The String Cheese Incident Lights Up NJPAC for North to Shore Festival
It’s not every Tuesday that Newark transforms into a swirling, sonic celebration of community and improvisation, but The String Cheese Incident made it so, taking over the NJPAC’s Prudential Hall as part of the Prudential North to Shore Festival. From the moment I arrived, it was clear this wasn’t just another concert—it was an experience curated by a band and its devoted following, nearly three decades in the making.
The crowd began gathering early. I met a pair of longtime fans from Maryland who had posted up on the plaza since noon, braving the midday heat with a cooler and stories from past tours. Nearby, a small crew quietly prepped recording gear—preserving a moment in time, not just taping a show. Around us, familiar faces reunited, laughter flowed, and strangers bonded over setlists and show memories. This wasn’t a crowd, it was a tribe.
Inside the stunning Prudential Hall, the energy was intimate yet electric. With its soaring acoustics and SCI’s vibrant light show washing over the room in technicolor brilliance, the venue proved a perfect setting for the band’s freeform magic. Beams of color pulsed with the rhythm, surrounding the audience in a visual counterpart to the music's flow—hypnotic, energetic, and immersive.
From the opener, “Outside and Inside”, it was clear we were in for a journey. The “Newark Jam” that followed proved exactly why SCI is beloved—driving grooves, hypnotic build-ups, and interwoven melodies that felt completely of the moment. Each member brought their signature flavor: Bill Nershi’s nimble guitar picking, Michael Kang’s dynamic multi-instrumental shifts, and Kyle Hollingsworth’s keys painting broad, vibrant strokes. Rhythm masters Michael Travis and Jason Hann locked in tight, while Keith Moseley’s bass glued it all together.
Set one ended with “Round the Wheel”, only to return stronger. Highlights included “Texas”, which turned into a barn-burning dance fest, and the trancey pulse of “Rivertrance”, which brought the house to its feet. The band even capped the night with “Johnny Cash”, a playful, crowd-pleasing encore.
Formed in 1993 in Colorado, SCI has evolved into a genre-defying force, balancing bluegrass roots with exploratory jams and electronic elements. But it’s their spirit of inclusion, sustainability, and musical risk-taking that keeps fans coming back—and bringing new ones into the fold.
As I packed up my camera, I couldn’t help but smile. The String Cheese Incident didn’t just play a show in Newark—they built a temporary village, a living, breathing community. And for one night, we were all part of that Incident.
Setlist – June 17, 2025 | NJPAC, Newark, NJ
Set 1:
Outside and Inside, Newark Jam, Can’t Stop Now, Turn This Around, Crazy Angel, Eye Know Why, Round the Wheel
Set 2:
Sweet Spot, I Will Follow You, Texas, Manga, Looking Glass, Roll Around the Sun, Rivertrance, Group Hoot, Johnny Cash
