How Was The King Crimson Show - My Response

It was absolutely incredible! I have to back up a give a little history to set this up. I first heard King Crimson when Discipline came out my freshman year of high school. It was also the first time I heard a Stick thanks to Tony Levin. (He is also the reason I have a Stick today.) I have wanted to see King Crimson ever since then, but something always was in the way. ( Money, Oceans, and Women )

I've seen Tony Levin with Peter Gabriel twice, Adrian Belew with the kids from Rock School in Falls Church, and Bill Bruford with Yes seven times. This was the last band that I just HAD TO SEE before I die!!! I've seen 300-400 concerts, and King Crimson was always the one that got away.

So this time there was no stopping me, come hell or high water I was going to see KC in concert. I even told the man I interviewed with for a job that I would have to take that day off to travel to Philly during my interview. (I got the job!)

So Tuesday morning my wife and friend leave at ten am for the 4 hour ride to Philly. I wasn't going to let traffic catch me off guard. A lady in a BMW cut me off about 30 minutes from home and then slams on her brakes. My van, that happens to be the size of a zeppelin and stops just as fast, slammed into her and we had an hour delay. No injuries, just another insurance fraud case.

We get to the Keswick theater about 4-5 hours early and just hang out, window shopping and such. At 5:30 we decide to eat at the little Chinese restaurant two doors down from the theater. As we walk in and are seated I noticed the ONLY other patron was Adrian Belew. Right about now I am as giddy as a school girl on prom night. After he finished his meal I approached him. We had a very pleasant, but brief conversation. He signed all four tickets and was a most amiable man. No rock star BS here.

Before the show we met up with Tim, a true gentleman as well. My buddy Dj and Tim hit it off talking music, but I went into my own little world. (Tim, if I came off rude I apologize!) Finally the show. Adjectives fail me. It was everything I could have hoped for and more. My dreams aren’t this good!!! I moved back and forth from grinning like a Cheshire cat to many moments of trying to hold back tears of joy, sometimes not so successfully. It could not have been better. The set list seemed like they read my mind and played for me only. The music, of course, was incredible. Tight to the original versions with added tangents. I initially had concerns about the dual drummer lineup but they were erased in seconds. I walked out of the two hour show knowing that this would be one of the highlights of my life. I remember thinking to myself, ok now I can die a happy man. I’m a chain smoker, real bad. I can’t make it through a movie without going for a smoke. Not once during the show did I even think about smoking! (If you knew me you would be amazed!)

After the show we parted ways with Tim and headed back to the same Chinese restaurant. Guess who was there again? Right, Adrian Belew. This time he was there with a friend. (The father of two young men from Rock School that Adrian will be touring with soon.) Adrian asked me how I liked the show and I told him about the tears. We sat at the table behind him, and not wanting to be rude kept to ourselves. A man walked in, and while waiting for his to go order, asked Adrian Belew if he was at the King Crimson concert next door. Adrian replied that in fact he was and left it at that. Then this man starts going on and on about how King Crimson was good in the 80s and 90s, but now sucks. Adrian never gave away his identity and just listened politely. My wife, DJ, and I were giggling quietly, not wanting to blow Adrian’s cover, and his dinner guest said nothing. The booths were rather high, and we couldn’t see Adrian at that point but we could see the stranger. I would’ve loved to see the expression on Adrian’s face! As soon as the stranger left with his order there was a round of laughter at my table. After finishing my meal I went outside for my cigarette. Adrian and his guest left, and as he walked by he shook my hand and thanked me for coming to the show. I was dumfounded again.

Sorry if this is too long, but you did ask how it was!