This past week the R&R wheel of fortune continued its spin and landed on one of the genre's more flamboyant representatives: much maligned Prog. For many, the use of Prog and rock in the same sentence is an oxymoron. While, it may be that the autumnal goal of Nik Turner's Hawkwind and the most recent incarnation of King Crimson is to trash that idea.

    Turner's Hawkwind (as opposed to Hawkwind proper's mainman Dave Brock who - for a variety of ambiguous legal and health reasons - can't seem to land the mothership in a crop circle right here in the USA) represents the space rockin' contingent of merry Progsters. They are touring in reprise of Hawkwind's 1973 intergalactic magnum opus Space Ritual. The band included Nicky Garratt (guitar), Jason Willer (drums), Bryce Shelton (bass) and Kephera Moon (keys, vox and synths). An additional women on keys and violin will have to remain nameless.
   The band fired up the rocket and headed up and out. Garratt's guitar was sharp on the big riff rockers. His solos take a turn toward the lysergic. The two synths' swoop and whizz create the space time continuum that everything flies into. Nik and the women dance a slinky, snaky Busby Berkeley on Uranus set piece that spills out into the audience. Bass and drum never flag. The electric violin, and a guest on flying V electric violin, keep the engines humming at warp speed. Nik moves from flute to tenor sax throughout the night. The flute tripping the light fantastic and the squawking, free-jazz tenor sax give Nik's space ritual its instantly recognizable sound. The boarding has begun.

   Robert Fripp's current (and rumor has it last, but we've heard that one before) incarnation of King Crimson includes Gavin Harrison (drums), Bill Rieflin (drums), Pat Mastelotto (drums), Tony Levin (basses), Mel Collins (horns), Jakko Jakszyk (guitar, vocals) and Robert Fripp (guitar). These boys represent the scientists and quantum mechanics of Prog rock.
   The band samples liberally from most phases of a long career - choosing to skip over the Adrian Belew years. The sound at the most beautiful Colonial is warm and pristine. The mix clear and tremendous. It will make one hell of an audience boot. Three full drum kits with their assorted percussion and synth units line the front of the stage. The band mounts the riser behind the drums. The look is unfamiliar and appealing.
   Crimson immediately show off their range with Larks Tongues in Aspic Pt 1. The interplay between players is sublime. The three drum lineup defies its visual overkill with exchanges that slip between delicate and fierce. Patterns criss and cross. Mastelotto, Harrison and Rieflin pass parts from one to the other like six hands and feet with one brain. They jump on a unison riff, fracture into distinctive, interlaced subsections and pair up and fall apart with precision promiscuity.
   Tony Levin switches between electric bass, electric upright bass and stick. His tone is tight and full. Mel Collins takes a luxurious alto flute solo. His free playing on alto and tenor sax crackle and prod and, when he lays into the Rubinesque baritone sax, the music ratchets up another notch. Jakko Jakszyk's vocals have that stentorian attitude that most Crimson lyrics demand. His lead and second guitar exceed all challenges - and there are many. Larks Tongues Pt 2, Red, The ConstruKction of Light, Starless and 21st Century Schizoid Man. All those time signatures. All those drummers.
   Finally, there is Mr. Fripp. He sits on his barstool stage left. The no nonsense composer in natty vest and tie. He leaves the comic relief to between song, taped excerpts of questions from over earnest interviewers followed by his pithy responses. His genius is on full display tonight. The complex compositions. The twisted arrangements. The tonality and percussive nature of the instrumentation. The subtlety. The ferocity. His guitar tone, in full solo flight, sears shut the tears the band rips open in our inner space.
   This fall, Turner's Hawkwind and Fripp's King Crimson just might, for a moment, give Prog Rock a good name. King Crimson has a strict no picture rule.

Nik Turner's Hawkwind
Nik Turner
Nik Turner
Nik Turner
Nicky Garratt