King Crimson - Live In Philadelphia, PA, July 30, 1982

This is about how amazingly weird King Crimson can sound even if they try mixing such simple compositions as the lovely Heartbeat with the progressive estacades of Red or Discipline. The 80's incarnation of KC has already proven powerful enough to handle the whole decade of silence on Absent Lovers; here in Phily '82 we get an even modest setlist, best of its time, performed in an excellent manner of art-rocky entertainers in colorful suits, pocketful of great ideas. All the pieces remain flawless (and consistent), although I must say I heard better (and worse) renderings of Indiscipline. Matte Kudasai still proves a gem of its time, Elephant Talk is still irritating, and the Sheltering Sky is still a mystery to me. Shame Frame By Frame did not open the show, nevertheless it's a great show that really makes the 80's KC a convincing and intriguing piece of music of their own, as well as in the KC history.