William Randolph Hearst made his vast fortune in journalism -- and the entire journalism supply chain -- from owning newspapers, to making ink and paper, even owning multiple county-sized forests of virgin timber to feed his newsprint plants. In 1903 Hearst built the Greek Theater that now bears his name as an homage to the ancient Greek theater at Epidaurus -- donating the facility to the University of California. UC has maintained the theater for over 100 years at no small cost, installing two bathrooms and hiring a rude boor to run its classics program.
Hearst was also a political activist, a Koch brother of his day -- working tirelessly behind the scenes to demonize cannabis and the hemp plant that his predecessors used instead of trees to make paper. Hearst's reefer madness of the 1930's (and his paranoia of dramatic improvements in the arts of making hemp paper) directly led to the cannabis and hemp prohibitions that continue to this day, in our country and in all UN countries. One wonders what Hearst would think about his theater being used not only for the dramatic arts, but also the modern musical arts at the University of California, with all of the chronically ill patrons and their natural medicines. Rosebud indeed.
We took in The String Cheese Incident show Saturday night to gauge whether Hearst's classical penchant could survive a modern attack -- and it was all gouda. String Cheese Incident is an electrified, neo-phychadelia, calypso-funk, jambandy bluegrass sextet born from Colorado's apres ski society. Here is the String Cheese troupe in action.
Show was a sell out at 8500 tickets, with maybe 7500 in attendance -- plenty of extra room for everyone. Our seat neighbors were from Portland Oregon, Palmer Alaska, and right up the street in Berkeley.
String Cheese has Korean-born, UC Berkeley graduate Michael Kang as its putative leader on violin, mandolin, guitar and other instruments with strings. Here is Mr. Kang with and without a hat.
Bill Nershi bobbleheads were being sold in the lot, so arguably, he is the leader of the band. Here is Mr. Nershi doing his Santa Groove.
Keith Moseley was steady on bass throughout all of the String Cheese changes and his vocals are superb for a bassist.
Homebrewer Kyle Hollingsworth is surrounded by keyboards and spends half the show Vatican I style with his back to the audience. Here is Mr. Hollingsworth spun around in the right direction.
Michael Travis is the original Cheese drummer who can supply the beats throughout the wild repertoire.
Relative newcomer Jason Hann pounds it out WSP-style on hand percussion and hair tossing.
Talking Heads' versatile keyboardist and guitarist Jerry Harrison joined for a number of tunes and shared a story of playing a Berkeley nightclub with his Modern Lovers band.
The show had tremendous variety and showcased the legitimate skills of the entire Cheese buffet. One foxy concert veteran in our group declared String Cheese as the apex of jambands.
Set I:
Little Hands -- "800 years ago..." theaters in Greece were still ancient.
Dudley's Kitchen -- Traditional, like being at a wedding in Sicily.
Eye Know Why -- Groovy, funky, clear and carlosy.
Song in my Head -- SCI's driver tune, reminds me of Phish's Get Back on the Train. Our Cheese newcomer discerns the lyrics immediately.
These Waves -- Be brave, because the Cheeseheads are cheesercizing all over the place.
Can't Wait Another Day -- "Round and round we go..." Mr. Kang explains he wrote the poignant number awaiting the birth of his daughter.
Black Clouds -- With washboard!
Life During Wartime -- Talking Heads' keyboardist Jerry Harrison joins for this Talking Heads classic -- "This aint no party, this aint no disco..."
Set II:
It Is What It Is -- Cheese second sets are like when you leave the cheeseboard in the sun and it all melts together.
Rosie -- "I know who you are..."
Miss Brown's Teahouse -- Cheese has a hit and this is it. 7500 strong on the refrain. Very long outro blending into the disco ball.
Black Market -- With Talking Heads Crosseyed and Painless ("still waiting...") teases.
On the Road -- Bluegrass can also be funky.
Sirens -- Beautiful, even your music teacher would agree.
She Cracked -- More with Talking Heads' Jerry Harrision, now on guitar.
Shine -- The entire house is up and in a locked and loaded groove.
Rivertrance -- Mr. Kang is a virtuoso on the violin. This one goes celtic and beyond.
E: Ring of Fire -- Johnny Cash would have approved. The refrain (I fell into a burning ring of fire; I went down down down and the flames went higher...") is heard being sung by patrons all over walking out of the historic Hearst venue.
See you at BIll Graham for Phish!