Over the weekend, The String Cheese Incident capped off its fall tour with two electrifying shows at the iconic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Hot off of headlining Suwannee Hulaween, where the band staged an immersive theatrical performance based on fan-favorite track “Howard” and an unforgettable collaboration with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, Cheese brought its characteristic joyful energy to the storied venue on Friday and Saturday nights.
Friday night’s show began with a high-energy “Johnny Cash”, immediately setting the tone for an evening of exploratory jams. With “Betray The Dark” and “Close Your Eyes”, the band dove headfirst into the night, enticing the crowd with its signature mix of bluegrass, rock, and electronic grooves. A rousing “Sweet Spot” segued smoothly into “Carnival Jam” as SCI continued to loosen up. The group reached flying altitude with “Can’t Wait Another Day” and turned up the heat with a set-closing “Tinder Box”.
Set two opened with the reggae-tinged “Shantytown”, which smoothly transitioned into “Elvis’ Wild Ride” and “BollyMunster”, showcasing the band’s knack for blending genres and global influences.
As the night went on, Cheese brought out covers and mashups that elevated the energy even higher. Towards the end of the set, the band seamlessly wove Cake‘s “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” into the middle of “Rosie”. From there, things got even more far out with a solo space jam by Bill Nershi. The encore of “Rivertrance” closed the night with a powerful surge that left fans eager for more as they poured out of the venue.
The String Cheese Incident – “Johnny Cash” – 11/1/24
The second night picked up where Friday left off, but with a slightly different vibe. The opening notes of “Black Clouds” launched the band into a set that explored both the light and dark corners of its sound. “Got What He Wanted” and the playful “Boo Boos Pik-A-Nik” highlighted Cheese’s love for upbeat, funky grooves, while “Mouna Bowa” and “Windy Mountain” brought their bluegrass roots into the mix. The first set’s closing sequence of “Outside And Inside” into “All We Got” sent fans into setbreak with the kind of euphoric energy that only comes from a seasoned jam band at the top of their game.
Set two opened with the hauntingly beautiful “I Will Follow You”, a more recent track that’s become a staple in SCI’s live shows this year. This segued into an inspired version of “Water” that showcased the band’s ability to flow seamlessly between delicate moments and all-out, fist-pumping peaks. “Restless Wind” followed, blowing in as a cosmic anthem before drifting into the dreamy “Land’s End” and “Glory Chords”, which created an ethereal, almost meditative atmosphere.
The set built toward a climactic finish with “The Big Reveal”, “Joyful Sound”, and the fan-favorite “Howard”, reminding the crowd of the surreal theatrical display the band had conjured at Hulaween. This time, “Howard” served as a fitting closer, a capstone to a thrilling weekend of Cheese.
The String Cheese Incident – Jam > “Howard” [Pro-Shot]
As the encore unfolded with Pink Floyd’s “Fearless” into the SCI classic “Hi Ho No Show”, the band brought the weekend run to a close and sent fans out into the night smilingly satiated—for now at least.
SCI will cap off 2024 with The Mexico Incident in Puerto Morelos on December 7th–11th. The only other shows on the band’s calendar are three nights at Belly Up Aspen in March 2025. For more information and ticketing details, visit the group’s website.
Click below to check out fan-shot videos and a gallery of photos courtesy of photographer David Gray.
The String Cheese Incident – “Black Clouds” – 11/1/24
Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 11/1/24
Set One: Johnny Cash, Betray The Dark, Close Your Eyes, Eventually, Group Hoot, Sweet Spot > Carnival Jam > Can’t Wait Another Day > Tinder Box
Set Two: Shantytown > Elvis’ Wild Ride > BollyMunster, Eye Know Why, Give Me The Love > One Step Closer > Sirens > Rosie > Short Skirt/Long Jacket > Rosie > Billy Solo Space Jam >
Encore: Rivertrance
Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | The Capitol Theatre | Port Chester, NY | 11/2/24
Set One: Black Clouds > Got What He Wanted > Boo Boos Pik-A-Nik > Mouna Bowa > Windy Mountain > Bumpin’ Reel, Outside And Inside > All We Got
Set Two: I Will Follow You, Water > Restless Wind > Land’s End > Glory Chords, The Big Reveal, Joyful Sound, Howard
Encore: Fearless > Hi Ho No Show
The String Cheese Incident – The Capitol Theatre – Official Recap Video
