King Crimson at Radio City Music Hall

Robert Fripp does not allow any photographs to be taken
during a King Crimson concert until the show ends
and he pulls out his camera.

In 1967 in Dorset, England, guitarist Robert Fripp first recorded with a psychedelic pop trio called Giles, Giles and Fripp. Upon seeing Clouds perform live, Fripp was inspired to incorporate classical melodies and jazz improvisation in his compositions. Musicians were added and others left, such that by 1968 the original band was no more and had evolved into what would become King Crimson, the forerunner of the progressive rock movement. Seemingly with each album, King Crimson's membership changed radically, quickly leaving Fripp as the only consistent member. Fripp disbanded King Crimson in 1974, reformed a new line-up in 1981 for three years, revamped it in 1994 for another three-year cycle, revived it from 2000 to 2008, and most recently restored the brand in 2013. King Crimson presently consists of Fripp, Jakko Jakszyk (lead vocals, guitar, flute, keyboards), Mel Collins (saxophones, flute, bass flute, mellotron, backing vocals), Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick, synthesizers, backing vocals), and three drummers, Pat Mastelotto, Jeremy Stacey, and Gavin Harrison. King Crimson's 13th and most recent studio album is 2003's The Power to Believe; since that album, the band has released numerous live albums, with the band's 15th live album, Audio Diary 2014–2018, scheduled for release on September 27, 2019.

At Radio City Music Hall tonight, King Crimson reflected on 50 years of creative, mind-bending music, and yet reproduced not one song as it was originally recorded. Rather than remain a static treasury, the catalogue was given new breath. Frequently a song began with some familiar strokes before the musicians began deconstructing and refashioning them in a manner suitable to the strengths of the current musicians. In an unusual move, three drummers held the front line, with the remaining four musicians on platforms behind them. Throughout the set, the drum syncopation was uncanny and mesmerizing, featuring beats upon beats. The back line of saxophone, keyboards, guitar and bass propelled the music into futuristic arrangements. There were several passages where the musicians' expansive improvisation leaned towards directionless noodling, but before long, another musician barged in and charged forward, igniting a new dynamic chaos. Jakszyk’s swooning vocal melodies, much like those of his predecessors Greg Lake and John Wetton, then calmed the frenetic storm and grounded the compositions. Being present to the music in the court of King Crimson was at times dizzying, but consistently instilled a sense of awe.

Setlist:

Set 1:

1. Hell Hounds of Krim
2. Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Part One
3. Suitable Grounds for the Blues
4. Red
5. Epitaph
6. Cat Food
7. EleKtriK
8. Moonchild (with cadenzas)
9. Larks' Tongues in Aspic (Part IV)
10. Islands

Set 2:

1. Drumzilla
2. Easy Money
3. Radical Action II
4. Level Five
5. The Court of the Crimson King (with coda)
6. Starless
7. Indiscipline

Encore:

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man