After playing two nights in Dillon and opening a three-night stand at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with the first-ever John Fogerty Incident on Friday, The String Cheese Incident concluded the band’s annual Colorado run with two more special incidents under the “Colorado Bluebird Sky” on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday’s second-set celebration of Creedence Clearwater Revival kicked off the weekend with a blowout, but SCI was just getting started. The band returned on Saturday with beloved Bozeman-born bluegrass band Kitchen Dwellers, who opened the show with a set of their signature galaxy grass featuring a nod to their bluegrass roots with the traditional “June Apple”, the debut of Ian Noe‘s “Tom Barrett”, which was sandwiched in the middle of “The Crown”, and tracks from the band’s most recent album, Wise River.
Kitchen Dwellers – Red Rocks Amphitheatre – Morrison, CO – 7/15/23
SCI then opened the show with a “Group Hoot” of a set featuring the band’s recent single, “Lend Me a Hand”, and two cover debuts, first a surprise inclusion of Taylor Swift‘s “Style” sandwiched within “Let’s Go Outside” and then David Bowie‘s “Golden Years”, which came in the middle of a set-closing “Desert Dawn”. Set two reflected the vibrant sky above, sticking to a blue theme with a cover of Joe Henderson‘s “Blue Bossa”, “Into the Blue”, and a set-closing “Colorado Bluebird Sky”. A joyous encore of Talking Heads‘ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” reminded everyone to take it all in before night two came to an end.
The String Cheese Incident returned for night three joined by electronic duo Thievery Corporation, who brought a taste of SCI’s dance-heavy Electric Forest to the iconic Morrison amphitheater. A stunning sunset provided extra visuals as the headline act took the stage, opening the show with a set that included new song “One More Time”, a cover of Weather Report‘s “Birdland” with “Wheel Hoss” sandwiched in the middle, and another “Group Hoot”.
Fan favorite “Howard” seemed as if it would bookend the second set, which also included SCI’s 2019 collaboration with Beats Antique “Bhangra Saanj”, but the band capped off the frame with “Hi Ho No Show” before closing the show and the weekend with a two-song encore. Bill Nershi initially returned to the stage alone and played “Barstool” solo until the rest of the band joined him to sing the final chorus. The full ensemble then bid Red Rocks adieu with one last “Shakin’ The Tree”.
Click below to view fan-shot videos and photos from The String Cheese Incident at Red Rocks Amphitheatre courtesy of photographer Kit Tincher.
The String Cheese Incident – “Howard” > “Eye Know Why” – 7/16/23
[Video: starman2112 rush]
Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 7/16/23
Set one: Sometimes A River, Little Hands > Rollin’ in My Sweet Baby’s Arms (Traditional), One More Time, Birdland (Weather Report) > Wheel Hoss > Birdland (Weather Report), Group Hoot, Looking Glass > Joyful Sound > Tinderbox
Set two: Howard > Eye Know Why, Restless Wind, Give Me The Love, Bhangra Saanj, ‘Round The Wheel > Howard, Hi Ho No Show
Encore: Barstool*, Shakin’ The Tree
*Billy Solo, joined by band for vocals on final chorus
Setlist: The String Cheese Incident | Red Rocks Amphitheatre | Morrison, CO | 7/15/23
