We know from the full sets that have survived from around this period how hot the band was at this time.[endtease] Fracture is especially good with a thundering performance from Mr. B, whilst Easy Money has a piquant rip with a sting in the tail from the guitarist. The channels on the soundboard has John's vocals a touch higher than he might like and so there’s a tendency when getting excited for his voice to drown out his colleagues.
David Cross plays a blinder in the improv that follows Easy Money but then experiences some equipment trouble in the very next number. What follows is a great example of a band thinking on its feet. When David’s violin mic fails at the end of The Nightwatch, Fripp keeps the Mellotron part going and John steps in to play Cross’s part on the bass. Better yet, Robert buys the frantically busy road crew a few more precious minutes of repair time when he announces that the band are conducting a survey to see how popular they are: Cue the audience to go bonkers for a much needed minute. Fripp (who clearly has missed his vocation as a stand-up comedian) then goes on to set up one of his best on-stage jokes yet.
Whilst the good folks of Columbus may well have been treated to yet more chuckles or indeed barnstorming versions of Starless and Schizoid, these are not heard by audiences 33 years later as the tape ran out. Nevertheless, a great show.
