On the cool evening of September 8, 2017, I entered the parking lot at Sweetwater in Fort Wayne, IN. If you do not know, Sweetwater is a musical equipment store and distribution center, along with housing recording studios, practice space, concert halls, and a large pseudo-airplane hangar in the back where they can host more significant events. This outdoor hangar (or pavilion, if you will), was my destination on this evening.

In support of their critically acclaimed studio album “Prog Noir” and forthcoming digital only live album “Roppongi" - Live in Tokyo 2017, Featuring Mel Collins," Stick Men, featuring Tony Levin and Pat Mastelotto of King Crimson and Markus Reuter, will tour North America starting in August.

King Crimson brought their latest in a long list of lineups to Los Angeles on the first day of summer 2017. The two-set show on the longest day of the year was held fittingly at the iconic Greek Theatre, a beautiful outdoor amphitheater located on the forested slopes of Griffith Park.

While many acts from the progressive rock era of the 1970s still perform, none play with the precision, conviction, and authority of King Crimson. A Bold statement you say? Without bringing other specific acts into a debate, it all boils down to the devotion and continued creative drive of founding visionary Robert Fripp.

Pat Mastelotto joined iconic English “Progressive rock” originators King Crimson back in 1994. His years as a stalwart L.A. session drummer brought him to audition with Crimson’s founding guitarist and (undefined) bandleader Robert Fripp. The rest is history. Mastelotto’s diverse style lent itself to their groundbreaking double-trio format which deeply expanded the ensembles live spectrum of possibilities.

Seminal rock band King Crimson begins their 2017 North American tour with the summer leg including a 17-show run spanning June 11 to July 10. The “Radical Action Tour 2017” will begin at Seattle's Moore Theatre on June 11. The tour will run through cities Saratoga, Oakland, San Diego, Los Angeles, Denver, and Minneapolis. King Crimson ends June with appearances at the Chicago Theatre on June 28 and Kodak Hall in Rochester on June 30.