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District 97 w/ John Wetton: One More Red Night
District 97 with John Wetton - One More Red Night CD Album Review

District 97/John Wetton: One More Red ...

Progressive Rock
4.0/5.0

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Primary Purpose
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 31.12.2014

Even back in the day, and I was there, I was only a modest fan of UK band King Crimson. My quirky music fans introduced me to In the Court of the Crimson King and then In The Wake of Poseidon. These two became the extent of my 'Crimson' experience. I largely don't recall the Wetton period of three albums in the early Seventies. But there's no denying King Crimson's influence upon many musicians and the progressive rock genre in general. It's substantial.

District 97 with John Wetton Photo

District 97 with John Wetton

And not wasted upon Chicago proggers District 97 who had a chance to play and tour with John Wetton in 2013. It appears that Wetton is also quite the fan of this promising band. For which there's good reason: they have a boatload of talent and creativity. Both Hybrid Child and Trouble With Machines are prime examples of the best of American melodic progressive rock. The band has both the skill and ambition to conquer most an King Crimson complexity, and they do so with One More Red Night - Live in Chicago. And I imagine that District 97 was more than thrilled and honored to work with Wetton on this material.

The set list is nearly entirely from Wetton's Crimson catalog: Larks' Tongues in Aspic (1973), Starless and Bible Black (1974), and Red (1974). The odd song out is the seminal, and likely most familiar to many, 21st Century Schizoid Man from King Crimson's very first album. As for the treatment of the remainder, I can't speak to these new recordings versus the originals as I haven't heard the latter in probably 40 years. What I can say is that the District 97/Wetton interpretations definitely revive the character and flavor of early English progressive rock with energy and enthusiasm. The listener will catch the development of melody and rhythm with the technical individual instrument parts, the inherent improvisation and experimentation, and the heaviness that marked the end of the Wetton era.

Therefore, in the best sense, this live recording revisits history, introduces you to Wetton-era Crimson, and and so recognizes prog rock's emerging and ongoing creativity. Oh yeah, and it's performed by District 97, a great American prog band who could be John Wetton's kids, maybe grandkids.

District 97 & John Wetton-"Lament" (King Crimson)


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In Short

In the best sense, One More Red Night revisits history, introduces you to Wetton-era Crimson, and and so recognizes prog rock's emerging and ongoing creativity. Oh yeah, and it's performed by District 97, a great American prog band who could be John Wetton's kids, maybe grandkids.

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