The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is a US jam band formed in Crested Butte, … Read Full Bio ↴The String Cheese Incident (SCI) is a US jam band formed in Crested Butte, Colorado in 1993. The band's music has elements of bluegrass as well as rock, electronica, calypso, country, funk, jazz, Latin, progressive rock, reggae, and occasional psychedelia. All members write original compositions and sing.

From playing local gigs at ski resorts in exchange for free lift tickets, the band is composed of Michael Kang (acoustic/electric mandolin, electric guitar, and violin), 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), and, in 2006, Jason Hann (auxiliary percussion).

The String Cheese Incident has been described as a democratic ensemble rather than a band, since all of the members contribute their own original compositions to the group’s burgeoning library and share the vocal burden on a number of cover versions as well as their own songs. If a de facto leader had to be named, such a title would probably fall upon Nershi, who is responsible for the bulk of the group’s original song library.

From their management, Madison House Inc.:

"The String Cheese Incident has emerged as one of America’s most significant independent bands. Born in 1993 in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, SCI has since released 6 albums, 3 DVDs and countless live recordings from their relentless tour schedule. Their 14 year history is packed full of surreal experiences, epic moments, groundbreaking involvement and huge accomplishments. They have been recognized for their commitment to musical creativity and integrity, for their community spirit, philanthropic endeavors, and for their innovative approach to the business of music.

When The String Cheese Incident’s growth first started gaining momentum over a decade ago, when the internet was just beginning to take hold and the major-label business model was failing, the band decided to make music on their own terms.

Since then, The String Cheese Incident has gone on to carve out a completely different approach to the business of music; they are truly pioneers of a new way of “making a band.” With the World Wide Web as their tool, SCI was among the first artists to disseminate information via the internet, such as tour dates, release information, and other news, to their growing fan base. Rather than doing business on such terms as “the bottom line,” The String Cheese Incident put their music and their fans first, opening companies of their own, including a ticketing company, a merchandise company and a fan travel agency, to best serve their community. The band’s record label, SCI Fidelity Records, has always operated under the same ideals. Even early on, SCI Fidelity embraced downloadable music and file sharing, delivering SCI’s “On the Road” series, where every show the band plays is made available for download on the internet. Whether they realized it at the time or not, The String Cheese Incident was inventing grassroots band development. Today, literally hundreds of bands are using some version of this same approach to building a band.

The String Cheese Incident’s commitment goes well beyond their immediate community, and even beyond the music community as a whole. Early on, the band took a serious interest in giving back to the communities that they visited, and they were among the first performers to encourage “Green” shows and tours. SCI’s support has helped give rise to such not-for-profit organizations as Conscious Alliance, Rock the Earth, and Head Count. In 2002, when the band’s right to sell tickets to their own shows became threatened by ticketing giant Ticketmaster, the band stood strong for the independent music community and filed a lawsuit against the company. All the while, The String Cheese Incident has stayed committed to music as a creative endeavor, not just in their recordings but also in their live performances. The list of SCI’s special guests and collaborators is long and diverse. Their annual events such as Horning’s Hideout, and holiday shows such as New Year’s and Halloween, have helped redefine the concert experience and has garnered the band a reputation as live music vibe innovators."

Some side groups are eoto, zilla with Jamie Janover, Zuvuya, Honkytonk Homeslice, Billy nershi's Plue Planet, Pangaea, The Trancident & Keller Williams with Moseley Droll and Sipe

Got What He Wanted
The String Cheese Incident Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chorus:
Got what he wanted, but not what he needs
Turn it around and it all looks the same
He's half way in, but all the way out
Turn it around what's it all about

Working so hard to find what is true
Everyday it's all I can do

I seem to get lost inside my head
But if it comes from the heart I can't be mislead

Chorus

Walking through the walls with my eyes half closed
What I feel is all that is real
If I could only clear this haze
And make my way through this maze

Bridge
Yesterday, everything seemed so complete
Yesterday, never nothin' wrong
But today, I'm working twice as hard

Chorus

Bridge

Chorus

Overall Meaning

The String Cheese Incident's song "Got What He Wanted" is a deeply insightful song about the dichotomy of wants and needs. The lyrics speak of a man who has obtained everything he wanted, but not what he needs. He's halfway in, but all the way out. The chorus enunciates the underlying message of the song: "Got what he wanted, but not what he needs. Turn it around and it all looks the same." The singer is on a journey to find what is true and real. However, he finds that he often gets lost inside his head. The only thing that he can trust is what comes from his heart because it cannot mislead him.

The bridge speaks about the loss of innocence that comes with age. Yesterday, everything seemed so complete, and there was never anything wrong. Today, the singer is working twice as hard. It seems that the more he acquires, the more he has to work to maintain it. The song reflects on what happens when we become entangled in a world where everything and everyone can be bought and the things we need and want become confused.

Line by Line Meaning

Got what he wanted, but not what he needs
He attained his desires, but not what truly fulfills him

Turn it around and it all looks the same
Changing perspective reveals monotony

He's half way in, but all the way out
He's partially committed, yet disconnected

Turn it around what's it all about
Reassessing the situation for clarity

Working so hard to find what is true
Striving for authenticity

Everyday it's all I can do
It's a constant effort

I seem to get lost inside my head
Overthinking leads to confusion

But if it comes from the heart I can't be mislead
Trusting instincts prevails over hesitation

Walking through the walls with my eyes half closed
Navigating obstacles blindly

What I feel is all that is real
Emotions are the truest reality

If I could only clear this haze
Eliminating confusion