King Crimson

King Crimson at the Chicago Theatre. We had great seats - third row balcony, not the closest, but we could kinda see the expressions on their faces, and we were high enough that we could see all the action. I like being able to look down on the drum kits. My only disappointment is that we were to the right, so I was looking right down the neck of Robert's guitar. While I could see his hands, I couldn't see his fretwork.

There were large signs on the stage explaining that we were being asked not to use our cameras or phones until after the show. Then there was a recorded announcement (by Fripp) explaining the same, with the addition that when Tony gets out his camera at the end of the show, we can get ours out as well. And also that there would be an intermission.

I love King Crimson. But I'm not... a well-versed fan. I'm very familiar with Discipline. And then my familiarity starts at the end and trails off as we go back in time. I like their last three seventies albums, but only a few tracks really stand out and are recognizable. Like "Easy Money" "Talking Drum" "Red" and "The Great Deceiver". Since this band is known for doing a lot of the seventies material, I probably should have brushed up. But I didn't, so most of the first half was kinda lost on me. They did the first two parts of "Larks' Tongues" which I'm not too familiar with. Two songs from Lizard (including a long section from the title track), "Fallen Angel" from Red, which I didn't recognize, but sounded like it was from Red. And the "Islands" from Islands, which I didn't know at all. But then there was "Neurotica" from Beat, which I didn't recognize, and "Radical Action III" which was new. I didn't recognize, but I did recognize it as new music. I was thinking, during this set, that these concerts are generally more interesting than enjoyable.

Then there was a twenty minute intermission, which took place after the first set, but before the second set. I would have liked to chat with my friend about the show more, but I had to go buy merch.

The second set was quite enjoyable. They did three new songs, and a couple of older ones I didn't recognize, but the songs were so cool, I didn't mind much. There was more prominent drumming, and said drumming was cool. They did "Indiscipline," which is an Adrian tune, so I was a little surprised to hear it, but Jakko put a tune to the words and sang it. Not sure why. Then there was "The ConstruKction of Light" "Easy Money" "Level Five" and "Starless". And several new tunes. I wish I could remember which ones had the extended solos and drummings.

The encore was Bowie's "Heroes" (Fripp played on the original) and "21st Century Schizoid Man." Heroes was lots of fun, and "Schizoid Man" has lots of everything, especially drums.

Fripp had a small keyboard set up in front of him. Mellotron, I guess. I've never seen him do that before. I've also never seen Crimson with a stand-alone keyboardist before. Last tour had Bill Rieflin playing keyboards occasionally, alongside his drum kit. He had stepped back from the band and was replaced by Jeremy Stacey on both drums and keyboards. But he came back for this tour to play "keyboards, synthesizer and fairy dust." I couldn't see his hands, so I couldn't always tell what he was playing, given that there were other keyboardists on the stage, and sometimes guitars sound keyboardish.

Jakko Jakszyk is the vocalist. I remembered from the last tour, that he sounded very much like Jon Wetton. But for the first song that he sung, he sounded horrible. Not like Wetton, and not even good. Not sure what was up with that, but it could have been a bad monitor. The next couple of songs he did, he sounded better, but still not quite like Wetton. After that, he sounded just like I remembered - just like Wetton (or Lake). Jakko was bouncy and animated sometimes, unlike Fripp, seated beside him.

The drummers were Pat Mastelotto, Gavin Harrison and Jeremy Stacey. It was really interesting watching the three drummers. I've always wondered what the point having more than one is. And how do they play together? I'm kinda figuring it out now, at least for this band. When they play together - playing the same thing - it's thunderous. But they're not always playing together. At those times, they seem somewhat relaxed. This gives them the chance to figure what's best to play. They do improvisation well, or at least structured improvisation.

Mel Collins played Saxes and flutes. Soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, as well as at least two flutes. He gear list mentions two flutes, but he also played a bass flute. He played on every song. I don't think this was necessary. I know a lot of the songs were reworked for the eight-member band, but I think there were songs he didn't add to.

And of course there was my man Tony. What can I say? Tony is awesome. He played bass guitar, stand-up electric bass and Chapman Stick.

The band took the stage at 7:45, and the show ended shortly before 11:00. Not counting the intermission, they played for over two and a half hours.

Set 1
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One (from Larks' Tongues)
Neurotica (Beat)
Radical Action III (Radical Action)
Cirkus (Lizard)
Lizard ((c) The Battle of the Glass Tears (i) Dawn Song (ii) Last Skirmish (iii) Prince Rupert's Lament) (Lizard)
Fallen Angel (Red)
Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part Two (Larks' Tongues)
Islands (Islands)

Set 2:
Pictures of a City (In the Wake of Poseidon)
Indiscipline (Discipline)
The ConstruKction of Light (The ConstruKction of Light)
Easy Money (Larks' Tongues)
The Letters (Islands)
Interlude (Radical Action)
Meltdown (Radical Action)
Radical Action II (Radical Action)
Level Five (The Power to Believe)
Starless (Red)

Encore:
"Heroes" (David Bowie cover)
21st Century Schizoid Man (In the Court of the Crimson King)