FraKctured - live performances - audient reports
19/05/00 - 12th and Porter, Nashville. Debut KC2000 Show
Fracktured is an update and rework of the original Crimson classic Fracture, which first appeared on Starless and Bible Black in 1974. Fripp claims there was a trainwreck on this particular performance, but I didn't hear it, being unfamiliar as I was with the new piece. There must have been a smooth cleanup. After the first section of nearly impossible playing by Fripp, he took his left hand off the fretboard and either blew on or kissed his fingers and smiled a bit. After this brief pause he took the piece home with some of the best fast playing I have ever heard from him. My only problem with this piece is that it's hard to hear everything that's going on, because of the uneven sound of the different strings during some very fast non legato picking. Perhaps the studio recording of Frakctured will allow a clearer sound.
Well, I already knew the track because The ConstruKction Of Light came out several months earlier than it did in the US (for some reason), but the live version had been slightly changed (guitar sound in distorted section was much heavier). The audience was clearly excited by it - important moment.
From Trey Gunn's diary at www.treygunn.com
May 19, 2000 -- Nashville, TN / 12th and Porter
The first show went off quite well. I felt a lot of relief from the whole band in general, and myself in particular, when the realization that we didn't have to play flawlessly entered in. In fact, during the middle third of the show I felt myself giving in to the general 'thrashy' nature of the sound and performance. It's a hard thing to give up, a well executed delivery. Especially when you are giving it up for a performance. Which, in most normal perspectives, would be the time to hold on dearly to it. However, tonight the 'thrash' won.
I would love to get to the point where both ends of the spectrum are present: cut-loose sonic mayhem and controlled execution. However, this isn't the case just yet. At least for me. Perhaps with some maturity this band could open that door for me. We'll see.