San Francisco has always had something of an appetite for King Crimson ever since the band’s first appearance in the city back in 1969. 26 years after that debut in a three-night run at the Warfield, the Double Trio presented repertoire that occasionally nodded in the direction of the mid-70s and 80s but was largely focussed on brand new, paint-still-wet material.
In its review of the first night, the San Francisco Examiner noted how KC had kept moving forward unlike some of progressive rock’s more famous exponents, and in doing so ensured that the prospect of a reinvigorated Crimson, “wasn't as frightening as other dinosaur cash-ins. It was guaranteed that the new, extended Anglo-American lineup of Fripp, guitarist-singer Adrian Belew, bassist Tony Levin, drummers Bill Bruford and Pat Mastelotto, and Trey Gunn on stick (a huge, many-stringed guitar) would offer a wealth of excellent musicianship and a minimum of nostalgia.” Later in the piece, the reviewer observed “The set was in keeping with the band's ever-changing tradition: Little sounded dated.”
25 years after this review was published it’s easy for today’s listeners, who know the way this incarnation played out and where it would ultimately go, to forget how dazzling and exciting the Double Trio was. However, even a cursory listen to this performance is enough to pin your ears back such is the velocity and impact of Crimson’s momentum.
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