The String Cheese Incident

by Jason Ankeny
The bluegrass-based jam band the String Cheese Incident is comprised of mandolinist/violinist Michael Kang, guitarist Bill Nershi, bassist Keith Moseley, pianist Kyle Hollingsworth, and percussionist Michael Travis. Formed in Boulder, CO, in 1993, the groups self-described sacrilegious mix of bluegrass, calypso, salsa, Afro-pop, funk, rock, and jazz quickly built up a following on the local club circuit, and within six months of their formation they earned an invitation to open the legendary Telluride Bluegrass Festival.
They initially gigged simply in exchange for free lift tickets at ski resorts throughout the western U.S., but as the String Cheese Incidents popularity grew they began taking their music more seriously, soon averaging upwards of 170 live dates each year and eventually setting up their own record label, Sci Fidelity. Their debut LP, Born on the Wrong Planet, appeared in 1997, followed later that year by A String Cheese Incident Live. The group resurfaced in 1998 with Round the Wheel, followed by the live Carnival 99. Its About Time and Outside Inside arrived in 2001, followed by a deluge of live recordings chronicling the bands massive 2003 tour. They released another studio album called Untying the Not that same year, followed by another string of live albums. One Step Closer arrived in 2005.