Greens Playhouse

For an opening number, Pictures Of A City is performed in a remarkably relaxed fashion. Indeed there are moments where the band de-construct the piece almost to the point of collapse. It’s a fine line between chaos and brilliance yet rather than easing themselves into the set, Crimso opt to walk that particular highwire straight away.

A jazzy guitar interlude on Sailor’s Tale appears as it did in Plymouth only tonight it is completely unaccompanied. Aside from a couple of atonal swipes it’s a remarkable opportunity to hear Fripp play in a traditional style which he would only very rarely revisit after this tour.

It’s always interesting to hear a good quality recording of In The Court of the Crimson King and you can’t help but notice the cheer that goes up from the appreciative Brummy crowd at its announcement. Speaking of announcements, although we hear Boz saying they’re going to play The Letters the tape sadly cuts directly to an incomplete version of Cadence and Cascade.

Ian Wallace is on great form throughout and clearly enjoys his solo spot during Get Thy Bearings after the rather jazz-rock style head from which it thunders. Fripp also provides a hair-raising sustained guitar solo which includes a liberal quote or two from Prince Rupert’s Lament.

A great show in strikingly good soundboard quality makes this is must even though Cirkus frustratingly cuts out before the end verse.

This show was originally thought to be 22 May 1971, but we now realise that that date was incorrect. If you have purchased the 22 May 1971, you do not need to purchase this show.