King Crimson - 1984-06-09 Laguna Hill, CA (2008)

There are times when this recording sounds more like a band interrupting a conversation but there are moments where the performance transcends the dubious sonic excrement[endtease] from which it has emerged. Whilst everyone in the band thump, pluck and pound to heroic effect, it’s Belew who gets the man of the match award. The abrasive excesses of his guitar work on tracks such as Industry and Dig Me and even those machine-gone-mad fills on Indiscipline push this Crimson into harsher experimental territories more than usually might be the case. Perhaps the highlight of the set is their rendition of Waiting Man where the band really fuse together to such an extent that the conversation of those nearest the mike falls silent. Sleepless roars at a demonic pace and thus is well worthy of your attention. However, given the unforgiving nature of the overall sound and the competition the band faces from a certain section of the audience, this one for the hardiest of hardcore KC enthusiasts only.