The (perfect) future has presented itself!
Please see review for the previous night as I try not to repeat myself.
My 12-year-old-drummer Andrew (Drumson?) and I arrived for the second night in Atlanta. Greeted by Iona...bought more merchandise from Adrian...took another photo with Patricia Fripp. Then Robert came out and we were treated to more sister/brother banter. Robert asked Andrew how he liked last night’s show, then said something like "Young drummer, I saw you got Gavin's sticks".
Next, another talk by David Singleton. If you want some humor/dirt on the Music Industry, read his ‘Vicar Chronicles’...hilarious! We were lucky to have TWO mystery guests as Gavin and Pat spoke! It was neat to hear them talk about the rehearsal process. Heaven for a young, serious drummer who knows the tunes (gyrating to odd time signatures) and some of the band noticed that. Hopefully there will be transcriptions of the Drumson compositions (Devil Dogs, Hell Hounds, etc.) By the way, please check out Gavin’s ‘Cheating the Polygraph’...amazing!
The whole is greater than the parts...and what parts! Robert (Segovia-like stature, as great as ever, and visibly pleased with this band), Jakko (amazing guitarist and the best Crimso vocalist of all), Tony (multi-textures and master of all basses...thanks for your wonderful photos), Mel (a God, and I can’t imagine seeing a future Crimson without him), Chris (who had to learn much complex music quickly), Pat (happy energy and unique devices/sounds), Jeremy (adds vital new elements), and of course Gavin (who seems to drive the band and interact with the audience at the same time). We hope to see Bill R. on stage again someday.
Positive energy is flowing back and forth between the Eight-Headed Beast and the audience. I honestly don’t know what else to say about this band except compare them to the classic Coltrane Quartet and Miles’ Second Great Quintet in reaching a pinnacle. Sometimes it seems like the music is playing the band, and it made tears (of joy) stream down my face. Will the goosebumps ever leave?
The setlist was very different from the first night...four different tunes. And everything is played differently every night. Breathless was a great surprise. Other standouts were the Lizard Suite, Cirkus, Islands, The Letters, Easy Money, Starless, Discipline, Meltdown and Level Five. And of course all of the Drum Trios! Like the previous night, fans were saying it was the best music they’ve ever witnessed. There were discussions about which Atlanta show was superior.
Crimson fans: Please take advantage of the Stormy Mundy downloads. They give even more insight into all incarnations of KC. Thanks again to the King Crimson/ DGM team. All of your efforts really made us feel like a small part of the family. We were also at Minneapolis and Austin F & F show, and got the Royal Package for the tour finale in Milwaukee!