String Cheese Incident: A Musical Melting Pot

what kind of music is string cheese incident

The String Cheese Incident is an American jam band from Colorado, formed in 1993. Their music is a blend of bluegrass, rock, jazz, and R&B, with elements of electronica, calypso, country, funk, Latin, progressive rock, reggae, and psychedelia. The band is known for their musical versatility and penchant for performing lengthy, hallucinogenic jams.

Characteristics Values
Genre Bluegrass, rock, electronica, calypso, country, funk, jazz, Latin, progressive rock, reggae, psychedelia, soul, fusion, R&B
Musical versatility The band blends elements of multiple genres, both live and in the studio
Improvisation The band improvises with artists from a variety of different styles
Performance style Lengthy, hallucinogenic jams

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The String Cheese Incident's musical versatility

The String Cheese Incident is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. The band's music is known for its versatility, blending elements of rock, bluegrass, country, soul, funk, Latin, reggae, calypso, jazz, fusion, and more. They are also known for their improvisational skills and compositional abilities, often collaborating with artists from a variety of different styles.

The band's original four members (Bill Nershi, Michael Kang, Michael Travis, and Keith Moseley) first played together in Crested Butte, Colorado, in 1993, calling themselves the Blue String Cheese Band, as they considered themselves a bluegrass band who also played "cheesy covers". Over time, their sound evolved to incorporate a diverse range of influences, including rock, jazz, and R&B.

The String Cheese Incident's music defies easy categorisation, as they seamlessly blend genres and styles. Their songs range from Latin-infused "MLT" to the bluegrass tune "Good Times Around the Bend" and the jazz-inspired "Galactic". This versatility has earned them a dedicated grassroots following and has allowed them to collaborate with a diverse range of artists, including Béla Fleck, multireedist Paul McCandles, percussionist Baba Olantunji, and pop star Femi Kuti.

The band's live performances are also known for their energetic and improvisational nature, often featuring lengthy, hallucinogenic jams that showcase their musical prowess and adaptability. Their ability to jump from one genre to the next with ease has become a defining characteristic of their sound, making them a unique and dynamic force in the music industry.

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The band's original name and genre

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado. The band was formed in 1993 and originally called themselves the Blue String Cheese Band, as they considered themselves a bluegrass band who also played "cheesy covers".

The band's music is eclectic, with elements of bluegrass, rock, electronica, calypso, country, funk, jazz, Latin, progressive rock, reggae, and psychedelia. They are known for their musical versatility, penchant for lengthy, hallucinogenic jams, and ability to jump from one genre to the next with ease.

The band is composed of Michael Kang (mandolin, violin, and electric guitar), Michael Travis (drums and percussion), Bill Nershi (acoustic guitar, lap steel guitar, and electric slide guitar), Kyle Hollingsworth (piano, organ, Rhodes, and accordion), and Keith Moseley (bass guitar). Since 2004, Jason Hann has also been a member, playing auxiliary percussion.

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The band's improvisational skills

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. The band is composed of Michael Kang (mandolin, violin, and electric guitar), Michael Travis (drums and percussion), Bill Nershi (acoustic guitar), Kyle Hollingsworth (piano, organ, Rhodes, and accordion), and Keith Moseley (bass guitar), and, since 2004, Jason Hann (auxiliary percussion). Their music has elements of bluegrass sounds, as well as rock, electronica, calypso, country, funk, jazz, Latin, progressive rock, reggae, and psychedelia. All members write original compositions and sing.

Mandolinist and violinist Michael Kang has emphasised the importance of improvisation to the band's sound, stating that "improvisation isn't just about kick-ass chops". Their live performances showcase their improvisational prowess, with lengthy, hallucinogenic jams that build on their diverse musical influences.

The String Cheese Incident's willingness to experiment and push musical boundaries has earned them a dedicated grassroots following. Their blend of improvisational skills and compositional abilities sets them apart, defying easy categorisation and keeping their sound fresh and unpredictable. This versatility extends to their live shows, which often feature guest artists and collaborations, further showcasing their ability to adapt and improvise.

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The band's live performances

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Crested Butte and Telluride, Colorado, formed in 1993. The band is composed of Michael Kang (mandolin, violin, and guitar), Michael Travis (drums and percussion), Bill Nershi (guitar), Kyle Hollingsworth (piano, organ, Rhodes, and accordion), and Keith Moseley (bass guitar), and, since 2004, Jason Hann (auxiliary percussion).

Mandolinist and violinist Michael Kang has commented on the band's improvisational skills, saying, "Improvisation isn’t just about kick-a chops." Their live performances showcase their diverse abilities and willingness to experiment as they move from one genre to the next with ease. For example, their live album, Carnival '99, features music from 13 different performances, including Latin-infused "MLT," the bluegrass tune "Good Times Around the Bend," and the jazz-inspired "Galactic."

The band developed a huge grassroots following with their blend of improvisational skills and compositional abilities. Their live performances are a key part of their appeal, and they have a dedicated fanbase that follows them from show to show. The band's original four members (Nershi, Kang, Travis, and Moseley) first played together in Crested Butte, Colorado, in 1993, calling themselves the Blue String Cheese Band. They considered themselves a bluegrass band who also played "cheesy covers." The name "String Cheese Incident" is a reflection of this lighthearted attitude, and while several band members have confessed they don't care for the name, it has stuck with them over the years.

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The band's popularity

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is an American jam band from Colorado, formed in 1993. The band's popularity stems from their musical versatility and penchant for performing lengthy, hallucinogenic jams. Their music defies easy categorisation, blending elements of rock, bluegrass, country, soul, funk, Latin, reggae, calypso, jazz, fusion, and more. The band is also known for their improvisational skills and compositional abilities, often adapting to collaborate with artists from a variety of different styles.

The String Cheese Incident has a large grassroots following, with fans drawn to their eclectic sound and experimental approach to music. Their live performances showcase the band's diverse abilities, as they seamlessly jump from one genre to the next. The band's original compositions and covers range from Latin-infused songs like "MLT" to bluegrass tunes like "Good Times Around the Bend" and jazz-inspired pieces like "Galactic".

The band's name, "The String Cheese Incident", reflects their light-hearted attitude towards their music. Originally calling themselves the Blue String Cheese Band or the Blue Cheese String Band, the group only played ski resorts and private functions, not intending to pursue music full-time. The name "String Cheese Incident" was chosen as a placeholder, but it ended up sticking, even though several band members have confessed they don't particularly care for it.

The String Cheese Incident has collaborated with a diverse range of artists, including Béla Fleck, multireedist Paul McCandles, percussionist Baba Olantunji, and pop star Femi Kuti in Africa. Their ability to improvise and adapt to different styles has contributed to their popularity and allowed them to connect with a wide range of audiences.

Frequently asked questions

String Cheese Incident is an American jam band from Colorado, formed in 1993. Their music blends elements of rock, bluegrass, country, soul, funk, Latin, reggae, calypso, jazz, fusion, and more.

Some of the band's most famous songs include "Come as You Are", "On the Road", "MLT", "Good Times Around the Bend", and "Galactic".

The band is composed of Michael Kang (mandolin, violin, and guitar), Michael Travis (drums and percussion), Bill Nershi (acoustic guitar), Kyle Hollingsworth (piano, organ, Rhodes, and accordion), and Keith Moseley (bass guitar).

The band was originally called the Blue String Cheese Band, as they considered themselves a bluegrass band who also played "cheesy covers".

The String Cheese Incident is known for their lengthy, improvisational jams and their ability to adapt to performing with artists from a variety of different styles.

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