Beat brought a night of 1980’s sound to the Mohegan Sun Arena on November 5, 2026. They were greeted by a welcoming and nostalgic crowd. The arena was filled with the sounds of what was once King Crimson. But Beat is not a tribute band, more of a rejoining of two members of the King Crimson band Adrian Belew and Tony Levin.
To round out the outstanding musical talent of Tony Levin on Bass and Chapman Stick and Adrian Belew on guitar the newly remade band added the talents of Steve Via on guitar and Danny Carey on drums.
Beat, as was King Crimson, is not a band for everyone. It is strong on intricate guitar riffs and hauntingly deep tones. It did and still does have a heavy cult following of devoted fans. Weather the original King Crimson or the spin off newer Beat the talent cannot be understated. Each member is a heavyweight in their musical genre.
With Beat’s addition of Steve Via and Danny Carey it only increases the complexity of the sound. Steve Via has his own large following and a sound his own. Danny Carey also has a long career and following. When the two joined with Levin and Belew they were able to sound just enough like the King Crimson for purists but gave an individual touch that the new members brought to the band.
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The Beat performed many songs from King Crimson’s early albums Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair. They gave the audience a sampling off a few of King Crimsons many songs but concluded the concert with Frank Zappa’s City of Tiny Lights. A song from Via’s past when he was a member of Frank Zappa’s band.
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The night was a great look back on some of the eighties great guitar music and musicians that don’t get as much airplay as the once did. There were some amazing guitar artists honing their craft in that era who are still very much current and playing fantastic concerts today.
If you haven’t had a chance to take in a concert by Beat it’s a good time to go and check them out while they are doing a tour together.
For more information about Beat, their history and upcoming tour dates visit Beat
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
Setlist:
Dinosaur (King Crimson cover)
Neurotica (King Crimson cover)
Neal and Jack and Me (King Crimson cover)
Sartori in Tangier (King Crimson cover)
Three of a Perfect Pair (King Crimson cover)
Walking on Air (King Crimson cover)
Industry (King Crimson cover)
Larks’ Tongues in Aspic (Part III) (King Crimson cover)
Set 2:
Waiting Man (King Crimson cover)
People (King Crimson cover)
The Sheltering Sky (King Crimson cover)
Sleepless (King Crimson cover)
Matte Kudasai (King Crimson cover)
Frame by Frame (King Crimson cover)
Elephant Talk (King Crimson cover)
Indiscipline (King Crimson cover)
Encore:
City of Tiny Lites (Frank Zappa cover)
Thela Hun
