“It’s a very rare occurrence that I come centre stage to use this microphone” says Robert Fripp midway through a gig that finds Crimson kicking back and enjoying themselves. “I normally sit over on the side. I’m a shy kinda guy. Every now and then there are important events which call me to the front and the rest of the guys in the outfit tend to give me a moment or two. World events such as the assassination of all world leaders over afternoon tea - this is the kind of situation that would draw me to the microphone. Today, or rather this evening we have an event of similar magnitude: my sister is here!” Cue wild cheers and quite possibly, relieved applause.
Despite being a somewhat murky audience recording in places there’s a interesting variation in Fripp’s picking between verses on Neil And Jack And Me that didn’t make it to the finished studio version, and Manhattan is especially busy and bustling on this occasion. Perhaps the most turbo-charged track of the set is Indiscipline with Belew working the crowd to perfection.
Eyewitness Robert Cervero shared with ET readers downs and upsides of attending a gig where ordering food was a non-negotiable part of the entrance fee. “ We all set around big oval tables, and were treated to hefty helpings of spaghetti, salad, and slightly stale bread. It had a distinctive dormitory quality. I remember my ex- and myself were(I believe) the only ones staying between shows, and Bruford hung around to "retune" his bright-yellow, new, Simmons electronic kit. And we got to hang around and pester the stage folks. We talked to Bill for a few minutes; he was incredibly friendly, and seemed somewhat bewildered though appreciative that there were actually folks who would endure two marginal meals to catch two Discipline shows in one night.”
