SCI Finally!

[leith]

So I got to see SCI for the first time this weekend. I have heard them and have lots of friends into them. I just never thought they were my cup of tea. How wrong I was. The remodeled Wiltern Theatre in L.A. is very very DOPE!! First nite was able to munch some chocolate fungus and were my eyes opened in a big way. I knew how good Kang was but the rest of SCI..... man what energy!!!! That is the one thing I really enjoyed about the shows . The energy of the band and the crowd was the most positive I have ever felt other than my first years following GD. Another great thing was the amount of women The jam scene is notorious for its high male to female ratio but @ SCI i would say it was about even. Jam Heaven!!! I was afraid they would get too country but they played a very balanced show. Having no idea what to expect and then recieving such an outta sight show was great. This band is on par w/ WSP, Phish, DMB .... I have no idea why they are not playing larger venues unless their bluegrass roots are scaring people away. Anyways go see them if u get a chance. They actually showed up @ the afterparty and hung out for a lot longer than expected. Just downright awesome guys.

[Marcial]

I have been seeing them for quite a while... I think I saw my first show in 1993-4.  They are a good band.... the drummer is one of the best around... very cool style.  I much prefer their earlier material which is more bluegrassy where their newer stuff is jazzy.

As far as the scene goes, I must disagree with you.  WAY to granola for me... I mean, I\'m all about being a hippy in spirit, but Cheeseheads need to TAKE A DAMN SHOWER ALREADY!  I saw them at the Fox in Atlanta a few months ago & got trapped in a crowded elevator at the hotel afterwards... talk about a stench!  Between the BO, nasty dreads, and chicks with hairy armpits, I thought I was going to barf...

[leith]

LOL Sorry u had such trouble. I guess being downtown in LA  had some effect on the cheeseheads because i had no such run ins w/ dirty hippies. I admit there were a few but overall the crowd was pretty clean:) There earlier material is not really what I dig but like I said they played a balanced show between trippy jams and bluegrassy music. Their drummer is pretty slick and Kyle on keys is really smooth. Glad to have seen them and will again 4 sure.

[jocelyn]

I gotta agree with you Marcial... I wish they had stuck more to their bluegrassy roots... I like the band less and less as time progresses, which is too bad; I really liked them when I first started listening to their stuff. The jazzy stuff (especially the funky-spacey-jazzy stuff) doesn\'t do much for me. I think perhaps they gravitated more towards this type of music to pull in more of the jamband crowd. As for myself, if I want to listen to jazz, I\'ll listen to real jazz.

They do a decent cover of Birdland though.

[leith]

SCI is so connected w/ their fanbase that i believe they have "spread out" to satisfy their core fans who want the band to expand their sound. As for being jazzy, jazz is all about the improvisation between players and SCI listens to each other really well making for soaring jams and intricate lines intertwining to blow one\'s mind.

[jocelyn]

I feel like when one takes into account the realm of what is possible for jazz music, SCI stays too far within the "safe zone." Not like I\'m expecting them to bust out something as out there as Om or Ascension, but... I dunno, maybe I\'m crazy. I guess their jazzy (getting sick of using this word...) tunes are just not my cup o\' tea... I agree that they do listen to each other well, but they still seem very predictable to me.

I am fighting a losing battle here I think...

[leith]

Not a battle at all. As far as staying safe I agree to a point. Kang is so talented that sometimes he holds back(this was told to me by a cheesehead going on his 200th or so SCI show so take it 4 what it\'s worth). Kang as a child prodigy was very inventive and due to his classical training he is used to carrying others along the way. I can see how this develops into "safe playing". As a jazz lover for over 18 years i think "out there " jazz is overated and basically for music snobs. Not saying you r a snob Jocelyn just that i believe in true jazz which connects w/ the soul. This is usually found in "safe playing". Anyway SCI is a fun band to check out when they come around Yeah?

[Wolfman]

I like Cheese\'s real bluegrass days, as in 1998 and earlier.  They have some decent jams, so do most jambands.  Mostly they just play it safe and stick to cutesy jams that don\'t take any risks, hence BORING.  If they were ten bucks a show I\'d see \'em, but not for $25 a show, absolutely not.

[jocelyn]

I dunno Leith, I really do get bored during their jazz-esque songs. It\'s not that I insist jazz be really "out there", I\'m just saying that theirs doesn\'t go anywhere. They jam the songs out for a really long time, so I feel like if they are doing that they should go somewhere with it. Short and sweet is great (think: many Sony Rollins tunes that are short but powerful enough to bring a tear to the eye, now that\'s good simple jazz), and jams are great too, if they do something interesting.  I feel like SCI is in limbo somewhere in between complicated and simple, short and sweet and long and elaborate. Not quite bluegrass, not quite jazz, not quite funk, not quite rock and roll... not quite anything.

Yes, true jazz connects with the soul... obviously.... and I never said a song has to be long, or intricate, or unusual to do that.... "Out there" jazz- overated and for jazz snobs? How can that be? If it brings me to great emotional heights, then I think it\'s a-ok. Maybe I\'m a jazz snob. Awesome.

I don\'t really know how to articulate what my point. (Thanks for backin me up Seth, I need the help here!)

I guess what it comes down to is... whatever floats your boat... or tickles your pickle... is all good.

[Marcial]

I agree with leith in that I will usually go to see them if they are within a few hours drive... other than that, I rarely even listen to them.  Again, when I\'m at shows, I find myself really getting into it when they are jamming some fast paced bluegrass.... they do a kick-ass bluegrass I Know You Rider.... aside from that, I really don\'t care for their "up-beat, everything and everyone is always happy and in a good mood, care-free, peace and love" attitude... it kinda aggrivates me, actually.    I like a little darkness and a bit of a sinister quality every now & then.  To me, they are kind of like the anti-WSP.  

A few cool t-shirts I\'ve seen in the WSP lots recently....

1) A big tractor running over the SCI hoola-hooper.

2) The SCI hoola-hooper in the crosshairs with the words "Greta\'s got a gun, this ain\'t no flower child"

gotta love spREaDNECKS!

[leith]

With life as crazy as it is these days, the"up-beat, everything and everyone is always happy and in a good mood, care-free, peace and love" attitude... was refreshing. Like I said before a fun band to see when near. I do not think SCI tour is in my future but damn it I had a blast."I like a little darkness and a bit of a sinister quality every now & then"= PB

[Marcial]

Originally posted by leith
... but damn it I had a blast...

NO YOU DIDN\'T!  LOL!!!

[jocelyn]

hahahahaha you guys are the best

[leith]

But i did see twirling hippies i did i did