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
Rain
The String Cheese Incident Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Let the rain come
Now the clouds cover the sun
It has begun, it's on it's way, hey, hey
Soon I feel the water's touch
Wanting so much for it to stay, hey, hey
Calm before the storm
A world transformed, it takes me away, hey, hey
Let the rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Let the rain come
Clouds, like fingers reaching down
Towards the ground, the earth is cleansed, hey, hey
The sea, the sea it grows
The rivers flow without an end, hey, hey
So the field is green
The mountains clean to begin again, hey, hey
Let the rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Let the rain come
Let the rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
Rain come, set me free
Rain come, wash me clean
transposed from 07/21/2007 by: TheDreadfulGreat
The song "Rain" by The String Cheese Incident is a haunting and introspective piece that explores the cleansing power of water. The theme of the song is the singer's desire to be liberated from the emotional baggage that he carries with him. Rain is often used as a symbol of renewal and a fresh start, and the lyrics here reflect that sentiment. When the rain comes, the singer feels that he is set free from his troubles, just like the earth is cleansed of its impurities by the rainfall.
The song opens with the phrase "Let the rain come, set me free", which is repeated several times throughout the song. This is a powerful statement of intent, as it reveals the singer's desire to be liberated from his pain and to start anew. The singer is asking the rain to wash away the negative emotions and thoughts that weigh him down, and to help him find peace and clarity.
The middle part of the song describes the effects of the rain on the world around the singer. The clouds cover the sun, indicating a change in the weather, and the water touches the singer's skin, leaving him feeling refreshed and renewed. The mountains are cleansed and the fields are green again, as the rain brings new life to the earth. This section of the song is a celebration of the power of nature and its ability to heal and restore.
Overall, "Rain" is a beautiful and poetic song that explores the transformative power of water. It reflects the belief that through the cleansing power of rain, one can be set free from the burdens of the past and start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the rain come, set me free
The singer wants the rain to come and free him from something he's struggling with.
Rain come, wash me clean
The singer wants the rain to come and cleanse him of something that's weighing on him.
Now the clouds cover the sun
The sun is being blocked by clouds, implying that something is going to change.
It has begun, it's on its way, hey, hey
Whatever change is coming has already started and is imminent.
Soon I feel the water's touch
The artist is beginning to feel the effects of the incoming rain.
Wanting so much for it to stay, hey, hey
The singer wants the rain to stay and continue cleansing him.
Calm before the storm
There is a peaceful feeling before the impending change.
A world transformed, it takes me away, hey, hey
The world is changing and the artist feels like he's being taken away.
Clouds, like fingers reaching down
The clouds appear to be reaching towards the ground like hands.
Towards the ground, the earth is cleansed, hey, hey
The rain is cleansing the earth and everything on it.
The sea, the sea it grows
The rain is causing the sea to grow, possibly through runoff from the land.
The rivers flow without an end, hey, hey
The rain is causing rivers to flow endlessly, which is a good thing.
So the field is green
The rain is bringing new life to the fields and making them green.
The mountains clean to begin again, hey, hey
The rain is cleaning the mountains and making everything fresh and new.
Contributed by Jacob M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pageisarockgod
The organ throughout is a soulful wash of beautifully constructed chords. Perfect base for the jam to just swim through.
Robert Duggan
I was at this show. Drained the organ
Robert Duggan
3:14