King Crimson - 3rd September 2015
[Click here to read the full review at TheProgressiveAspect.net]
[Image of King Crimson in rehearsal courtesy of Sid Smith/DGM]
And then there’s Robert Fripp. Whenever I’ve seen him play previously I just couldn’t take my eyes off him, the minimalist, precise movements almost hypnotic, but here he was producing sounds of cathartic anger and otherworldly uniqueness as the Crimson King requires. The guitarists guitarist, Fripp seems to be “including” himself more than for many years, almost impervious to emotion but cracking a small smile now and again. There’s no real reason for him to be doing this at the age of 69, I can’t imagine how demanding it all is to take this band somewhere new once again, but here he is, the only things moving his eyes and his hands. From being shrouded in the shadows in 2000, he has emerged and is clearly enjoying himself within the music he has created and to finally see him play some of these things – Epitaph, Sailor’s Tale, Schizoid Man, The Court of the Crimson King, Starless – was a dream that I never believed could come true. The dexterity in his playing, the sustain, the wonderful choices. A complete honour to watch such an enigmatic master craftsman and unique talent at work. At the end the house lights were put on so the band could connect with the audience. Fripp stood at his position and slowly scanned every part of the hall as the storm of applause washed over the band, as if thanking everyone individually for their attention. No emotion, no acknowledgement, simply an almost one-to-one thank you and a look of quiet satisfaction.
And then they were gone.
No interaction during the performance, no words from the stage, no movement to speak of. Nothing more than a captivating performance that completely absorbed me from start to finish.
All afternoon I’d been suffering the beginnings of a migraine which got worse immediately before the show. By the end of the show I was completely cured and bouncing up and down like an idiot, fully energised and ready to go again. Proof positive that King Crimson is a miraculous cure-all that should be available on prescription. Much better than paracetamol!
God bless you Mr Fripp for the cure and also for your vision and fortitude in allowing this miraculous event to happen.
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