It's a real shame that Greg Lake, Keith Emerson, and Carl Palmer can't get along these days. The boys haven't been together as ELP since the late 90's, and since then they have toured and recorded separately with their solo bands or other acts (Palmer with Asia), basically playing the same songs, just not with each other. The problem with all this is that, while the songs are always going to be great, it always sounds better when the original band plays them together. This live set from Greg Lake and his band recorded in late 2005 is very solid, showing a group with some serious skills and Lake with a still capable voice. The set list is very familiar for the most part, as he touches not only on almost every era of his time with ELP, but also his time spent with King Crimson. Highlights here are "Touch and Go" from the Emerson Lake and Powell era, a rousing "Fanfare for the Common Man", featuring wild keyboard work from David Arch, a very proggy "Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression -Part 2)", and almost metallic versions of the Crimson staples "In the Court of the Crimson King" and "21st Century Schizoid Man". You also get a solid but somewhat meandering 18+ minute "Pictures at an Exhibition", and a killer take on "Take a Pebble", which just might be the highlight of the set. Most folks could have probably gone without another version of "Lucky Man", and it would have been nice to hear "Epitaph" or "Still You Turn Me On", but all in all this is a enjoyable concert for what it is. End result is this is a fun listen, but I'm sure we'd all rather hear Greg, Keith, and Carl bury the hatchet and make another run with these killer classics.
Track Listing
1) In the Court of the Crimson King
2) Paper Blood
3) Touch and Go
4) Take a Pebble
5) Farewell to Arms
6) Fanfare for the Common Man
7) Lucky Man
8) 21st Century Schizoid Man
9) Pictures at an Exhibition
10) Karn Evil 9 (1st Impression -Part 2)
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