St. Andrew's gets strung out on Cheese Incident

The second time seeing a band live in concert is the turning point in the relationship. It's during that second show that you finally realize whether or not the performers are worthy of praise beyond the usual, "They rock!"

Wednesday night, at Detroit's St. Andrew's Hall, was my second String Cheese Incident show, and even though I know the band better, have a few tapes and can sing some chorus lines, I must admit - they rock! Not unlike the first Incident I witnessed, the group of chewbacca-looking rockers played long and hard, leaving the audience completely fulfilled but at the same time panting for more Cheese.

String Cheese is a quintet of bluegrass and jam-rock-influenced late 20-somethings from Crested Butte, CO. While only about four years old, the group's popularity has grown faster than you can tear the wax off of a gouda cheese wheel. They have become regulars around the festival scene, participating in such big gigs as The High Sierra Music Festival and The Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Courtesy of String Cheese Incident The String Cheese Incident melted hearts and inhibitions at St. Andrew's Hall on Wednesday.

After a stellar Kellar Williams opening act, SCI jumped onstage at around 10:15 p.m. and started off with one of its strongest jam segue duos, "Little Hands" into "Dudley's Kitchen". The crowd was going crazy, as "Little Hands" is normally saved for the middle of a set, rarely a set opener.

Michael Kang, the group's mandolin and fiddle player, took control right away, showing the audience why he is a pioneer of the five-string electric mandolin. "Little," a song with vocals as well as a happy rhythm, started off at its usual melodic pace, but as soon as drummer Mike Travis threw down the initial beat of "Dudley's," Kang virtually tore a hole in his mandolin.

His open-mouthed grin was contagious, and after just 10 minutes of Cheese, most of the crowd of 300 was on their feet and noodle dancing.

Travis, whose drum kit has undoubtedly grown three-fold since last October's Blind Pig show, can still bust a serious move despite the misconceptions of old age caused by his full head of gray hair. He seemed to prefer palm to drum sticks, even during a petulant groove.

The happy-go-lucky aura on stage does indeed transfer into the music, something that String Cheese manages to do quite well, and certainly better than any other four year old band. It was not uncommon for Kang or guitar player Bill Nershi to bust out laughing during a tune

The first set was characterized by hot licks from Kang and violent beats provided by Wavae (Travis's pseudonym). Kang even took on Sam Bush's "Stingray," a more classic-sounding folk jam than a normal Cheese tune, and he didn't miss a chord. Kang looked so enthralled with the perfection he achieved during "Stingray" that he kept looking over at keyboardist Kyle Hollingsworth in joyous disbelief.

Surprising was the work of Hollingsworth, who seemed a bit timid during the last Incident in Ann Arbor. Wednesday night, Kyle showed a great deal of maturity, ripping through a fan favorite, "On The Road," a song that will be on the Cheese's new album, "'Round the Wheel," due out in June.

In a recent phone interview, bassist Keith Moseley said the band's lack of a contract with a big record company does not bother the group.

"We like the way we're doing it now," Moseley said. "We've had offers, but there's no rush. We like to be able to call the shots."

Moving up from the Blind Pig to St. Andrews is not a small feat. While Moseley admitted during the interview that the past few months have been instrumental, the band is still very much at ease strolling through the venue during setbreak and chatting with fans.

Nershi's older brother Dave was even in attendance, showing that an Incident is something of a family affair.

Set two was more mellow and segue-oriented, but didn't really heat up until the set-closing "Land's End," where Kang really took the final section of the song to a new level, playing notes that most of the audience did not think was possible with the little guitar. People danced like they've never danced before.

Standard bluegrass tune "Long Gone" closed the show at around 1:30 a.m., leaving the faithful at St. Andrews tired but content. While only my second Incident, it will not be my last.

04-10-98