The Belcourt was packed to the rafters when the band stepped onto the stage to unveil the new quintet formation of King Crimson. Although you can’t quite hear it on the board recording the audience gave the players an ecstatic welcome in a venue that feels more akin to a small club date than a full-on theatre performance. There’s a certain degree of nervous tension in the air but this is perhaps only to be expected on this the first public outing of King Crimson since the band played Mexico City in 2003. Pat and Gavin’s drumming fills the air as the pensive soundscapes fade, providing a visual and aural spectacle from opposites sides of the stage.
Spare a thought for Tony Levin heroically grappling with The Construkction Of Light which he’s on record as describing as having one of the most difficult Stick parts he’s ever encountered during his long and distinguished career. Nor is he the only one tripping over the odd brown note as can be heard in the chiming guitars which occasionally move from interlocking to unlocked and wide open status. After pausing for Adrian to change into his gig shoes the Crims are clearly still finding their feet as they charge through Neurotica but settle down as they work their way through Three Of A Perfect Pair. Indiscipline benefits from a righteous swing thanks to Pat & Gavin’s interactions as well as being the first track where Robert’s lead guitar really takes off.
A somewhat reserved and tentative performance by the band overall, it’s interesting to note that sometimes the pieces that cause the greatest difficulties are those that have been around the longest. Red offers an object lesson in this regard with more than one Crim falling victim to fingers, chords and cues being in the wrong place at the wrong time, not to mention various pedals failing to deliver as intended as on Elephant Talk and Thela. Culminating in a calamitous Vrooom, if you were there that night at the Belcourt none of this mattered. It was simply enough to have the Crims, and their clams, back after an absence of five years.
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