Of the many tempting options to see live music celebrating it’s 30th-to-50th anniversary this week in LA, King Crimson’s appearance at the Greek Theater offers something that few of the others do – the chance that something you’ve never heard before will be a highlight of the gig. The edition of Crimso that has been in place for a few years now – founder Robert Fripp, veterans Mel Collins, Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto, and relative noobs Gavin Harrison, Jeremy Spencer, Bill Rieflin and singer/ guitarist Jakko Jakszyk – is the first one that has tackled repertoire from all previous Crimsons: songs by the 1971 Lizard version, the later 1971 Islands version, the 2001 four-piece version, I mean, ALL them Crimsos are potentially on the set list.
Will I get to hear “Epitaph” performed in my lifetime? It could happen. But they also continue working on stuff, and though they haven’t released a “new album” since Adrian Belew left the fold, they have been issuing high quality live recordings that include new songs, which add a new dimension to the band’s legacy. Expect a mind boggling performance from all the players involved, at least a few of your old favorites, and some useful new information.
King Crimson appears at the Greek Theater on Tuesday, September 3. Tickets, $43 to $165, at Ticketmaster.
See our review of their 2017 appearance at the Greek here.
