CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

Photos from Humphreys Concerts By the Bay San Diego, CA

Alex Kluft

As Adrian Belew stated BEAT was five years in the making. If you don’t know about BEAT, it’s a tribute to the 1981-84 era of King Crimson and the albums Discipline, BEAT, and Three of a Perfect Pair. BEAT is made up of half of that King Crimson lineup Belew on guitar/vocals and bassist & chapman stick Tony Levin with guitar legend Steve Vai and drumming legend Danny Carey. Outside of King Crimson Belew has performed with David Bowie, Talking Heads, and Frank Zappa as well has his band with Levin, Crimson ProjeKCt. Levin has been with Peter Gabriel on his albums and tours for 40+ years and has his group Stick Men. Vai was the guitarist for David Lee Roth’s original solo band, Frank Zappa, and Alcatrazz, Whitesnake, and has had a successful solo career since 1992. Carey has been a member of the Progressive Metal/ Prog-Rock band Tool since their formation in 1990 as well as Volto! And Pigmy Love Circus. One thing to note is King Crimson had a few members to go on and form their own legendary bands such as Greg Lake with Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and John Wetton with Asia.

BEAT’s first show took place September 12th and it was no surprise the tour would be extended due to high demand and they have been on tour non-stop since with dates through December 17th. BEAT played at the United Theater on Broadway (formerly Theater at Ace Hotel) last night and was livestreamed on Veeps. King Crimson founded by guitarist Robert Fripp in 1968 disbanded after just six years and reformed in 1981 with Fripp, Belew, Levin, and drummer Bill Bruford who had become the group’s fourth drummer in 1972 and was the original drummer of Yes. After just three years the group disbanded and reformed 10 years later with all four members also adding in two more members. This lineup remained together until Bruford left in 1999. Belew and Levin remained members until the group broke up again 2008 and Levin returned when the group reformed in 2013 through 2021 when they disbanded during the Covid-19 pandemic. With King Crimson coming to end, this is the only chance to see this music live with Crimson members including songs never performed live.

BEAT performs all King Crimson songs (19 in total). The band walked out one by one then went into the first song “Neaurotica.” One way to describe the music of that early 80’s era would be way ahead of its time between the guitar sounds and electronic/acoustic drums. The stage is very simple, just a backdrop of BEAT’s elephant logo and a few amps onstage. Set one ended with “Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part III).” Following a 10 minute intermission, Carey walked out onstage playing electronic pads for “Waiting Man” and was joined by Belew as him and Bruford played on the pads together 40 years earlier. Set two came to an end with “Indiscipline,” followed by a two-song encore of “Red” and “Thela Hun Ginjeet.” This show recreates the magic of that era.

Setlist:

Set 1

Neurotica
Neal and Jack and Me
Heartbeat
Sartori in Tangier
Model Man
Dig Me
Man With an Open Heart
Industry
Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part III)

Set 2:

Waiting Man
The Sheltering Sky
Sleepless
Frame by Frame
Matte Kudasai
Elephant Talk
Three of a Perfect Pair
Indiscipline

Encore:
Red
Thela Hun Ginjeet