Photos/Words: Rudy Lu

Lovers of prog rejoice! The Linda’s series of prog rock concerts Mardi Prog and films was kicked off by a prog version of the classic guitar, bass and drums power trio with the Stickmen. The variation is that the instruments are Touch Guitar, Chapman Stick and drums. The band has been in existence since 2010, its individual members have all had storied careers. Most notably, Hudson Valley resident Tony Levin, who is most noted for being Peter Gabriel’s first call bass player and long time member of the Legendary King Crimson. Pat Mastelotto was a former member of 80’s rock band Mr. Mister, session player for Matthew Sweet, Pointer Sister,the Rembrandts as well as a bandmate of Tony Levin in King Crimson. Markus Reuter is a German multi-instrumentalist, producer and teacher, most notably a pioneer in touch key guitar design as well as playing.

Together they performed a set of King Crimson, Robert Fripp , Adrien Belew covers and originals. Even featuring Tony Levin on a rare vocal performance,

They opened with a true oldie, “Lark’s Tongue & Aspic Part III” a King Crimson composition dating back to 1972. The powerful yet intricate composition that set the tone for the evening. Heavy, heavy music definitely not for background listening but for intense cerebral yet rhythmic experience. There were a small number who were dancing with themselves. The trio was like having an engaging group of speakers in a TED talk except using music rather than language.

Markus Reuter was a strict academic. Lecturing us with his logical lines and statements, drawing musical attention to himself with his multicolored decorated touch guitar.

Pat Mastelotto was a mad scientist. Creating polyrhythms using every element of his drumstick using his hands, feet, drumsticks and mallets. Always full of expressions, frequently with an animated grin on his face.

Tony Levin’s playing of the Chapman stick was a lecture unto itself. His expressions, tones, chords each spoke multiple ideas. Tony confessed that there is at least one number in each performance that he dreads for one reason or another whether the music is complex or not. That was his introduction to “Danger In The Workplace”. His workplace, the concert stage, is certainly different from many of us. He shared that remembering his choreography in Peter Gabriel’s “Sledgehammer” was one of those instances. In this case it was his vocals.

The crew or person operating the sound system and/or lights is the unseen member of the band. A tip of the hat to Robert Frazza, who was the sound engineer. He made sure that the nuance and the power of the Stickmen performance were heard by the audience.

“Breathless” was a composition that featured Tony and Pat, leaving all out of breath. Everybody breathed a sigh of relief when this seamlessly transitioned into “Mantra”.

Pat warned us that the final number was a tribute to the genre, “It would be played as hard as harsh as we can”. This false closer for the set was “Prog Noir”, complete with thundering bass and other lines.

For an encore, was the exotic “Sheltering Sky” from 1980’s King Crimson. Not really a Valentine’s Day ballad, but as close to one that this band would get to this evening. If you missed this performance, no worries. There are others to catch in the Mardi Prog series. See linda.org for details.

Setlist:

Larks Tongue & Aspic Part II, Ringtone, Hide the Trees, Tentacles, Horatio, Cusp, Breathless, Mantra, Danger In The Workplace, Swimming in T, Prog Noir
Encore: Sheltering Sky

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