Father Gabriele Amorth claimed to have conducted more than 60,000 exorcisms throughout his tenure with the Catholic Church, and had he not died in 2016, he could have added another one during BEAT’s recent stop at Rochester’s Kodak Center. Adrian Belew, Steve Vai, Tony Levin, and Danny Carey turned in a flawless performance fueled by chaos and compassion; a combination so hair-raising that it felt as if supernatural forces were at play.
All joking aside, these guys overdelivered on their promise with a two-set clinic that embodied all of the weirdness, sophistication, and downright filthy musical chops that set King Crimson apart from what other progressive bands were doing in the ’80s. Robert Fripp gave the fans a gift when he blessed this project into existence, because the world deserved to hear these songs interpreted in the present with the same limitless creativity that he always championed.
Set One featured off-kilter cuts such as “Dig Me” and “Industry,” but also showcased how Belew could’ve used “Heartbeat” to propel Crimson to the top of the pop charts in a parallel universe. Besides technical wizardry, he brought a natural affinity for showmanship that positioned him as the perfect foil for Fripp’s curmudgeonly exterior and their collaboration became all the more fruitful as a result.
“Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part III)” took flight just before the intermission and I’m shocked that there were any pieces of the stage remaining for the second set. Danny Carey honored Bill Bruford’s original drum parts in spirit while injecting just enough of his own ferocity to be recognized as the guy responsible for the polyrhythms found within Tool’s “Pneuma.” He and Levin locked down the low end as if they had been playing together for years instead of just 30 shows.
Set Two opened with the hypnotic “Waiting Man,” featuring Belew’s floating vocals and Levin caressing his Chapman Stick with purpose, and “The Sheltering Sky,” which allowed Vai to unleash the dragon. Other crowd pleasers included “Elephant Talk,” “Frame by Frame,” and “Indiscipline,” all of which had the crowd on its feet in exaltation.
Comparing what these four guys did to what the seven-piece lineup of King Crimson did at Artpark back in 2021 is tempting, but it’s ultimately a different beast entirely. However, they attempted to make the intangible tangible and did so in a way that left me shaken just the same.
They’re back in WNY on Dec. 2, so, if you missed out on this one, don’t make that mistake again.
Music N' Other Drugs 
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