Images & Words by Alex Agranovsky
Orlando, FL – Sept 27th, 2024, Hard Rock Live
There are uncertainties in life, questions we yearn to answer but never quite can. Is there extraterrestrial life? What happens after we die? Can we experience live King Crimson music without Robert Fripp? While some accept these as mysteries, others persist in searching for proof. Last night at Hard Rock Orlando, I found proof that the last one is, in fact, possible—and not just possible, but real and exhilarating. I witnessed a tour stop of BEAT, a tribute band dedicated to performing the music of 1980s King Crimson.
The King Crimson of the ’80s was a different beast compared to its earlier iterations: quirky, jazzy, and more experimental. The legendary lineup of Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin, and Bill Bruford recorded three iconic albums between 1981 and 1984—Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair. BEAT, a band featuring half of this original lineup, has been in the works for the better part of the last five years and is now finally gracing stages across the US. It was well worth the wait.
Adrian Belew reprised his role as frontman and guitarist, joined by Tony Levin on bass. Steve Vai and Danny Carey took on the challenging roles of Fripp and Bruford, respectively. The setlist covered most of the album trilogy mentioned above, with only a few tracks left out. The organization of the setlist reminded me of the “left side” and “right side” structure of Three of a Perfect Pair—only reversed. The more popular and accessible songs were saved for after the intermission, while the more experimental pieces were played in the first half. Adrian’s comment on the way to the intermission—“We’ll be back and play some of the songs you actually know”—rang mostly true. The songs from the second half are likely to appear more frequently on playlists, though the earlier pieces are far from obscure, at least for prog fans familiar with these albums.
It goes without saying that each musician in this lineup is a world-class professional, and the music was as faithful to the source as possible. I hadn’t seen Adrian Belew live before, but his performance was almost exactly what I had anticipated: front and center, engaging, animated, and radiating joy. I can only imagine what it would have been like to see him 40 years ago, but alas, I was both too young and on the wrong side of the Iron Curtain.
I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly Mr. Carey and Mr. Vai fit into the lineup. Steve Vai, who is typically quite animated during his performances, adopted Fripp’s trademark stage presence—reserved, yet commanding. A special shout-out goes to Tony Levin, whose versatility and stamina never cease to amaze me. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing him three times in the past year: with Peter Gabriel, with Stick Men, and now with BEAT.
Whether at a stadium show, a small BBQ joint, or a mid-sized concert hall, the man adapts to each setting and ensemble with ease, performing hours of complex music with joy, composure, and flair. I’m unsure if this tour will be a one-time affair or if the band will decide to expand or repeat this adventure. Either way, I highly recommend making an effort to catch them on the road now. It’s a performance that will leave you with a lasting, happy memory!
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