1/30/15 The String Cheese Incident @ Aragon Ballroom - Chicago, IL

I don't start working my new job at Illinois Foundation Seed Inc. until Monday so I had time on my hands and I had the inclination to get out and see a show.  It had been since Dec. 09, 2011 at the same venue the Aragon Ballroom when I last saw The String Cheese Incident.  The drive to Chicago was uneventful.  It was cold with temps in the mid 20s.  I parked my car near the blue line in Wicker Park and transferred to the red line up toward Howard and the Aragon.  They played music from The Blues Brothers soundtrack before and during setbreak on the PA.


I get into the venue about 7 o'clock and met some cool folks from Connecticut up on the railing.  Dan and Gino were cool guys and the vibe was good.  Nershi ran onstage first and we were off.  The first set was bookended by Kyle hiphop sounding tunes. The latter of which that ended the first set had Kang on a full sized guitar.  I'm not a huge fan of So Far From Home but this version went into an L.A. Woman (The Doors) jam complete with Nershi singing the Mr. Mojo Risin vocals.  Round the Wheel had an interesting jam that saw Billy doing his best to add to the thumping beat.  Struggling Angel was a classy choice and I respect the message of that one.  Beautiful is a new song that I've enjoyed hearing over the holidays when I listened to the SCI Fall Tour on my headphones loading UPS trucks.  I liked hearing that one live.  Restless Wind reminded me of 2000 when I first discovered the band.  Roots Run Deep indeed. 


When Bill approached the microphone to start set two I knew we were in for a classic Group Hoot.  CBS has become a modern day anthem for the band.  It got me thinking about my own potential relocation to Colorado at some point.  Last time I saw them they had the video screens which was cool with the blue sky and Colorado mountains.  This time they used a more traditional lighting rig but the technology was impressive and at times was blinding almost from that close range.  Rivertrance was one I wanted to hear.    Sweet Spot is a great new Keith tune and this perhaps had the biggest peak of the show surprisingly.  Travis and Hann switched places for that one.   Just One Story kept this set moving in the right direction.  Next came the rarely played Don't Say which I've always liked.  Search is one of their catchier tunes though.  Texas made the show for me.  Nershi was straight killing it on his acoustic.  I was impressed with the second set. 


I made my way toward the back of the venue and prepared my exit.  The first song of the encore was the second reference to Mojo during the show.  I Know You Rider was a nice way to end things.  The next time I come to Chicago will be for another band that plays that song too.  During my train ride there was a disturbance in the car behind us and they had to bring in the police.  On my way home I stopped at the McD in Utica and crushed a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit.  I saw the same UPS driver I talked to after Trey at the Aragon in November.  As I exited the interstate and was almost home I switched radio stations and caught the second half of L.A. Woman by The Doors.  This was my 22nd Incident.