Concord Pavilion, San Francisco
The first of our shows with the Zappa band. In fact, there were three bands on the bill as the California Guitar Trio again opened the evening.
Robert pointed out at the Royal Package that this was reminiscent of his early touring in the USA. At the Filmore East in 1969, there were four bands on the bill – Joe Cocker and The Grease Band. Fleetwood Mac, King Crimson, and the Voices of Harlem.
Last night, it made for a rich experience. And if King Crimson were ever to settle for a single unchanging setlist, this might well be it.
When we first announced the plan to tour with the Zappa band in 2020, I recall that it caused much excitement, with many feeling that it would be a good combination. That initial announcement now seems a world away, and touring is in a very different place to the one we imagined then. But I was able to catch the full sets of the CGT and the Zappa Band and thankfully it does seem a good combination.
Two more shows for this leg of the tour...