KING CRIMSON: THE CAPITOL THEATRE, CARDIFF, UK [OCTOBER 29th 1971]
After first seeing this venerated first album whilst attending the Sixth Form of my nearby grammar school, and having to be content with the early album releases for my Crim-pleasure for two years, the Autumn of 1971 satiated my desire to see King Crimson in the flesh for the first time. Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, was just 20 miles from my home-town. It must be said that I loved, 'ItCotCK,' 'ItWoP' and the jazzy, 'Lizard,' even on each album's first hearing.
October 29th 1971 could ...
After first seeing this venerated first album whilst attending the Sixth Form of my nearby grammar school, and having to be content with the early album releases for my Crim-pleasure for two years, the Autumn of 1971 satiated my desire to see King Crimson in the flesh for the first time. Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, was just 20 miles from my home-town. It must be said that I loved, 'ItCotCK,' 'ItWoP' and the jazzy, 'Lizard,' even on each album's first hearing.
October 29th 1971 could not come soon enough. The venue was the cavernous and aptly named, Capitol Theatre. Folky, Keith Christmas performed a wonderfully light-hearted yet musically masterful opening set. Needless to say, the rendition of his classic, 'The Ballad of Robin Head,' was excellent and caused much humour.
The mighty-Crim, [Fripp, Collins, Boz, Wallace and Sinfield] brought the Islands' era music to town. From my vantage point in the centre-front balcony it was easy to see the theatre was packed, even fans sitting in the aisles upstairs and standing behind the low wooden barrier at the very back of the balcony seating. I believe the ticket cost me the princely sum of 60p.
The set opened with a fearsome version of, 'Cirkus.' The cacophony that greeted the concert-goers after verse one was nothing short of breathtaking. Wow! It was a show-stopper to open proceedings. This reviewer, from some 45 years' distance, may be somewhat hazy regarding the complete set-list but of this I'm sure: magnificent versions of, '21st Century Schizoid Man,' 'Pictures of a City,' interspersed most, if not all, of the Islands' material before, 'The Devil's Triangle,' closed the set. Sinfield's light-show was beyond words as strobes and spotlights danced throughout the auditorium, even high up into the domed roof of the theatre. The musicianship was simply excellent and the vocals crystal clear. The encore was, 'Cadence and Cascade.'
One nice touch was that Paulina Lucas (the soprano from the Islands' album) was also introduced to the audience. Presumably she sang her parts from the album off-stage. I do still have the ticket from that night so when time allows I guess I'll have to dig it out.
With ears ringing, I made my way down into the cold, black Cardiff night content that I had seen history being made and so impatient for the release of the Islands' album five weeks away. What memories it brought back when it was played. Even on my old mono record player in December 1971 it was majestic and I was perplexed that some didn't like it.
To have again seen much of this material played once more with Fripp and Collins still relishing playing it in the 21st Century has been the icing on the cake.
Well done and thank-you, King Crimson.
Steve Perry.
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