BEAT: The Music of ’80s King Crimson Impresses at Toronto’s Massey Hall [Photos]

Progressive supergroup BEAT brought their show, five years in the making, to Massey Hall in Toronto last week. When guitarist/vocalist/noise guru Adrian Belew pitched the idea of showcasing King Crimson’s three 1980s albums, live over 40 years later, Crimson’s genius guitarist and head honcho Robert Fripp was all for it and gave his enthusiastic blessing. Only he didn’t want to actually do the shows himself.

So Belew started the painstaking task of bringing on musicians who would bring the critically acclaimed material to life again. Bassist Tony Levin was a member of the ’80s King Crimson period, and he was game. But finding a guitarist to fill Fripp’s impossibly specialized shoes and a drummer to attempt to come close to what Bill Bruford could extract from a drum kit took more brainpower. Guitarist Steve Vai and Tool drummer Danny Carey were the chosen, and after witnessing the genius that rolled off the stage at the sold-out show in Toronto, it’s not hard to say that any other choices would have been wrong.

King Crimson’s music is not for everyone. And the level of musicianship to pull it off is something that requires virtuoso chops and a Mensa brain to keep it all straight. Vai and Carey fit the bill like a tailored suit. Speaking of suits, Belew hit the stage in his signature ’80s cut powder pink number reminiscent of the one he wore onstage back then.

If you’re a fan of the ’80s King Crimson albums Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair, this was the show you thought would never ever happen. And the fans who packed the acoustically perfect confines of Massey Hall hung on every perfectly placed and accounted for note for the nearly two-hour set. Having four equally talented artists on stage and firing on all cylinders was a treat to witness.

Belew moved seamlessly between Talking Heads-vibe vocal crooning, to guitar shredding, to wringing every sound imaginable out of his guitar and effects pantry and he was right where he belongs, getting the best out of all the talent on stage with him.

Levin is a pioneer in the bass world. His work with King Crimson, Peter Gabriel, and prolific session work with the likes of everyone from John Lennon to Pink Floyd to David Bowie puts him in the upper echelon of artists. His weapon of choice for much of the material was the 12-string Chapman Stick. An upright percussive instrument that can achieve sounds and chords in both guitar and bass parts. Levin also used his own invention, the funk sticks, which are small drumsticks worn on the fingers to strike the strings, giving a percussive sound to the bass. Watching him work his magic on his instruments was mesmerizing.

Vai is hands down one of the best guitarists on the planet, and he brought his high-end ingredients to Fripp’s recipe. Vai was playing well within his means on material way outside his normal wheelhouse.  With amazing results. His luscious slide work with he and Belew trading spaceship rides was just a joy to watch.

Hearing Carey work with Bruford’s parts felt like he’d been studying for years. Carey seemed right at home with the intricate and chaotic material. Tool clearly might have been the lucky recipient of a lot of King Crimson inspiration over the years. Carey even used Bruford’s actual clear acrylic Octoban toms in his kit on this tour for a little added mojo.

Throughout the show, each artist was able to carve out spots that showed what we expected from them in their other bands and, at the same time, show how they morphed into perfect drivers of the King Crimson material.

The two-set show was split nearly equally between the three albums, with one extra gem, “Red” from 1974, thrown in during the encore. Standouts included “Industry,” “The Sheltering Sky,” “Sartori in Tangier,” and “Waiting Man.”

The band is in the middle of an ambitious 66-city tour of North America, ending in late December. It’s nice to see them playing in theatres and other spaces that can properly showcase the King Crimson material.

BEAT @ Massey Hall (Toronto, ON) on October 18th, 2024

33 photos

Set 1:

01. Neurotica (King Crimson cover)
02. Neal and Jack and Me (King Crimson cover)
03. Heartbeat (King Crimson cover)
04. Sartori in Tangier (King Crimson cover)
05. Dig Me (King Crimson cover)
06. Model Man (King Crimson cover)
07. Man With an Open Heart (King Crimson cover)
08. Industry (King Crimson cover)
09. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part III) (King Crimson cover)
10. Soundscapes (Robert Fripp song)
Set 2:
11. Waiting Man (King Crimson cover)
12. The Sheltering Sky (King Crimson cover)
13. Sleepless (King Crimson cover)
14. Frame by Frame (King Crimson cover)
15. Matte Kudasai (King Crimson cover)
16. Elephant Talk (King Crimson cover)
17. Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover)
18. Indiscipline (King Crimson cover)
Encore:
19. Red (King Crimson cover)
20. Thela Hun Ginjeet (King Crimson cover)