Too Much Crimson Is Never Enough
Well, what a weekend
First week back at work after a mid-month hiatus, with a new employer, but the same kind of job & work... but enough of that - something far more important happened...
Friday night, straight from work to the HiFi at Fox Studios... or 'The Entertainment Quarter', as they would have it, to see the Crimson Projekct - two trios (Stick Men & the Adrian Belew 'Power Trio') featuring various members of King Crimson, playing separately & together in various duos, trios, quartets & sextet. Thanks to Long-Suffering Partner, a friend & I had VIP passes, giving us access to the soundcheck before the gig, a meet'n'greet session after the gig & a free CD & poster which the band were happy to sign
Leaving work at 5, I thought I'd miss the soundcheck, due to have started at 4.30, because of the usual traffic hassles involved in coming into town from the Northern Beaches. Much to my surprise, after collecting my pass from L-SP, happily ensconced in the nearby pub, I walked into the venue to discover the soundcheck had barely begun. According to my fellow enthusiast, technical troubles were slowing everything down, meaning that several of the band had nothing to do, so were down amongst us 'VIP's, signing, posing for photos &, in the case of Pat Mastelotto (Crimson Drummer), cheerfully chatting away to anyone & everyone, especially my friend, whom Pat remembered from a music camp they'd both attended a couple of years ago. Impressed? Yes. Jealous? Maybe a little!
Soundcheck eventually wrapped up about 10 minutes before the doors officially opened to let the rest of the punters in (including L-SP & two more friends), by which time I had 5 out of 6 signatures, but the promise of an extra brief photo & signing session after the gig
The show: Well, just like a 'proper' King Crimson show, it started with soundscape atmospherics, provided by Fripp student & stand-in Markus Reuter (also a Stick Man), which slowly evolved into a Crimson song, joined along the way by the other 5 musicians. And it dawned on me... "Oh god, I'm finally seeing King Crimson" - something I never thought would happen - having been a fan since 1981. Okay, Robert Fripp wasn't there, but then, I never saw Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore either... & was perfectly happy & even more so on this night, with the smorgasbord on offer of 2 drummers, a Stick & bass player, a touch guitarist, a bass player & a guitarist. If you closed your eyes (& I did more than once), it was a King Crimson gig, no matter what the ensemble called themselves
Finishing after midnight, the promised catch-up session took place & I completed my signatures, took a couple more photos, then headed out, telling them I'd see them in Brisbane the next night
Because yes... L-SP, bless her heart, had said to me, late last year when the tour was announced "Which 2 shows would you like to see?" & I chose Brisbane, because a Friday & Saturday was logistically better for work commitments & maybe we could do a little sight-seeing in Brisbane on the Sunday - neither of us having spent much time in the place before
So... far too early on Saturday morning, we headed to the airport & caught a cattle truck I mean a Jetstar flight to Brisbane, found our way to a motel near the venue & promptly collapsed & slept for the next few hours, 'til it was time to dress, find dinner & head to the gig, which was only a 10 minute walk via an up-market burger place. Arriving there, I thought I recognised the tour Promoter from the night before, sitting outside having a drink with another guy. Turned out it was another short, middle-aged bald guy, but to be fair, there were a lot of those at the gig the previous night, so I think I can be forgiven. The stranger did too & we sat with him & his son, discussing King Crimson & other music we had in common, when Pat Mastelotto walked up & joined the conversation. Twenty minutes later, he remembered he had a gig to play & headed inside. Shortly after, when the doors opened, we did the same
L-SP elected to stay at the back, but told me to "go... have fun", so I found my way to the front, joining my new friends & a couple more bald, older guys, none of whom were the Promoter either
The 2nd show: I hate to say this to my 2 friends who came to the Sydney show, but the Brisbane one made Sydney look like a dress rehearsal. Obviously the technical issues had been sorted & everything & everyone on the stage seemed to 'click' better than the previous night & they were all in a better mood because of it. The set was pretty much the same, with the same different (??) combinations, but there was much more spark & inspiration in the improv pieces & the sound-mix seemed to be much clearer too. Sorry B & R... maybe you can say it's just my opinion...
No after-show get-together (I didn't have a VIP pass for Brisbane, but had brought my Sydney one, just in case), so I exchanged numbers with my new bald Scottish friend & we headed back to our motel, via the bar across the street that was stil open after midnight (My my Brisbane, how you've grown up!!)
Sleeeeeeeeeeep
Today... we slept in 'til nearly check-out time, then headed to the Brisbane River Southbank area to find breakfast & see what there was to see. We found their new giant ferris wheel, just like Melbourne's & London's, so climbed aboard to check out the views. Brisbane architecture is much more interesting than Sydney... I must admit - far more imaginative in its design of office blocks, skyscrapers & facilities. Even if too much of it seems to have been built by Meriton, so you'd better go & see it before it falls down
We then intended to promenade the riverbank, but only made it as far as a wharf, where a boat was departing shortly on a 90 minute cruise for a reasonable fee. Insert Gilligan's Island theme song here... Unlike the SS Minnow, we only encountered bright sunshine & a lot of cold 'brisk' winds, as we headed downriver past real estate old & new &, again, more impressive than I'd given the city credit for
Afterwards, we warmed up at a chocolateria/café which served me the best soy hot chocolate I've had in a long time. Then off to the train station for the trip out to the airport where another cattle truck Jetstar plane awaited. A 20 minute delay, then an 80 minute flight later, we were back in Sydney collecting the car & coming home. I have some new CDs to listen to, a new t-shirt to wear & a signed poster to frame & hang. That should keep me busy for a while...
First week back at work after a mid-month hiatus, with a new employer, but the same kind of job & work... but enough of that - something far more important happened...
Friday night, straight from work to the HiFi at Fox Studios... or 'The Entertainment Quarter', as they would have it, to see the Crimson Projekct - two trios (Stick Men & the Adrian Belew 'Power Trio') featuring various members of King Crimson, playing separately & together in various duos, trios, quartets & sextet. Thanks to Long-Suffering Partner, a friend & I had VIP passes, giving us access to the soundcheck before the gig, a meet'n'greet session after the gig & a free CD & poster which the band were happy to sign
Leaving work at 5, I thought I'd miss the soundcheck, due to have started at 4.30, because of the usual traffic hassles involved in coming into town from the Northern Beaches. Much to my surprise, after collecting my pass from L-SP, happily ensconced in the nearby pub, I walked into the venue to discover the soundcheck had barely begun. According to my fellow enthusiast, technical troubles were slowing everything down, meaning that several of the band had nothing to do, so were down amongst us 'VIP's, signing, posing for photos &, in the case of Pat Mastelotto (Crimson Drummer), cheerfully chatting away to anyone & everyone, especially my friend, whom Pat remembered from a music camp they'd both attended a couple of years ago. Impressed? Yes. Jealous? Maybe a little!
Soundcheck eventually wrapped up about 10 minutes before the doors officially opened to let the rest of the punters in (including L-SP & two more friends), by which time I had 5 out of 6 signatures, but the promise of an extra brief photo & signing session after the gig
The show: Well, just like a 'proper' King Crimson show, it started with soundscape atmospherics, provided by Fripp student & stand-in Markus Reuter (also a Stick Man), which slowly evolved into a Crimson song, joined along the way by the other 5 musicians. And it dawned on me... "Oh god, I'm finally seeing King Crimson" - something I never thought would happen - having been a fan since 1981. Okay, Robert Fripp wasn't there, but then, I never saw Deep Purple with Ritchie Blackmore either... & was perfectly happy & even more so on this night, with the smorgasbord on offer of 2 drummers, a Stick & bass player, a touch guitarist, a bass player & a guitarist. If you closed your eyes (& I did more than once), it was a King Crimson gig, no matter what the ensemble called themselves
Finishing after midnight, the promised catch-up session took place & I completed my signatures, took a couple more photos, then headed out, telling them I'd see them in Brisbane the next night
Because yes... L-SP, bless her heart, had said to me, late last year when the tour was announced "Which 2 shows would you like to see?" & I chose Brisbane, because a Friday & Saturday was logistically better for work commitments & maybe we could do a little sight-seeing in Brisbane on the Sunday - neither of us having spent much time in the place before
So... far too early on Saturday morning, we headed to the airport & caught a cattle truck I mean a Jetstar flight to Brisbane, found our way to a motel near the venue & promptly collapsed & slept for the next few hours, 'til it was time to dress, find dinner & head to the gig, which was only a 10 minute walk via an up-market burger place. Arriving there, I thought I recognised the tour Promoter from the night before, sitting outside having a drink with another guy. Turned out it was another short, middle-aged bald guy, but to be fair, there were a lot of those at the gig the previous night, so I think I can be forgiven. The stranger did too & we sat with him & his son, discussing King Crimson & other music we had in common, when Pat Mastelotto walked up & joined the conversation. Twenty minutes later, he remembered he had a gig to play & headed inside. Shortly after, when the doors opened, we did the same
L-SP elected to stay at the back, but told me to "go... have fun", so I found my way to the front, joining my new friends & a couple more bald, older guys, none of whom were the Promoter either
The 2nd show: I hate to say this to my 2 friends who came to the Sydney show, but the Brisbane one made Sydney look like a dress rehearsal. Obviously the technical issues had been sorted & everything & everyone on the stage seemed to 'click' better than the previous night & they were all in a better mood because of it. The set was pretty much the same, with the same different (??) combinations, but there was much more spark & inspiration in the improv pieces & the sound-mix seemed to be much clearer too. Sorry B & R... maybe you can say it's just my opinion...
No after-show get-together (I didn't have a VIP pass for Brisbane, but had brought my Sydney one, just in case), so I exchanged numbers with my new bald Scottish friend & we headed back to our motel, via the bar across the street that was stil open after midnight (My my Brisbane, how you've grown up!!)
Sleeeeeeeeeeep
Today... we slept in 'til nearly check-out time, then headed to the Brisbane River Southbank area to find breakfast & see what there was to see. We found their new giant ferris wheel, just like Melbourne's & London's, so climbed aboard to check out the views. Brisbane architecture is much more interesting than Sydney... I must admit - far more imaginative in its design of office blocks, skyscrapers & facilities. Even if too much of it seems to have been built by Meriton, so you'd better go & see it before it falls down
We then intended to promenade the riverbank, but only made it as far as a wharf, where a boat was departing shortly on a 90 minute cruise for a reasonable fee. Insert Gilligan's Island theme song here... Unlike the SS Minnow, we only encountered bright sunshine & a lot of cold 'brisk' winds, as we headed downriver past real estate old & new &, again, more impressive than I'd given the city credit for
Afterwards, we warmed up at a chocolateria/café which served me the best soy hot chocolate I've had in a long time. Then off to the train station for the trip out to the airport where another cattle truck Jetstar plane awaited. A 20 minute delay, then an 80 minute flight later, we were back in Sydney collecting the car & coming home. I have some new CDs to listen to, a new t-shirt to wear & a signed poster to frame & hang. That should keep me busy for a while...