Chicago in February isn’t exactly known for its tropical vibes, but when The String Cheese Incident rolls into town, they bring enough jam-soaked heat to melt the lakefront ice. On a frigid Saturday, fans flocked to The Salt Shed—Chicago’s newly minted temple of sound perched on the bones of a former salt factory—and transformed the night into a kaleidoscopic carnival of music, lights, and borderline delirious happiness.
First Set: Solution, Lost, Saturday In The Park, Restless Wind, Ain't I Been Good To You, Bhangra Saanj, Shantytown, The Big Reveal
The evening began with “Solution,” a fitting opener that felt like a direct remedy for the cold, snapping the crowd into a communal groove. From there, SCI effortlessly slid into “Lost,” only to pull off a cheeky surprise with the iconic horns and chorus of Chicago’s “Saturday in the Park.” On a Saturday in Chicago’s winter, that nod was a wink, nudge, and grin all at once—an homage to the city that invented the track (and the unstoppable spirit behind it).
The entire first set brimmed with that classic Cheese synergy—where bluegrass, funk, rock, and electronica twist themselves into an unstoppable jam-laden swirl. Michael Kang’s mandolin soared atop Kyle Hollingsworth’s organ textures, with Bill Nershi’s acoustic guitar grounding it all in a warm, rootsy center. “Restless Wind” whipped the place into a free-spirited boogie, while “Ain’t I Been Good to You” offered a sultry, bluesy breather. But the band didn’t rest long—“Bhangra Saanj” fused Eastern rhythms and the band’s world-beat proclivities, reminding us SCI can globe-trot within a single measure. “Shantytown” and “The Big Reveal” closed the set with plenty of exultant jamming, leaving fans with eyes shining like disco balls.
Special mention has to go to Michael Smalley and his extraordinary lighting. As the swirling jams climbed into the upper atmosphere, the lights blanketed the entire Salt Shed in a prismatic glow. It was an immersive, multi-sensory feast: at times you felt like you were standing inside a swirling tie-dye tapestry, at others inside a 3D fractal dream. Smalley’s lighting has become as vital to the SCI experience as the band’s interplay, and he was in top form here.
When the house lights finally popped on, a sea of “cheesy” smiles drifted out to The Salt Shed’s spacious deck. Despite the February chill, people gathered to gaze at the breathtaking Chicago skyline, share stories of shows past, and sip on warm beverages. The Salt Shed’s deck—arguably one of the venue’s best features—felt like a gathering spot for old friends and new acquaintances alike, everyone buzzing about that “Saturday in the Park” moment and joking that maybe we’d get “25 or 6 to 4” next.
Second Set: Valley of the Jig, Close Your Eyes, World Gone Crazy, Impressions, Joyful Sound, Eye Know Why, Desert Dawn
Round two found the band firing on all cylinders from the jump. “Valley of the Jig” unspooled in a frenzy of electronic-inflected bluegrass—affectionately dubbed “trancegrass” by those in the know. It’s a hallmark of SCI’s boundary-pushing style that they can pivot from a Celtic jig feel straight into a pulsating EDM groove. The place went absolutely bananas for it, as if shaking off every last bit of winter lethargy.
“Close Your Eyes” brought the energy down just enough to highlight SCI’s melodic brilliance, but things amped up again with “World Gone Crazy.” If the first set was the amuse-bouche, this second act was the main course: layered, exploratory, and peppered with the band’s signature sense of adventure. Their take on “Impressions” took everyone on a jazzy deep-space excursion—Coltrane would’ve tipped his hat. Then, “Joyful Sound” lived up to its name, drenching the Shed in feel-good vibrations. “Eye Know Why” was a heady swirl of funk, and finally, “Desert Dawn” rose like a triumphant sun, radiant and euphoric, capping off a truly barn-burning second set.
Encore: Colorado Bluebird Sky
It’s hard to imagine a more perfect encore. “Colorado Bluebird Sky” is a longtime fan favorite, an ode to SCI’s Rocky Mountain roots. It felt like they brought a piece of that clear, high-altitude sunshine straight to Chicago’s snow-covered streets. Everyone in the crowd sang along—some with eyes closed, soaking in the last notes of the night, others capturing the moment on phones while trying not to spill their craft beers.
As the lights came up for good, a collective sigh of satisfaction rose from the audience. The String Cheese Incident once again proved that no matter how cold the world outside, their cosmic stew of genres, visionary light show, and genuine camaraderie can thaw the iciest hearts. The Salt Shed provided the perfect crucible for this wintertime meltdown, its spacious deck and top-notch acoustics earning it major points in the pantheon of Chicago venues.
Massive thanks to The Salt Shed, Grateful Web, and of course, The String Cheese Incident for gifting us a night that soared high above Lake Michigan’s icy waters. The pictures—some capturing those swirling beams of color, others the ear-to-ear grins of faithful “Cheese” devotees—serve as a reminder: SCI isn’t just a concert, it’s a celebration of community, creativity, and good old-fashioned musical magic.
