First Show
With the tensions that had surfaced during the making of Beat hopefully behind them, King Crimson embarked on their second North American tour of the year. Having previously played Toads Place just 4 months before you might think that the folks of New Haven had had enough Crimson juice to last them a while. Turns out the answer is no as the Crims play not one but two gigs in ONE night at the club. The early show bears the hallmarks of a tour opening; first night ‘nerves’ in the shape of fingers and feet going where they weren’t meant to - otherwise known as Red, and a slightly wayward quality where consistency is variable. While this very decent audience recording captures the audience's enthusiasm, it also evidences a certain sluggishness in the band, where the energy is slow to get off the ground. That said, Heartbeat is lovely, containing a gorgeous solo from Fripp, and The Howler achieves a savagery its studio counterpart struggled to muster, and Adrian’s playful interaction with the equally playful crowd during the verses of Indiscipline will put a smile on your face.
