Photo Credit: Dino Perrucci

Last night, Dec. 30, the String Cheese Incident kicked off their New Year’s Eve stand at the Mission Ballroom in Denver. During the stacked two-set performance in the Mile High City, the group–Michael Kang, Michael Travis, Bill Nershi, Kyle Hollingsworth, Keith Moseley and Jason Hann–welcomed special guests Kanika Moore and Antwaun Stanley, who assisted with the night’s lyrical delivery. During the Thursday night stand, the ensemble busted out “Sing A New Song” and “Higher Ground” while debuting first-time renditions of Bill Withers, Allman Brothers Band, David Bowie and Queen originals. 

The evening commenced with the title track off the band’s 1998 LP, ‘Round the Wheel, which ran over into “Can’t Stop Now.” “Looking Glass” emerged next and siphoned into instrumentals that the group cunningly dubbed “(Not) Flying Southwest Jam” in light of the recent travel fiascos connected to the airline before reemerging for a combination of numbers: “Birdland” into “Remington Ride,” which inevitably saw a return to “Birdland” to cap the jam. 

As the night’s initial frame continued, the String Cheese Incident offered up a first-time take on the Bill Withers penned “When I’m Kissing My Love,” which saw soaring vocal contributions from Stanley. Moore showed off her skill along with Stanely when the group arrived at “Miss Brown’s Teahouse” before the set’s last song, a take on the Grateful Dead’s “Shakedown Street.” 

After the set break, the band returned and dug into another debut, a cover of the Allman Brothers Band’s “Whipping Post.” As the latter frame progressed, the group ran through “All We Got” prior to a bust out of the original, “Sing A New Song,” last played at Chicago’s Auditorium Theater on Nov. 7, 2019. In continuation of the night, the group merged the previous number with “Can’t Wait Another Day” and followed up with “Sand Dollar.” Next, they played a jam of “Best Feeling” into “Travelin’ Blues Jam” before ending the frame on “Rosie.” 

For the night’s encore, the String Cheese Incident delivered another bust out, “Higher Ground,” which was last performed at the Rothbury Festival, now known as Electric Forest, on July 3, 2009. Then, for the night’s final number, they debuted the David Bowie and Queen classic, “Under Pressure,” which included contributions from Moore and Stanley on vocals. 

Of note, before the launch of last night’s concert, the String Cheese Incident was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. The momentous occasion garnered a speech from Moseley, who addressed the audience and extended thanks. Watch the fan-shot video here.

After last night’s New Year’s Eve kick-off, the String Cheese Incident will return to the Mission Ballroom stage tonight, where they will welcome special guest Judith Hill. Tickets for tonight’s show remain on sale and can be purchased here.

Scroll down to see last night’s complete setlist.

String Cheese Incident

Mission Ballroom

Denver

Set I: Round the Wheel > Can’t Stop Now, Looking Glass > (Not) Flying Southwest Jam > Birdland > Remington Ride > Birdland, When Im Kissing My Love¹, Miss Brown’s Teahouse² > Shakedown Street

Set II: Whipping Post⁴, All We Got, Sing A New Song⁵ > Can’t Wait Another Day, Sand Dollar, Best Feeling > Travelin’ Blues Jam > Rosie

Enc.: Higher Ground⁶ – Under Pressure⁷

Notes: 

1- Bill Withers – FTP – featuring Antwaun Stanley on Vocals

2 – featuring Kanika Moore and Antwaun Stanley on Vocals

3 – featuring Kanika Moore on Vocals

4 – Allmam Brothers Band – FTP – featuring Kanika Moore on Vocals

5 – LTP 11.7.19 (Auditorium Theater – Chicago)

6 – featuring Antwaun Stanley on Vocals – LTP 7.3.09 (Rothbury Festival)

7 – David Bowie and Queen – FTP – featuring Kanika Moore and Antwaun Stanley on Vocals

Setlist via Friends of Cheese.