frame arrived, so did the band as they returned dressed in matching floral jackets and puffy cravats. The String Cheese Incident cut into “Black Clouds” for their third and final opener. The band took a moment to thank the crowd and recognize their home state before jumping into a debut cover of Simon & Garfunkle’s “Homeward Bound.” Then, a theme began to play out, as band launched into “Way Back Home,” which was left unfinished as they merged into a first-time rendition of Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home.” The previously mentioned tune coincided with the midnight countdown–met with poppers, starry-dressed fairies, baby New Year and traditional champagne toast. 

The theme continued with a cover of Talking Head’s “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody).” Then, they returned to originals with “Hi Ho No Show” and jammed out “Sirens,” which intertwined with “Drums.” For the final song for their third set, The String Cheese Incident performed “Texas,” which initially appeared on their 1997 LP, Born on The Wrong Planet. 

The band returned to the stage for their encore and gave Bill Nershi time to thank the crowd and recognize the love that had emanated over three days at Mission Ballroom in their hometown. Then, for the final song of their New Year’s Eve stand, The String Cheese Incident delivered “Shakin’ The Tree.” After this weekend’s action, the ensemble will take some well-deserved time off the road before returning for their destination concert event, The Jamaica Incident, which kicks off on Jan. 21. 

Scroll down to see last night’s complete setlist. 

The Sting Cheese Incident 

Mission Ballroom – Denver 

Dec. 31, 2022 

Set I: Joyful Sound > Come As You Are, Sweet Spot, Don’t Say > Black and White, Song In My Head > Colliding

Set II: It Is What It Is¹ > Indian Creek, Sometimes a River, Big Reveal, Bhangra Saanj, Jellyfish² > Just One Story³

Set III: Black Clouds, Homeward Bound⁴, Way Back Home > Can’t Find My Way Home⁵ > Way Back Home > This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody) > Hi Ho No Show, Sirens > Drums > Texas

Enc.: Shakin’ The Tree

Notes: 

¹ – unfinished

² – Contained Willin (Little Feat) Rap

³ – finished from night two

⁴ – Simon & Garfunkel – FTP

⁵ – Blind Faith – FTP
Setlist via The String Cheese Incident’s official Instagram account.