Stick Men Stunning at Cage Brewing 03.06.24

You know, that’s true, and it’s not, simultaneously. Most people there to see the concert of three gents who call themselves Stick Men knew exactly what they were in for — no surprises there. And yet we were stunned, stupefied, completely blown out [insert your own verbs here] by these three titans of their “sticks”: Tony Levin on Chapman stick (and vocals!), Pat Mastelotto on drum sticks, and Markus Reuter on his self-designed touch-style guitar, which he plays much like a Chapman stick.

Stick Men – Cage Brewing. 📸: Jeffrey Moellering – snapzalot.com

Levin has been a member of King Crimson now for 45 years, Mastelotto for 25, in addition to their many other endeavors. Levin and Mastelotto created Stick Men in 2007, and Reuter joined them in 2010. Together they explore stunning progressive rock, and they continue to tour to enthusiastic crowds — and cruise patrons such as those on Cruise to the Edge this weekend. This show on March 6 at Cage Brewing in St. Petersburg was their last of the tour before the cruise.

Their setlist varies little, it would seem, from show to show and even tour to tour, much like the band’s last recording Umeda (Live in Osaka 2022) and identical to a show available on bandcamp from this tour at Woodlands Tavern in Columbus OH 02.22.24. This is not a surprise given the jaw-dropping complexities of these compositions.

[03.06.24: Larks’ Tongues in Aspic Pt. II, Ringtone, Hide the Trees, Tentacles, Horatio, Voodoo**, Breathless, Mantra, Danger in the Workplace > Swimming in T, Prog Noir, Level 5; E: The Sheltering Sky]

I was disappointed to discover that I had left my ear phone/plugs at home, then thrilled to discover that the sound engineers had it dialed in perfectly!

Tony Levin – Stick Men – Cage Brewing. 📸: Jeffrey Moellering – snapzalot.com

The three were extremely personal, self-deprecating, and truly funny at times. They took turns introducing the compositions, usually with interesting remarks about them. Levin led off, pointing out that the King Crimson masterpiece “Lark’s Tongue in Aspic Pt. II” was previously the set closer but now has moved to the opening track. And out it poured.

Markus Reuter – Stick Men – Cage Brewing. 📸: Jeffrey Moellering – snapzalot.com

Reuter explained about gifting one of his U8 guitars to Levin, prompting Levin to say “U ate it” (more clever than that). But the guitar had in fact ten strings, leading to “U ten siles” and then to “Tentacles.” That was the way the evening went. “Voodoo” was new to the band and the setlist, having performed it about ten times previously. Robert Fripp was involved with the writing of “Relentless” from their debut recording Soup, we were told.

Pat Mastelotto – Stick Men – Cage Brewing. 📸: Jeffrey Moellering – snapzalot.com

Mastelotto told us that audience participation was required for “Mantra,” and he went through the complexities of the rhythm, some convoluted thing with “332 3322 …” — just ask all the drummers who were there. In fact, at some point Levin asked if there were any musicians in the house; there were a LOT! It was a great chat, and a few stalwart audience members got it right! (Others of us didn’t even start!)

Levin told a great story about the fact that his Chapman stick was anchored on his belt; if he lost weight and the belt slipped down, he might be playing the wrong notes! They were truly entertaining, and we ALL needed a bit of a respite between songs. Levin sang on “Prog Noir,” and after “Level 5” and raucous applause they returned to the King Crimson canon for “The Sheltering Sky” from Discipline.