After nearly a decade away, The String Cheese Incident made its long-awaited return to Los Angeles on a crisp Thursday night in mid-March. The sextet of Michael Kang, Bill Nershi, Kyle Hollingsworth, Keith Moseley, Michael Travis, and Jason Hann electrified The Wiltern with two sets of genre-hopping magic.
Colorado’s premier jam band hadn’t graced an L.A. stage since 2016, but they made up for lost time with a relentless display of funk, bluegrass, jazz, and even a little West Coast hip-hop swagger.
With Pigeons Playing Ping Pong bringing the party early, and a surprise guest appearance by vocalist Shira Elias of Cool Cool Cool, it was a night that reminded Southern California’s jam community exactly why SCI remains one of the most dynamic forces in live music today.
Before Cheese took the stage at the 2,300-capacity venue, Baltimore’s Pigeons Playing Ping Pong got the dance floor moving with a tight, energetic set of their signature funk-infused jams. Their setlist was packed with crowd-pleasers, including an opening “Somethin’ For Ya” into “My Own Way”, the deep groove of “Porcupine”, and a fun cover of Daft Punk‘s “One More Time” between two halves of “Poseidon”. By the time PPPP closed with “Avalanche”, the crowd was locked in, primed, and ready for the main event.
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong – “Poseidon” > “One More Time” (Daft Punk) > “Poseidon” – 3/13/25
[Video: John Ziegwied-Front & Center Concert Videos]
From the opening notes of “Believe”—with Michael Kang leading the charge on his electric mandolin—it was clear that The String Cheese Incident meant business. They wasted no time settling into a deep, funky jam that set the tone for the night.
“Got What He Wanted” showcased keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth’s slick touch on the keys, while “Restless Wind” let Bill Nershi take the reins for some down-home bluegrass fire. Kang’s mandolin ripped through the mix with surgical precision, cementing his reputation as one of the scene’s most versatile musicians.
They gave a quick nod to their newest record with the title track, “Lend Me a Hand”, a country-blues number that Kang delivered with soulful grit. After bassist Keith Moseley acknowledged it had been a “hot minute” since their last L.A. gig, the band dove into “Eye Know Why”, which leaned into Latin-jazz flavors, complete with Kang switching to violin and throwing some samba-infused flourishes into the mix.
The first set ended in vintage Cheese fashion: effortless transitions, genre-blurring grooves, and airtight musicianship. “Best Feeling” tipped the hat to their longtime collaborations with Keller Williams, morphing from reggae vibes to funk-driven madness. “Johnny Cash” sealed the deal with a thrilling ride through bluegrass, rockabilly, and swampy blues—all wrapped around Hollingsworth’s killer piano runs.
The second set opened with a special surprise as Shira Elias (Cool Cool Cool) joined the band for a show-stopping rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Higher Ground.” Her powerhouse vocals elevated the already funky groove into something truly transcendent, setting the stage for a wild ride ahead.
The String Cheese Incident w/ Shira Elias – “Higher Ground” (Stevie Wonder) – 3/13/25
[Video: John Ziegwied-Front & Center Concert Videos]
From there, the band dove into “Beautiful”, where drum and bass met jazz in a heady fusion led by Kang. The energy surged as Keith Moseley took center stage on “Dirk”.
But the real showstopper came when percussionist (and L.A. local) Jason Hann stepped out from behind the kit to take on Dr. Dre’s verse in a surprise cover of “California Love”. Kyle Hollingsworth flexed his vocoder skills on 2Pac’s hook, and just like that, The Wiltern was transported to a full-blown West Coast throwdown.
The String Cheese Incident – “Dirk” > “California Love” (2Pac) > “Dirk”
[Video: GRUNZY CHANNEL]
But SCI wasn’t done bending genres just yet.
The ensuing jam took the crowd from disco-fueled violin solos to techno-infused madness, and somehow, by the time they reached “Sweet Melinda”, Kang had seamlessly transitioned into full Jerry Garcia mode, his guitar work paying homage to the song’s roots with Peter Rowan and the late Grateful Dead frontman.
Just when it seemed the night couldn’t get any better, the band busted out Talking Heads’ “This Must Be The Place (Naïve Melody)”, a feel-good singalong that had The Wiltern swaying in unison. Fittingly, they wrapped the set with “Colorado Bluebird Sky”, which the band cheekily adapted to “California Bluebird Sky” for the occasion, sending the crowd into a euphoric frenzy.
Before launching into the encore, Bill Nershi jokingly implored the audience to follow them on tour to catch not only new setlists each night, but entirely new band lineups. With the band grinning ear to ear, Cheese closed the night with “BollyMunster”, a fiery blend of Celtic folk and Bollywood-style rhythms that left the crowd breathless.
The String Cheese Incident will continue bouncing around the country throughout the year. Find tickets to upcoming SCI tour dates here. Pigeons Playing Ping Pong will also continue their 2025 campaign with a number of dates throughout the coming week featuring support from High Fade. Find tickets to upcoming Pigeons tour dates here.
For now, though, L.A. fans will be left basking in the afterglow of a show that was more than worth the nearly-nine-year wait. The String Cheese Incident reminded everyone who made it to The Wiltern exactly what they do best: Meld genres, raise spirits, and throw one hell of a party.
Below, check out setlists and photos from The String Cheese Incident with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong at The Wiltern in L.A. via Josh Martin.
Setlist [via Friends of Cheese]: The String Cheese Incident | The Wiltern | Los Angeles, CA | 3/13/25
Set One: Believe, Got What He Wanted > Restless Wind, Lend Me A Hand, Eye Know Why > Best Feeling > Johnny Cash
Set Two: Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder) [1], Beautiful, Dirk > California Love (Tupac Shakur) > Dirk, Bumpin’ Reel, Sweet Melinda (Peter Rowan) > This Must Be The Place (Talking Heads) > Colorado Bluebird Sky
Encore: BollyMunster
Notes: [1] with Shira Elias
Setlist [via Friends of Cheese]: The String Cheese Incident | The Wiltern | Los Angeles, CA | 3/13/25
Set: Somethin For Ya > My Own Way, Porcupine, Show Me, Poseidon > One More Time > Poseidon, Avalanche
