The String Cheese Incident dug into its archives on Tuesday for a vintage Grateful Dead cover featuring Merl Saunders and Keller Williams. Recorded on September 11th, 1998, this cover of “Fire On The Mountain” took place at Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque, NM. The show was previously selected for Friday Night Cheese on September 17th, 2021.

The show was billed as Terrapin Trailways’ Family Reunion Concert and also featured performances from hometown heroes Apricot Jam as well as Saunders and Williams. The then-scraggly-haired, tie-dye-wearing SCI front-loaded the show with old favorites like the show-opening “Little Hands” into “Johnny Cash”, “Sand Dollar”, “Wake Up” with Bill Nershi on vocals, and more. After that, the stars came out as Jerry Garcia‘s longtime collaborator Merl Saunders set up shop beside keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth for Stevie Wonder‘s “Boogie On Reggae Woman” ahead of “Fire On The Mountain”.

This take on the Shakedown Street live staple is something of a musical baton race as guitarist Michael Kang delivers the first stanza before goading Williams onstage. In the meantime, Merl jumps right to the chorus before Williams takes over vocal duties. Though he comes out unarmed with any instrument, Williams shows he is always prepared as he joins in the jam with his mouth trumpet.

Related: Hear Jerry Garcia & Merl Saunders Cover “The Harder They Come” From ‘GarciaLive Vol. 18’ [Audio]

“Going way back into the archives to dust this one off, we’re lucky to have caught this on video,” the video’s description reads. “With all the friends in New Mexico that helped us along the way in the early days, they pulled together some of the most special Incidents of the time. This one includes the late, great Merl Saunders on keyboards and even some vocals, plus a long-haired and bonafide Deadhead himself, Keller Williams on vocals, for an extended version of ‘Fire On The Mountain.'”

Watch The String Cheese Incident perform “Fire On The Mountain” with Merl Saunders and Keller Williams in Albuquerque, NM on September 11th, 1998. The full show is also available on YouTube.

The String Cheese Incident, Merl Saunders, Keller Williams – “Fire On The Mountain” (Grateful Dead) – 9/11/98

Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | Wool Warehouse | Albuquerque, NM | 9/11/98

Set: Little Hands > Johnny Cash, Sand Dollar, Wake Up*> Climb, Boogie On Reggae Woman**, Fire on The Mountain**#@, All Blues**#, Sugaree**@, San Jose> Billy/Travis Jam> Restless Wind

Notes:

Terrapin Trailways’ Family Reunion Concert
* with Nershi on lead vocals
@ 1st “Fire on the Mountain” and “Sugaree” ** with Merl Saunders
@ 1st “Fire on the Mountain” and “Sugaree” – with Merl on lead vocals
# with Keller Williams