Saw Hillary Clinton and author John Grisham speak last night. She's doing a book tour, presented as a discussion. So, Grisham asked questions - mostly about the book - and she gave answers, mostly from the book.

It was ... bracing. She told some good stories about her time as Sec State and about some interesting things she's done since (ex. getting women out of Afghanistan). But because we're so close to the election, a lot of what she talked about was the dangers of Trump. Not that the audience of mostly middle-aged women who paid to see Hillary Clinton were likely to disagree, but she did hammer the point home with everything she had.

Grisham was a gentle and supportive interviewer. He's apparently a family friend of the Clinton family, so it was a friendly chat.

I don't go to political rallies, and this wasn't one - not exactly. But, I do see the appeal now. The energy of thousands of like-minded people who are invested enough to pay to be preached to. Yeah, that's pretty invigorating.

No encore. And she didn't play any songs off her first album.

Beat is a band put together by Adrian Belew to play songs from the three classic 80s King Crimson records: Three Of A Perfect Pair, Beat and Discipline. The band is Adrian Belew, fellow KC alum Tony Levin, along with Steve Vai and drummer Danny Carey (from Tool). Quite a bit of firepower there. It was conceived pre-COVID, but had to wait until this year to get going. And now it's touring.

Playing 'Waiting Man'. Carey is playing a set of melodically-tuned drums for this.

Carey handled original KC drummer Bill Bruford's parts nicely. Dude's got power and technique to spare. Was fun watching him using 80s electronic drum pad triggers to make all those wacky percussive sounds.

Belew and Vai.

Vai had the unenviable job of playing Robert Fripp's parts. And he managed to do it! Yes, he's the great Steve Vai, but Fripp has a unique and formidable technique. Few even try. Vai did adapt some things to fit his own style - ex. using tapping where Fripp would pick. But it sounded great regardless.

"Red". The only song not from the classic 80s lineup.

The great Tony Levin was, unfortunately, out of sight for us. I bought box seats because they're fun. They don't cost any more, but they do, usually, offer great views. So I grab them when they're available. Unfortunately Levin was standing right below us, and didn't move around, so I could only see him if I stood up and leaned over.

They played almost everything I would have picked as a perfect set list from that era, and included many things I wouldn't have picked but were nonetheless fun to see and hear.

Loud as hell.