Almost nine months after announcing his impending departure, last night Bill Nershi played his final show with the String Cheese Incident at Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks. The show closed out a four night run at the group’s hometown venue, which found String Cheese Incident running through a number of its signature songs and covers, as well as some of its rarer material. For its final performance with Nershi, String Cheese Incident offered a bonus third acoustic set consisting largely of covers, many of which filled the group’s early setlists like ‘Lester Had a Coconut,’ ‘Long Journey Home,’ the Beatles’ ‘I’ve Just Seen a Face,’ Peter Rowan & Bill Monroe’s ‘Walls of Time,’ Rowan’s ‘Panama Red,’ Jack Bonus’ ‘Hobo Song’ and Sam Bush’s ‘Stingray.’
The group then plugged in for set two, offering a choice segue connecting ‘One Step Closer’ and Rhum n’ Zouc,’ before zipping into ‘Sirens,’ ‘Come as You Are,’ and ‘Indian Creek.’ Keller Williams then took the stage to front String Cheese Incident on his ‘Best Feeling’ and ‘Fuel for the Road,’ the band closed out its set with ‘Way Back Home.’
String Cheese Incidents final set also featured a number of jam favorites, including Restless Wind, Piece of Mine, Looking Glass, Drifting, Rain, Rhythm of the Road, Bumpin’ Reel and a set closing Shine. The veteran touring ensemble then closed out the evening with an extended encore featuring Pink Floyds Fearless, the traditional Whiskey Before Breakfast and, finally, a fitting Good Time Round the Bend. To the surprise of many, the sextet then returned for a second encore consisting solo of Nershis upbeat Texas.
As of press time String Cheese Incident has no confirmed touring recording plans, though a message on the group’s homepage reads ‘thank you and goodnight.’ The group is currently featured on the cover of Relix.