By design, thereâs not much KC available online (buy our product, dangit) but this is an excellent example of this last incarnation. Astounding in its musicianship, camaraderie, and creativity (compared to the early version of this tune with Belew/Bruford/Levin). Crank it up!
Thatâs got Jeremy Stacey on drums, with Reiflin on keys. His cancer had taken him out for a while and here heâd come back in. He had a longtime Fripp/Toyah association so Iâd think they were letting him live out his life doing something he wanted, instead of just sitting.
Here, no Stacey, so an earlier incarnation with Reiflin on drums instead. Heâd played with REM and more prior to this.
Sad that they lost Bill Reiflin (Watch the touching and not-what-you’d-expect recent movie about KC). But this three-full-drum-kit monster was amazing. Caught them four times and, sadly, the last show was very disappointing, but not to the extent that it negates all my other experiences. Have seen them almost every time I could, starting with the Discipline tour, the Double Trio and other smaller formations, then this seven/eight-headed beast. Man, that was something.
KC is a band that my interest kind of faded out on at the beginning of the 70's, especially when Lake left. I followed him to ELP of which I was already a fan of Emerson because of The Nice. Floyd was coming on strong, which I had been following since 68, and then The Allman Bros arrived and my unbridled love of slide guitar mixed with a Hammond B3 became unleashed. Fripp just got left behind in their dust as far as my attentions were concerned. I missed Lake too much and just couldn't get into where the band was going. I've heard some things since then and have a couple of albums somewhere yet to be found in the mess, but again, meh.
So here we are now. Steven Wilson entered the picture and brought my attention back as well as the discussions here and Covid and Fripp's Sundays with Toya and figured it was time to try again.
As many live albums are also often times a sampler of a bands greatest hits, so looking at the playlist of this album decided to give it a go. I've only made it through sides 1 and 2 so far and I am impressed. The only thing irritating so far is the audience's applause at the break in the middle of Court. Does that happen a lot at KC concerts ? Untimely applause really upsets my applecart at concerts, usually by people who are not familiar with the material.
This is pretty intense playing and must require a lot of rehearsals with such a cast of changing characters. Makes me think of the notorious rehearsal slave driver Ian Anderson. But they are tight, which this music requires. The drumming is spectacular to be sure. Four more sides to go. Really interested to hear what 21st Century Schizoid Man sounds like.
November 2023 world wide global pressing 3 X 12" set
Sad that they lost Bill Reiflin (Watch the touching and not-what-youâd-expect recent movie about KC). But this three-full-drum-kit monster was amazing. Caught them four times and, sadly, the last show was very disappointing, but not to the extent that it negates all my other experiences. Have seen them almost every time I could, starting with the Discipline tour, the Double Trio and other smaller formations, then this seven/eight-headed beast. Man, that was something.
My first experience with feeling really old musically was when I heard the Allman Bros in elevators and grocery stores. The first Stones and Beatles albums are 60 now. My oh my. And I thought I would be dead before I turned 21, now 50 years ago.
only the good die young, right? have a nice thanksgiving. (i just found out yesterday from my bff's daughter that 80's clothing is now considered "vintage" in some stores. crazy.)
I've seen full bell bottoms (60's full tilt) worn into the store recently. Tempting ... Somewhere I have some Levi's flairs from the 70's that I might even fit into now.
man, is that hard to swallow. 30th...i feel sooo old. i was the band members' ages when this (and Ten) came out. how can this be? we were supposed to stay that age forever.
My first experience with feeling really old musically was when I heard the Allman Bros in elevators and grocery stores.
The first Stones and Beatles albums are 60 now. My oh my. And I thought I would be dead before I turned 21, now 50 years ago.
man, is that hard to swallow. 30th...i feel sooo old. i was the band members' ages when this (and Ten) came out. how can this be? we were supposed to stay that age forever.
only the good die young, right? 
have a nice thanksgiving. (i just found out yesterday from my bff's daughter that 80's clothing is now considered "vintage" in some stores. crazy.)
i was the band members' ages when this (and Ten) came out. how can this be? 
we were supposed to stay that age forever. 
