“Ladies and gentlemen may I thank you on behalf of the band for that very generous reception,” says Robert. He’s right. The crowd are extremely enthusiastic after hearing the powerful opening salvos of Doctor D and LTIA Pt 1.
The former track suffers, as it always does, from too many lyrics to be able to reasonably scan across the available bar lengths but is nevertheless a mighty example of the crunching power that was so abundantly available to this incarnation. The latter track, while not being quite as incendiary as the one performed earlier in the night in the previous set, still contains Fripp foreshadowing lines that would find themselves applied to Industry some ten years later.
After the drama of Easy Money Bruford’s double pulse from the bass drum and the distorted threads from Fripp’s Mellotron herald a contemplative improv featuring Cross exploring a distinctly uneasy, strained air that eventually coalesces into Exiles. They reprise something of that same mood on the next track, the pre-Talking Drum improv. By the time they get to Schizoid Man there are signs that the band’s energy levels have dipped but this is still a bruising outing for KC’s signature song.
“Ladies and gentlemen may I thank you on behalf of the band for that very generous reception,” says Robert. He’s right. The crowd are extremely enthusiastic after hearing the powerful opening salvos of Doctor D and LTIA Pt 1.
The former track suffers, as it always does, from too many lyrics to be able to reasonably scan across the available bar...
Note that it’s been some days since I reviewed the first set, and I’ve listened to a considerable amount of Crimson from this and all other eras in the meantime. My immediate impression is that the audio quality seems a little improved here versus the first set. Double checking the same spot in the first night confirmed my suspicions. I suppose the taper must have moved to a more favorable location in the venue?
I saw a quote earlier today from David Cross about how the American West w...
Note that it’s been some days since I reviewed the first set, and I’ve listened to a considerable amount of Crimson from this and all other eras in the meantime. My immediate impression is that the audio quality seems a little improved here versus the first set. Double checking the same spot in the first night confirmed my suspicions. I suppose the taper must have moved to a more favorable location in the venue?
I saw a quote earlier today from David Cross about how the American West was completely foreign and mindblowing to him, breathtaking on a daily basis sort of thing. David’s playing has always been considered to have taken off in 1973 and to some is the best part of this era. I wonder if some of the magic of Texas is what is causing his playing to be so inspired on this recording? It is, in turn, truly breathtaking. The audience seems to agree with me, giving a response after Larks I long enough that Flip ends up having to ask the crowd to quiet down for him to give his usual announcement!
The inspired evening continues, with all four players contributing some inspired solos and/or fills here and there. A nearly 7 minute long Talking Drum starts out weirder than normal, I’m not sure the band had decided whether they were going to play an improv there or not. Larks II after leaves the audience more demanding than begging for more. I’m not sure what they would have done had the guys not come back out to kick out the crowd pleaser 21st Century Schizoid Man.
Altogether, I’d give the performance a 4 and the audio quality a 2 (3 for the era), making this a 3 overall?
Written by Arend
Not THAT bad
IMHO these are completely average 1973 audience recordings. Not really "good", but far from being "unlistenable". :-)
Written by Shawn Sutherland
Great performance, horrible sound quality. For completists only.
I have downloaded both of the Majestic shows and - while they're wonderful keepsakes from a different era - the sound quality leaves much to be desired!
The sound quality on the first show is of a mid-level bootleg, and the second show is on par with an inferior bootleg.
Both shows, despite the band's power and prowess, make for painful listening.
