LIVE IN CHICAGO

A couple of weeks ago I came back into the King Crimson fold as I was completely floored by the album and Blu-ray set 'Radical Action (to Unseat the Hold of Monkey Mind)' after being away for 20 plus years. I decided that I definitely needed to investigate more of the current Crim. Several people over at progressive ears mentioned I should look into 'Meltdown in Mexico' and 'Live in Chicago'. Well, the latter is even more stunning then 'Radical Action'.

The playing is just on fire as the 8 man Crim now has a dedicated keyboard player in Bill Rieflin. Mr. Rieflin was on Radical Action but had taken time off for personal reasons. KC slotted in Jeremy Stacey into the center drummer / keyboard player spot. When it was time for Mr. Rieflin to return, KC decided to keep the current front line and BK returned as a fulltime keys man. That change gave them even more flexibility and with Stacey's kit growing to the size of his two drummer mates, it seems as though their is now nothing that 8 headed monster of a band could not cover live with the possible exception of some of ex-Crim Adrian Belew's songs. His vocals styling are just too unique.

When King Crimson tour, the play list changes slightly from night to night. Inside of that, the way the songs are played can also change. Well, during that night in Chicago, the mighty King Crimson was hitting on all cylinders. The attacks are more ferocious, the drumming is more complex, the keys add more color, plus the sax and base are more prominent.

I don't know any band that is better after 50 years except for King Crimson.

I thought 'Radical Action' was incredible and I still feel that way but many of the tracks on Chicago may even be better. The one negative is that with the set list changing often during the tour, your particular fav track may be played one night and not the next. That's the only thing I could think of to complain about, and that is not really even a complaint. OK, I miss in the Court of the Crimson King and Epitaph but it really goes to show the size of their catalog.

This is a great album.

5 stars