String Cheese Incident:

                                         Nov 1^st 2003 Cox Pavilion

                                               Las Vegas, NV

There is something great about a two night run anywhere, let alone in Las Vegas. I rolled out of bed far before anyone else had and decided to go down and check out the free breakfast provided by our temporary, yet humble abode. Upon arriving into the lounge area that it was served in, I was shocked to find a room full of off duty marines whose faces confirmed that I looked how I felt… and it wasn’t pretty. I was really disappointed at the selection I was given as I hobbled around to see what my choices were. I was hobbling due to the fact that I cut my foot on broken green glass from the night before. If you read the review from the first night you could probably put two and two together… it’s all still to fresh to explain. I pulled a rookie move… but so it goes, today was a new day, and Cheese was sure to not let down, this much I knew. So a bowl of stale raisin Bran and a shitty rubber tasting bagel later and I was on my way. I got back to the room and was pleased to see some movement in our camp. I took a shower and by the time I was out there was a very distinctive fog that covered room 369, and at that moment, I knew it was on.

Trying to decide which buffet is better then the next while battling a bad hangover is kind of like trying to decide if you were going to get sick, which end would it better to have it come out of. Not an easy task by any means. And for whatever reasons, we picked the Monte Carlo and quickly realized we had made a poor decision. But it wasn’t the food that we were really after anyways… it was dollar Black Jack tables and free drinks this crew craved, and with a bit of walking around we had found what we had been looking for. Now seeing as I lost all my money the night before in a tragic incident, I was riding that free drink train and appreciating the fine company I was with. So several mimosa’s later and it was time to get back to the room to get our shit together and start the pre party. Although pre party doesn’t really fit in this category, being that as far as I could tell we never really stopped. At least that is how I felt in my head. But we had an entire handle of good old Jack… and damn it, I am not going to be the guy that brings booze home with him from Vegas. So a few Jack and Cokes later and we were back on that La Quinta shuttle en route to the Cox Pavilion for one last night of what promised to be the ultimate knee slapping shin din throw down happening in Vegas, this rather chilly first day of November.

Walking into the venue, it was my understanding that I would go to the bathroom while the others got the water and we would all meet back right where we started. After returning and seeing no one in my group waiting for me I went in and cleared a path right up in front just in time for the boys to make their way on stage. My timing was impeccable. For whatever reasons I always seem to focus a bit on what they are going to play and where in the set… even though it doesn’t really matter one bit, they could started with any song and it would have been perfect for that moment. But tonight they opened with Barstool. In the past I have seen this as an encore or a set closer, so I was surprised to hear it open the set, but it settled in rather nicely. I tend to like this tune the more I hear it, and it really sounded good with the whole band. Missing Me came next and it flowed nicely, but it was the feed right into Can’t Stop Now that the whole house started to bounce. These boy sure know how to pick, and pick they did… Keith brings the Bluegrass vocals to a level that combined with Billy and Kang pickin along, you can not help but sway and bounce and beam the biggest damn smile you ever had. So as to keep it a bit cultured, Latinismo came next, a bit sexy and Cajun, it’s delivery was perfect and kept the pace moving right along, I loved every second of it. Right off the bat it was clear… last night was fun and playful, but tonight they were getting dirty, tonight we were knee deep in it. Put it this way, if dirty was bad, then I didn’t want to be good. Who Am I followed, and at this moment I decided to go back and join the group. I got my up close time, now it was time to bring it in and tear it open with the people that I love, the people that make this music so special to me in the first place.

By the time I heard the first notes of the Classic Cash song, Ring of Fire, I had found my crew. Before I Go any further, I need to express how much this man’s music meant to me. Johnny Cash was beyond any other musician in every sense of the word. He was so much more then a singer/songwriter and a guitar player. He set the standard on what REAL music was. He BLED it. If you ever want to read a good book, I highly recommend Cash by Johnny Cash. I was rocked by the news of his death, although a big piece of my heart felt happy for him, as I knew he was back with his soul mate. One can only hope to live a portion of what Johnny did in their own lives. With that said… I was more then pleased to hear the boys  launch into Ring of Fire, as I silently saluted the legend that had passed and danced a little bit harder then before, knowing that his music is still here and it will be forever. Now I must admit that in the past, for whatever reasons, Rollover has not been my favorite, and to be blunt, in most cases I can do without it. But seeing as Cheese was in fact bringing their “A” game, this specific rendition of it left bobbing through the isles, especially when they twisted right into a nice jam of When Doves Cry. All in all the first set was smoking and I loved every second of it. As set break took hold of me, I realized that I was enjoying the festivities to a spectacular degree and I don’t think it was possible to be happier at that precise moment. A nice sparkly girl with a fantastic trusting smile gave me a candy bar that tastes a bit off. I was not aware that Nestle made a “Chronic “ bar.  

Second set jumped on me like a cat out of a cage and I was consumed. Valley of the Jig is the JAM. The first time I heard this song, I thought it was too trancy and not very original, it sounded  like a recycled Rivertrance  mixed at a house party. I should have slapped myself for jumping to conclusions, being this song had me all over the place like a rag doll… and in my opinion should go up against jam of the weekend with Miss Browns. I soaked it up like a sponge and loved every second of it, the whole time a smile danced on my face grinning from ear to ear. I love that fiddle. Next came a sick ass extended jam sandwich with Wake Up stuck right in the middle, this made for great dancing and continued to ensure my taste for the newer material. I enjoyed it very much, but not as much as when it broke into Way back Home. At this moment, my heart rate was telling me to step it down a notch. I was dancing like it was my job, and feeling the tingle in the pit of my soul. As Karl D would say SOUL SATISFIED. Next up was Orion’s Belt wich was complimented perfectly with some sax. How Sweet It Is came along and went. It was a pleasure to be next to a cute little number and get a bit kissy face with, but for the most part, I could have gone without this one. Certain songs that they tackle, I Just don’t understand. Have you heard the take on Walk This Way? Yeah. How about we don’t. I wouldn’t touch either of the tunes with a ten foor pole, but you be the judge, if you don’t agree, too damn bad. This here is my review. It is What it Is swooped in and got the room pulsing again, and the hook into Lonesome Fiddle Blues took it right back to the floor, letting loose and creating a whole new dimention. This song is key to making Cheese the Cheese. It is songs like this one that makes these guys who they are and makes the room go nuts, Followed by a nice birthday jam for none other then the now legendary John O’Leary, who provides those clean crisp sounds to us, night in and night out. Closing out the set with a very emotional Just Passin Through. The previous year, Billy had invited his wife Jillian on stage to duet with him. This song hit a sore spot for me as I had just lost a good friend and former roommate to a pointless and much to early death. Hearing Cheese sway through a song about the lighter side of death made me feel a bit better and form some closure. Biting my lip, closing my eyes, I made my peace. The saxophone seemed to be calling out to anyone and everyone that had ever lost anyone close to them. What a way to end a second set, let alone a two night Halloween run. Now it was all up to the encore, what oh what was to be played?

As they took the stage for what would end this truly special weekend, I realized that all five of them were front and center to play the hell out of the drums. I seriously think folks on the strip were able to feel the energy and the rumbling that was protruding from the Cox. To tip it off, the played the ultra layered San Jose that absolutely blew my mind.  Soaked, and incredibly satisfied I sunk into my chair to soak up all that I had just encountered, and the only thing that was remaining in my head was an echo of Kyle saying as they finished the drums “ not bad for white boys, huh?” I was in absolute awe. Not bad at all, I thought, and by the look of the other three thousand people present, I was not alone. So all in all… I danced my ass off, had a great time with my friends, reconciled a bit with a special lady and realized yet again that the String Cheese Incident brings it like no other can. I will make it a point to be part of this Halloween extravaganza for many years to come. Se ya’ll next year.