Stick Men / CuDa Brothers

: Tony Levin tapping away on his Chapman Stick

February 21, 2024

FOR FANS OF: King Crimson, Tool, Porcupine Tree, Primus, Rush, Liquid Tension Experiment

February 2024's Stick Men show at the Beachland Ballroom felt less like a rock concert and more like a meeting of the prog-rock minds. With former King Crimson members on stage, the crowd skewed a little older, the show was seated, and everyone seemed perfectly happy to trade mosh pits for careful listening. The Chapman Stick is an instrument I’d pay to see by itself, let alone being played by the master of one in person. Two hands tapping, playing bass and treble, doesn’t get much cooler than that.

The Cuda Brothers got things started with a strong opening set before Stick Men took the audience on a tour of rhythms that would be confusing to first time listeners and tight musicianship. There was plenty of head-nodding, a few puzzled looks, and more than a few people silently wondering how three musicians could make so much noise at the same time.

A very civilized evening of jazzy prog. I would definitely see them again.

Images shot by Shane McNicholas @elsephoto with a Canon R5 and RF 24-105 F4 and RF 100 mm 2.8 Macro