Lettuce’s Adam Deitch and Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff Join The String Cheese Incident, Cover The Meters’ “Hey Pocky A-Way”
Photo: Larry Hulst
Last night, Thursday, June 12, The String Cheese Incident’s summer tour commenced at Thompson’s Point in Portland, Maine. The night was billed to include fellow jam purveyors and funk-focused favorites, Lettuce, who performed their own frame before select members were enlisted by the concert hosts to join their respective frame of songs. Adam Deitch and Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff stepped up during SCI’s mid-set cover of The Meters’ “Hey Pocky A-Way.”
Before the concert’s musical alliance and funky nod to The Big Easy, The String Cheese Incident entered using “Song in My Head.” Next, a well-placed cover of the Talking Heads’ “This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)” caused excitement at home-naming number, ahead of two original songs: the long-time concert staple ” Water” and their Beats Antique collaboration “Bhangra Saanj.”
After turning in a rendition of their 2019 debut, Deitch appeared on percussion, while Shmeeans held down the electric guitar on The Meters’ standard. Notably, “Hey Pocky A-Way” entered the SCI’s live repertoire on Feb. 24, 1998, at the Sheridan Opera House in Telluride, Colo., and as played with regularity by the band into the early aughts before ultimately being shelved and only arriving on occasion beginning in 2003. Last night’s placement represented a bust out for The String Cheese Incident, who last performed The Meters’ original on August 4, 2023, at the Magic City Blues Festival in Billings, Mont.
Following the sit-in, SCI returned to form on “Lend Me a Hand,” followed by “Restless Wind” and the favorable “Way Back Home.” Continuing to dig deep into their archive, SCI pulled out “Desert Dawn” before striking a seasonal message on “Let’s Go Outside” and “Joyful Sound.” After last night’s performance in Portland, Maine, both bands will continue to the Northlands Music Festival in Swanzey, N.H., for their respective appearances.
The String Cheese Incident
Thompson’s Point – Portland, Maine
June 12, 2025
Set I: Song In My Head, This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) > Water > Bhangra Sanj, Hey Pocky Way1, Lend Me A Hand, Restless Wind, Way Back Home, Desert Dawn, Let’s Go Outside
Enc.: Joyful Sound > Rumble
Notes:
- With Adam Deitch on percussion, Adam “Shmeeans” Smirnoff on electric guitar (from Lettuce)
