It's a wrap

Top Colorado jam band will play out its 14-year string at Red Rocks

Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News

Saturday, August 4, 2007

The rumors had been around before, but this time they had a sense of urgency. On Nov. 1, 2006, "shawnman" posted on sci.tribe.net that he'd again heard the rumor that Billy Nershi was leaving The String Cheese Incident.

Other fans chimed in, reiterating the bad news. Within a week the band confirmed it with a short statement on its Web site.

Starting Thursday, the band's 14-year run comes to an end, with four sold-out Red Rocks shows as the topping. It's not just the end of an era; for hundreds of thousands nationwide, SCI was a lifestyle, with vacations and life-changing events such as reunions and weddings planned around the band's touring schedule.

The Colorado jam band that started in Boulder and Crested Butte has set the mark for having a lucrative and artistically satisfying career without the usual radio support or traditional business models. It's the end of an era for the band as well, but also a relief.

"Actually, everybody's been super upbeat and the music has been really fun to play," said Michael Kang, the multi-instrumentalist who founded the band in 1993 with Nershi, Keith Moseley and Michael Travis.

"No one's getting too wrapped up in worrying about the future. We're still trying to provide the best experience we can. I don't get the feeling that there's this foretelling of doom. Not at all."

And apparently not from the fans either. As always, the shows sold out in record time, and tickets on eBay are going for up to $1,500 each. Can't attend? You can buy recordings of individual shows or the whole tour in one fell swoop through livecheese.com.

Rather than depressing, the shows have been liberating, Kang said in the recent phone interview, with a sense of adventure.

"We actually have a bunch of new songs. We're kinda still treating it as if we're just completely going for it and trying to have as much fun as possible. We rewrote a groove we haven't played in a long time, with influences of Senegalese music."

End of the road

Some cracks in the SCI armor had been apparent for years. Recording 2003's Untying the Not with producer Youth was excruciating at times for the band. After its release, Nershi told the Rocky Mountain News "it was close to complete mutiny at points in the project, and some pretty torturous afternoons."

SCI had become a beast unto its own self, with a variety of businesses connected to it and fans' unquenchable thirst for live shows. With the indefinite hiatus coming up - no one will use the words "breaking up" - the relief is palpable.

"We feel like 100 percent it's the right move. There's an urge for people to want to take a break from this kind of lifestyle, reassess where we wanted to be," Kang said.

"There's a lot of things people don't see on the inside - just how much intensity and responsibility and weight is on you, whether you're playing shows or not playing shows. It's always a positive thing to step away and reassess. I don't think there's ever going to be any regrets about it. Personally I know I'm not going to have any regrets."

The band is still close, he said, but it has been a long ride.

"The fact that we don't have any black eyes is a miracle," he said jokingly. "I still spend more time with those guys than with anybody else. I spend more time with those guys than I spend with my girlfriend. And it's been like that for 13 years."

And it's different now than when they started. Now there are families, side projects. Most still live in Colorado, but Kang returned to his Bay Area roots.

"The only time we see each other is when we're ready to go on tour. People live pretty separately. They have family lives. We get pretty busy," Kang said.

While Nershi was the one who finally spoke the words, the decision to stop was a group effort, Kang said. "He was kind of the catalyst. He's really the one who said he wasn't going to be able to continue."

That left a question: Would they go on without him, as Pink Floyd did without Roger Waters? For many fans, Nershi was a core part of the group.

"We collectively made the decision that we're not going to go out on tour without him," Kang said.

"Everything's open for what we might do for the future. It's one of those things where we're letting it rest for a while. We have a lot of shows coming up that need our attention."

The SCI legacy

The current tour has highlighted for band members the legacy of SCI, including the fans who are disappointed, yet had a great ride.

"When we look back, this summer has been a big reminder of all the things we've been lucky to create over our tenure - the band and this scene," Kang said.

"It's inspiring to see everything we've been able to do. It's good we made such a positive impact on people's lives. We're really feeling that this year. It's providing us with good energy for sure."

And it's not like the band will disappear: SCI music will still be available through its Web site. And the band and manager Mike Luba have been responsible for the creation of a small business empire that includes a publicity firm, record label, ticketing agency and plenty more that have given a leg-up to like-minded artists such as Keller Williams and others.

"Our record label has always provided good deals for the artist. Keller has done really well. Umphrey's McGee, they're all considered family. We hope we can definitely help them succeed in their careers," Kang says.

Despite all this upbeat talk, everyone knows the final Red Rocks concerts will be bittersweet.

"I'm sure there'll be some reflecting as we get closer to the end. For the most part everybody's super upbeat. There's a lot on everybody's plate. They've got family coming out to the shows. They're busy with a variety of responsibilities and tasks getting ready for the show. We're too busy to even chat about what's going to happen."

And, he said: "We've had a chance to prepare. Everyone's got their head wrapped around it. Afterward is when we'll take a deep breath and be like, 'What the hell?' "

String Cheese Incident

• When and where: Thursday- Aug. 12, 7 p.m., Red Rocks

• Cost: Sold out

• Information: stringcheese incident.com

Living legacy

String Cheese Incident might be going on hiatus, but the Boulder-based businesses it helped grow will continue. They include:

• Baseline Ticketing (previously SCI ticketing): Handles ticket distribution for SCI-related bands such as Keller Williams but also Ratdog and Drive-By Truckers.

• SCI Gear: The official merchandise company for all things String Cheese.

• SCI Fidelity Records: Handles sales of String Cheese music and other acts such as Keller Williams and Greyboy All-Stars

LIFE AFTER STRING CHEESE: WHAT COMES NEXT

Kyle Hollingsworth

• He's having a baby: He is going to be a father again, but also has a project, Soleside, with Speech from Arrested Development and DJ Logic. Soleside will tour in the fall.

Keith Moseley

• Playing with Keller Williams: The bassist will continue his collaborations with his SCI label mate.

Billy Nershi

• New band, Honkytonk Homeslice: Besides his band with his wife, Jilian, the guitarist will tour with longtime collaborator Drew Emmitt. (honkytonkhome slice.com)

Michael Kang

• Starting a save-the-earth nonprofit: His first priority is Our Future Now, a nonprofit devoted to recycling and environmental awareness.

Jason Hann

• New band, EOTO: An experimental percussion group with fellow Cheese Michael Travis.

Michael Travis

• New band, EOTO: He also has another side project, Zilla. Both have dates booked.Has been playing with Keller Williams, will continue.

Michael Travis: Besides being in the experimental percussion band EOTO with Jason Haan, he has another side project, Zilla

Kyle Hollingsworth: He is going to be a father again, but also has a project, Soleside, with Speech from Arrested Development and DJ Logic. Soleside will tour in the fall.

Jason Hann: Forming the band EOTO with Michael Travis (www.myspace.com/EOTOmusic)

Michael Kang: His first priority is Our Future Now, a non-profit devoted to recycling and environmental awareness.

Billy Nershi: Besides his band Honkytonk Homeslice, he'll tour with longtime collaborator Drew Emmitt. (www.honkytonkhomeslice.com)

brownm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2674