Photo: Dino Perrucci

On March 14 and 15, The String Cheese Incident set up shop at The Sound in Del Mar, Calif., for a two-night run at the 1,900-person capacity venue. With them were special guests, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, who warmed up the start of each night before the onset of the host’s own two-set delivery. Attendees were unaware of the bands’ plan to trade sit-ins and make something more of the doubleheader.

The first collaboration came during Pigeons’ opening frame. Following the band’s rendition of Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell,” the Baltimore-bred musicians welcomed Kyle Hollingsworth to assist on their original, “Overtime.” The merging of bands ignited a pattern that reemerged later in the night, during SCI’s second set, they returned the favor, welcoming Pigeons’ guitarist Jeremy Schon to sit in on their 2001 LP title track, “Outside Inside.” 

The trend continued on night two, March 15, and expanded from night one’s regiment of a single-song exchange to doubles during Saturday’s initial offering a la the openers. Pigeons brought out percussive purveyor Jason Hann to help pair “The Labyrinth” with “Horizon.” 

During SCI’s follow-up, they held out till the encore, working through two sets of songs, before their crowd sparked a return for more. Back on stage, the headliners welcomed Greg Ormont and Alex Petropulo. To the thrill of the sun-baked audience, the amalgamated bands paid homage to their Southern California location by covering Sublime’s classic, “Santeria.” 

Scroll down to view setlists. 

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong 

The Sound – Del Mar, Calif. 

March 14, 2025

Set: Melting Lights, Underworld, Julia, Hell Yeah, Run Like Hell, Overtime 1, The Liquid

Notes:

1. With Kyle Hollingsworth on keys (String Cheese Incident)

String Cheese Incident 

The Sound – Del Mar, Calif. 

March 14, 2025

Set I: Born On The Wrong Planet, Cedar Laurels > Black Coulds, The Walls Of Time, Enjoy The Ride > Water > Birdland > The Remington Ride > Birdland

Set II: Sweet Spot, Outside and Inside1, Rollover, Smile, The Big Reveal > Howard, Valley Of The Jig

Enc.: I Know You Rider > Stir It Up > I Know You Rider

Notes:

1. with Jeremy Schon (guitar) from PPPP

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong 

The Sound – Del Mar, Calif. 

March 15, 2025

Set: The Town, Henrietta, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Say Cheese, Water, The Labyrinth1, Horizon1, Doc
Notes: With Jason Hann on percussions (String Cheese Incident)

String Cheese Incident 

The Sound – Del Mar, Calif. 

March 15, 2025

Set I: Let’s Go Outside, Little Hands > Dudley’s Kitchen, Sometimes A River, Miss Brown’s Teahouse > Joyful Sound > Rumble > Rivertrance

Set II: Desert Dawn, Piece Of Mine > Hi Ho No Show, Look At Where We Are > Jellyfish > Shantytown, Rosie > Short Skirt Long Jacket > Rosie

Enc.: Santeria1, Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues

Notes: With Greg Ormont and Alex Petropulo from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong