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• king-crimson.com • nokiatheatrenyc.com
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with 4 Nights in New York City! A Kweevak.com Rock Report by Rich and Laura Lynch King Crimson's 2008 tour included a four night engagement (August 14-17) at the Nokia Theater in New York City. Although King Crimson is best known as a progressive rock band they have traveled many musical terrains since their inception in 1969. Through various incarnations their music has explored classical, experimental, jazz fusion and new wave.
 The current line-up is Robert Fripp (founder, guitars, keys & mellotron, Adrian Belew (guitars, lyrics & vocals), Tony Levin (bass, Chapman Stick & backing vocals) and Pat Mastelotto and Gavin Harrison the drumming duo. A prevailing theme through all the creative changes has been songs with multiple poly-rhythmic motifs and innovative improvisation. King Crimson has had limited commercial success but has maintained a strong cult following. The Nokia Theater is a state of the art facility located in the heart of Times Square, a few blocks from restaurant row and not far from the greens of Central Park. One can make a day trip of going to a concert at the Nokia. Usually the venue is general admission but for King Crimson there was seating. We were in the mezzanine and the chairs were comfortable and the sight lines of the stage were not obstructed. A big plus for me as a petite female. Known for progressive poly-rhythmic sound the King Crimson stage was set with two drum kits with lots of cymbals, guitars, bass, effect pedals and front miked amps. The show started at 8:30 p.m., although Robert Fripp came out early to play some new agey sequences. These pieces are known as Fripp Soundscapes and they helped set the tone of the show. This musical style, developed by guitarist Robert Fripp, involves the use of audio loops created and modified by a specific set of digital music synthesizers and digital audio processing devices. The system - formerly known as Frippertronics - was revamped in the 90's by incorporating digital electronics in lieu of tape recorders and effects pedals and came to be called Soundscapes. One might not have realized that Mr. Fripp was even present as his M.O. is to surround himself with his racks. All we saw of Mr. Fripp the whole night was the top of his head above his gear. Never the less his special strange musical effects were part of their signature sound. The Saturday night crowd was very much the cult following the band is known for. The audience was attentive and were on their feet to welcome King Crimson. The band began with dramatic thuds from the dueling drums with Tony Levin tapping in on the Chapman Stick. His fingers sort of crawled over the strings. One of many tricky techniques that Mr. Levin utilized on the Stick throughout the night. The guitars had an other-worldly quality. The jam progressed through numerous rhythm runs and some stop and go vocals from Adrian. Next, from the allusive Robert and his rack were spacey effects followed by a siren like sound, than more urgent pounding from the percussion team enhanced by Tony's thudding on the Stick and Mr. Belew's heavy guitar grooves. The set list was hard hitting all night coming at you like a thunder storm. Some tracks were dynamic with monster sound and thick with thunderous tones and crashing chord structures. Other tunes were rhythm heavy with Levin plunking on his bass and providing vocal support for Belew. Prolific guitar work enhanced by powerful and pulsing double drumming was the order of the day. A short, succulent jam with thrilling guitar work and throbbing rhythms was followed by another with a more metal edge to it and darker tones. Tony was using a slide technique on the strings of the Stick. Adrian's whah-whah work was wicked and the drums were a bombardment of beats. This ballistic assault earned King Crimson a standing ovation. The band next presented a more subtle number with progressive changes and structures. Belew left the stage for Fripp to fine tune his unique sound effects as Tony stood to the side to observe. Afterwards, Pat Mastelotto and Gavin Harrison took center stage with their dueling drum solos that were daring and dense. The rest of the band joined in adding tantalizing textures and tones to close the jam. Crafty rhythms and sounds like a video game were enhanced by bold bass lines produced by Mr. Levin wearing the long fingers. The fingers added a freaky effect to the low tones of the instrument. More wizardly whah-whah work from Mr. Belew as the song melded into a more scary realm with sinister poly-rhythmic percussion. The exploration included abundant speed and style changes before it concluded. The evening's much anticipated show contained intense instrumentals and structured songs featuring skilled techniques from seasoned players who are still passionate about their craft. The crowd was in a frenzy by the close of the concert and they were in turn treated to a three song encore to conclude a great summer Saturday in New York. The band traveled back in time for modern takes on old favorites such as "Talking Drum" and "Larks' Tongues in Aspic Part II" from 1973's Larks' Tongues in Aspic. The track "Red" from the 1974 release of the same name was presented in colorful fashion. More recent songs such as "Dinosaur" and "One Time" from 1995's Thrak filled the theater. Fans were treated to modern Crimson with the title track from 2000's The ConstruKction of Light CD and "Level Five" from 2003's The Power to Believe. But it was the albums from the early 80's that dominated the night in commemoration of the dawning of the more modern version of King Crimson. "Indiscipline", "Frame By Frame" and the evening's final encore came from 1981's Discipline album. "Neurotica" was a nervous number from 1982's Beat record. "Sleepless" and the title track from the band's notable Three of a Perfect Pair from 1984 were also highlights of a stellar evening of powerful and pulsating music. Although it was mentioned that the band was celebrating an anniversary, Saturday's show was a retrospective of the more current line up rather than a full history that dates back to the 60's. As King Crimson marks their 40 year anniversary they proved at the Nokia that they are modern masters of the progressive movement.
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 Originally Published: 08/20/2008 on Kweevak.com |
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