October 5th, 1973- San Antonio Municipal Auditorium
The concert at the old Municipal Auditorium on October 5th, 1973 will live in my memory as an amazing performance by a band that appeared on the scene a year earlier and vanished too soon a year after this show. I had caught this band at this same venue around four months earlier, playing in support of Dr. John and Procol Harum. As impressed with them as I had been at the June 10th performance, I was astounded by how their sound had become so much more refined and powerful in a few short mon...
The concert at the old Municipal Auditorium on October 5th, 1973 will live in my memory as an amazing performance by a band that appeared on the scene a year earlier and vanished too soon a year after this show. I had caught this band at this same venue around four months earlier, playing in support of Dr. John and Procol Harum. As impressed with them as I had been at the June 10th performance, I was astounded by how their sound had become so much more refined and powerful in a few short months. On this night they were the headliners, with Captain Beyond playing an excellent set in support. They took the stage under solid blue lighting, playing the introduction to Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Part I. It was an extremely ethereal moment in time, made more dramatic to yours truly by my wonderful third row tickets (my photos posted here were taken from my seat). It became immediately apparent David Cross had really evolved as a player and had really taken a confident lead role as Fripp’s peer in the band. The rhythm section had also developed into a very dynamic duo, with Wetton stepping out as a superb front man. I remember "Fracture" catching the attention of my friends who were there that night as a very special piece, and when "Starless and Bible Black" was released in early 74 I recognized the composition immediately. I had just turned 17 a week earlier, and I was already a very experienced concert goer. Already a little jaded, most shows that I attended I enjoyed enough, but when the headliners of most of these two/ three band concerts were wrapping up their sets, I was ready for the curtain to close and to head for the exit. This band was one that I would have been happy to listen attentively to for hours on end, and I always had a sad, "don’t let this show end" emotion when I knew their show was about to wrap up (I caught them one last time at the same venue on June 4th, 1974). When I read that the band had dissolved in September of the next year I was bitterly disappointed. The recording of the Arlington, Texas show the next day was a good representation of what this concert was like, and I am sure that it will always be my favorite concert of all time. Mark McMillan 11/5/2013
