|
|
|
Written by Glenn BurnSilver
|
|
Wednesday, 28 June 2006 |
|
|
|
|
 Red Rocks Amphitheatre isn’t that far, relatively speaking, from Crested Butte as the crow flies. But for the average band of quirky bluegrass musicians looking to grace the venue’s stage, it might as well be on the moon. But for an unlikely band of ski bums and musicians known as String Cheese Incident, the moon is now a short annual journey from their current base in Boulder.
For 2006, however, the band hits the road without a new album to promote. The band has taken the beginning of the year off to pursue other interests—travel, family and outside band projects like Zilla and Honkytonk Homeslice. The expectation when the band reconvenes, according to bass player Keith Moseley, is a fresh perspective.
“When we get back together everyone is fresher and ready to go and got their ya-yas out,” he said by cell phone from a Boulder Home Depot parking lot where he’s buying materials to build a home studio. “Everyone comes back with the experience of playing outside gigs or traveling or whatever, but are on their game and ready to do String Cheese again.
“We have not done any recording, but we’ll have plenty of new material for songs because I know everyone has been doing a little writing,” Moseley added.
With many of SCI’s die-hard fans that traveling from afar to see the group, the prospect of new songs will help generate a buzz. Many of the SCI faithful hang on every note, carefully examining the set lists and waiting anxiously for something new to appear on the musical radar.
And over the past few years SCI has given it to them. 2003’s “Untying the Not” was made with producer Youth, better known for his work with Skinny Puppy and other dance/industrial acts. The album was thicker, layered and anxious, with a drive that ran counter to the band’s laid-back roots. By comparison, last year’s “One Step Closer” was more a return to form, not exactly bluegrass but an album of simpler, stripped-down songs void of all the fancy production.
“That kind of reflects the two different sides of the band,” Moseley said. “The pendulum swung one way, and then back the other way. A lot has to do with the songwriting, and since everybody is writing and contributing, (a SCI album) really can go in any direction.”
With three weeks of rehearsals scheduled before the tour kicks off, Moseley said the band will make time to work on some new songs and will showcase those on the summer tour.
Armed with new music or not, one thing is certain: String Cheese Incident hit the stage running, bending and blending their eclectic sound from bluegrass to funk, Latin to soul, blues to rock and back again—which is the amazing part. It’s a high-energy affair that justifies any earlier vacation time.
“When we’re out there doing it, it’s all about entertaining,” Moseley concluded. “When we’re off the stage, we are just the people that we are.”
Meanwhile, those Red Rocks loom closer.
STRING CHEESE INCIDENT CONCERTS
- July 1-2, Doors open at 3 p.m., Show 5 p.m., Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Morrison, $43.50-$50. Tickets available at TicketMaster, 303.830.TIXS, www.ticketmaster.com.
- July 1 with Bob Weir and Ratdog, Keller Williams
- July 2 with Bob Weir and Ratdog, Taj Mahal
NEED A LIFT?
In their earliest pre-SCI days, mandolin player Michael Kang and bassist Keith Moseley were hired by the Crested Butte ski area to perform in the lift lines and keep skiers entertained as they waited for a chair.
IDOL TALK... AND PLAY
SCI is known for inviting unique bands and musicians to open their shows—people like Dr. John, Taj Mahal or the Del McCoury Band. Usually, there is a jam of some sort, which at times can be fairly intimidating.
“(Sometimes) you’re taken aback and caught off guard a little, trying to follow and fit in,” Moseley said. “Sometimes it’s a little shocking to get on stage with these guys and try to connect with the way they do it. Trying to adapt … no matter how prepared you think you are, you just get up there and try and experience their vibe and way of directing. It is really cool.”
Glenn BurnSilver
| Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
