The Warfield

October 4th

Pat Mastelotto, who holds the record for being the longest-serving drummer in King Crimson, can be heard breathing life into this scalding hot rendition of Level 5, wherein his low-end triggered electronics sound like some great beast growling beneath the attacking twin guitars. It’s just possible that this is the most electrifying version of Level 5 of the entire tour. In concert, Pat’s enthusiasm was clearly visible and often audible. As the Larks’ intro would build to a crescendo Pat would gradually rise up from his drum stool, be seen shaking various percussive allsorts, looking like a shaman in a business suit summoning some spirits. In a way that’s not a bad analogy as he can be heard in the piece later triggering a sample of Jamie Muir tweaking a bicycle horn during the Larks’ Tongues recording sessions. You can just hear Pat's yell of approval during percussive breaks in One More Red Nightmare. The run of numbers from Live 5 through to LTIA Part II in this particular setlist represents an incredible example of why Crimson are so powerful in concert. Not long after this tour had concluded, Classic Rock magazine asked Fripp his assessment of the shows. “I would describe it as very close to a joyous racket. King Crimson, as a band, is really for the hot date. If you don’t get it live, you don’t capture it.” He’s not wrong.