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Topic ClosedKing Crimson - 26 Sept, 2014 Chicago Vic Theater
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cstack3 View Drop Down
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Points: 7272 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2014 at 00:20
Originally posted by jazz2896 jazz2896 wrote:

Hey I was there last night as well, excellent show.  I never thought I'd hear starless live, and it exceeded all expectations..


Yeah, I remember you!  LOL

Glad you were there, and I agree, "Starless" was sublime!  Wasn't it nice to hear Bob Fripp rip wide open on electric guitar again? 

J did a really great job covering Wetton's vocals, and his guitar playing shines!  This is a true rebirth of King Crimson....

This concert review in (*gasp!*) the Rolling Stone is a must-read!  "The best new band in prog!"

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/live-reviews/king-crimson-in-albany-the-best-new-band-in-prog-begins-a-u-s-tour-20140910


Edited by cstack3 - September 28 2014 at 00:25
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Points: 8 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 22:59
Hey I was there last night as well, excellent show.  I never thought I'd hear starless live, and it exceeded all expectations..
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Points: 166178 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 21:52


Boy do I hope original material comes out of this.
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Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
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Points: 7272 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 21:43
Originally posted by Imperial Zeppelin Imperial Zeppelin wrote:

Wow. Incredible set list! I think it would be very interesting to hear a live version of Starless with a sax (I don't recall that happening before). I would also love to hear Indiscipline with three drummers, but sadly, they left out all the 80s stuff.


Yeah, I noticed that about the "Discipline" era, although they could have paid tribute to it a bit.  Bob seems refreshed to have won the legal battles about his music catalog, so I think this was the concert he wanted to give for many, many years!

I guess Adrian Belew was hurt/miffed that he was passed up for this Crimson, but the guy that Fripp picked was superb!  Much more appropriate to the old 70's catalog.  His ability to mimic Fripp's style was uncanny, I've seen Mike Keneally do the same over Fripp's Soundscapes once.  The LTIA material sounded as good (or better) than the original recording to these ears!

Maybe Bob will tour again with Belew and the 80's catalog someday.  I could see that....*splish splash, he is raking in the cash!* 
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Points: 6116 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 20:11
Wow. Incredible set list! I think it would be very interesting to hear a live version of Starless with a sax (I don't recall that happening before). I would also love to hear Indiscipline with three drummers, but sadly, they left out all the 80s stuff.
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Points: 7272 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 20:00
Here's the set list for 26 September:

  • Encore:

  • It was fantastic to hear Fripp's buzz-saw, distorted lead guitar tone again!  His opening to "Starless" has been acknowledged by many on PA to be among the finest prog guitar solos of all time!   It sounded wonderful....

    Welcome back, Bob!  We've missed you and King Crimson!  

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    Points: 7272     		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 16:31
    Here is some of the background of the touring King Crimson.  

    http://thecuttingedgeofmusic.com/2014/03/02/king-crimson-announces-2014-tour-dates/

    I have seen Bob perform numerous times with his "Soundscapes" material, and he looked distracted, even sad during these shows.  Now that I know the background I think the constant battles with the UMG record group was wearing on him.   Also, his own music was being held hostage from him, how very cruel!  

    For last night's show, RF seemed reinvigorated!  He played classic 1970s era Fripp-guitar lines perfectly (the opening solo to "Starless" is still beautiful and breathtaking, and he plays it as well as ever!).  I cannot believe that songs like "Schizoid Man" or "Sailor's Tale" were played any better when they were first written as they were last night, with the range of talent on display.  

    I would say that the concert was historic - the re-birth of one of prog's true innovators.  

    It was good to see Bob play a bit of electronic keyboard onstage (Mellotron, of course!).  He had some type of modern synth work-station at his disposal, and played a bit of the 'tron for the older songs.  He also generously used his lovely Fernandes Les Paul copy with synth to emulate Tony Levin's fretless bass sounds!  They had great interplay and were smiling widely! 

    I am certain that there will be forthcoming concert DVDs from this tour, and I shall certainly invest in them.  Please support King Crimson generously, as I know many of us on PA do.  Bob has turned a corner in his life, and he is on a roll!  

    Go and see them now, I command you!!  Best, Chuck in Chicago 
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    Points: 6632     		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 14:43
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    Points: 7272     		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2014 at 13:38
    This is my review of King Crimson's show at the old, elegant Vic Theater in Chicago, held 26 Sept 2014.  The weather was perfect, and there was great anticipation!

    One word - miraculous!  

    I use such a strong word because it is a miracle to see Bob back onstage, leading a remarkably powerful version of the Crimson King!  

    I was personally baffled as to why Fripp selected three drummers for this version, but it became very clear during the show.  They were able to re-create the studio versions of LTIA Parts 1 and 2 perfectly, with Pat Mastelotto playing Jamie Muir's very subtle percussive work in Part 1.  When all three drummers were full-on, it was thunderous!  They really underlined how important "the drum" is to the overall sound of King Crimson over the years.

    The set list for the show I saw last night is now online:


    The lineup for this 8th incarnation of King Crimson remains Gavin Harrison, Bill Rieflin, Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, Mel Collins, Jakko Jakszyk and Robert Fripp.

    Some immediate impressions: 
    • Set List - Bob chose a fantastic selection of very classic music from KC's past!  It was excellent to hear older material such as "Pictures of a City,"  "Sailor's Tale," and "Larks Tongues in Aspic Parts 1 and 2."  The three-drummer setup allowed the band to re-create the studio sound fantastically!   They didn't stretch songs out with much free-form jamming as I have heard in the past, but they did some of this....it was wonderful to see Pat M. standing there, gazing at his bandmates in awe as the jammed away!!   Clearly, Bob is celebrating his legal win and recovery of his rights to his old music....this is what allowed him to perform these older numbers.
    • Lineup - My God, Fripp really nailed it with this iteration!  I was not familiar with several band members, but their selection of players was fantastic....Jakko is more suited to the older material than Belew, as J's guitar style is remarkably close to a young Bob Fripp!!  He really has the lead tone, picking nuances and chords down, whereas Belew is more energetic, "bend that guitar neck" type of free-form player.  Jakko also sings wonderfully, and covered the Lake and Wetton-era Crimso convincingly!!  It is hard to sing & play at the same time, he did it as well as anyone I've ever seen!!   Levin was Levin as always, playing Chapman stick, bass guitar and standup electric double-bass with bow (fantastic for "Red!") and even singing backup vocals, as I've seen him do before (Gabriel, ABWH, KC)

    More to follow, please see this stage setup photo!  



    Edited by cstack3 - September 27 2014 at 21:45
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