The String Cheese Incident Busts Out Willie Nelson Cover At Stubb's Opener [Videos]

The String Cheese Incident returned to the familiar confines of Stubb’s Waller Creek Creek Amphitheater in Austin, TX on Thursday to open the band’s annual three-night run. The show fittingly featured a bust-out of Willie Nelson‘s “On The Road Again”, last played on 4/13/17, also at Stubb’s.

Some minor technical delays saw the show open with some impromptu jamming as Michael Kang dealt with a problem of a technical nature. The breezy jam led by Bill Nershi on acoustic slide guitar soon took the shape of “Johnny Cash” as Kang entered the chat and the show began proper. The first “Johnny Cash” of 2021 was then followed by the Kyle Hollingsworth relic “Got What He Wanted” before just the seventh rendition of Chuck Berry‘s “Tore Up Over You” since the cover’s debut in 2011.

The String Cheese Incident – “Johnny Cash” – 11/4/21

The first bust out of the night came with Michelle Camilo‘s “Suntan”, last played on 8/6/17. String Cheese moved along with “Piece of Mine” before a set-closing pairing of “Cedar Laurels” and a relevant “Texas”.

The String Cheese Incident – “Cedar Laurels” > “Texas” – 11/4/21 – Partial

[Video: Connor Holleb]

Returning for set two, Kang took a moment to address the crowd and honor the late Jesse Aratow, the veteran booking agent, manager, and partner at Madison House that passed away suddenly last week. Kang told the audience, “we’ve been playing all these shows for him,” before the band launched into a trancey “Land’s End”. This would set up a series of segues that would travel through “Glory Chords”, “Jellyfish”, and finally the first 2021 telling of Bill Monroe‘s “Wheel Hoss”.

The String Cheese Incident – “Land’s End” – 11/4/21

Following a slight break in the action, The String Cheese Incident marveled “Look At Where We Are” ahead of “Shine”. “Bumpin’ Reel” followed before “The Big Reveal” closed out the second set. Returning for the encore, The String Cheese Incident offered just its fourth-ever rendition of Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again” prior to a show-closing “Can’t Stop Now”.

The String Cheese Incident – “Shine” – 11/4/21

[Video: Connor Holleb]

The String Cheese Incident – “Bumpin’ Reel” – 11/4/21

[Video: Brian Towns]

The String Cheese Incident – “The Big Reveal” – 11/4/21

[Video: Connor Holleb]

The String Cheese Incident returns to Stubb’s tonight, November 5th, for the second show of a three-night run. For tickets and a full list of tour dates visit the band’s website.

Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | Stubb’s Waller Creek Creek Amphitheater | Austin, TX | 11/4/21

Set One: Johnny Cash, Got What He Wanted, Tore Up Over You (Chuck Berry), Suntan (Michelle Camilo), Piece of Mine, Cedar Laurels > Texas

Set Two: Land’s End > Glory Chords > Jellyfish > Wheel Hoss (Bill Monroe), Look At Where We Are, Shine, Bumpin’ Reel, The Big Reveal

Encore: On The Road Again (Willie Nelson), Can’t Stop Now