ROPPONGI - LIVE IN TOKYO 2017, SHOW 1 (WITH MEL COLLINS)

It was five years ago to this very day that STICK MEN roared into Tokyo, Japan to play some live music. This was recorded at "Billboard Live" on February 21 2017 with special guest Mel Collins adding flute and sax. I think it's so cool that on the "Midori" live set we get David Cross adding that violin flavour then here on "Roppongi" we get that flute and sax from Mel Collins while on "Owari" we get Gary Husband adding keyboards. So to hear these songs sounding slightly different because of these special guests is pretty amazing. I need that one with Husband on it. Hey how about doing a tour with these three guests and get SONAR with David Torn to join them. What a double bill that would be! I've said it before but that KING CRIMSON vibe is very strong with this band as we get Levin and Mastelotto from that legendary group plus band leader Marcus Reuter out of Germany adding those Fripp-like soundscapes along with touch guitars and more. The other great thing about this band is the improvs, again taking inspiration from KC but having the ability to pull it off as well. We do hear applause after the songs end but that's it for crowd noise.

I have a top five even though there are only nine tracks. This is good! So the opener "Hide The Trees" was one of my favourite tracks on the first "Midori" show and to hear it here with flute is special. Growly bass, touch guitar and drums as Mel shows off his flute skills. I like how that catchy opening theme is repeated late. "Sepia" is another top five that is such a great sounding piece with the high pitched touch guitar sounds and those drums early on that sound so good. It turns spacey at 2 minutes, kind of haunting actually. This track goes to some pretty cool places. Headphone music. It kicks back in before 8 minutes surprisingly as the intro is reprised.

"Prog Noir" from the album of the same name opens with bass and a groove as the guitar joins in. Vocals from Tony before a minute and they will come and go. Some power over that final minute. "Ookami" is new to this show and another top five. Soundscape stuff to start and we get some sax before 1 1/2 minutes along with tons of atmosphere. Some booming drums that will settle back and the sax becomes more steady. Guitar replaces the sax about half way through but the sax is back before 7 1/2 minutes as it calms right down to the end. Band introductions are then announced by Tony. By the way the picture of the band in the liner notes is a good one but Tony isn't wearing glasses like the other three and he's got his hoody up. What a rebel! Final top three and absolute favourite is "Level 5" and thankyou for covering one of my all time favourite KING CRIMSON tracks. Yes a level five hurricane is what we get here. And with sax! Nasty sax! It's screaming!

Just a joy spinning the music from this band. I especially adore the debut album "Soup" and their last studio album so far "Prog Noir" then add the "Midori" and "Roppongi" shows and I'm pretty good but wishing for "Owari". Maybe one day.