Initially described as “a creative reinterpretation of the three iconic 1980s King Crimson albums – Discipline, Beat, and Three of a Perfect Pair,” Beat’s music is far from a mere tribute act or cover band. Fans of 1980s King Crimson will likely be as thrilled as I was to hear—and see—Beat perform this material with finesse, passion, and inspiration on the new 2CD/1Blu-ray set, Neon Heat Disease: Beat Live in Los Angeles.
Beat is a joy to see up close and personal on stage and in this new video release. These musicians clearly love playing together—and playing the music they clearly love. I had the good fortune to see the opening night of this tour in San Jose, California, which was amazing in its own right, but I knew it would only get better and better. Neon Heat Disease: Beat Live in Los Angeles documents just how far they had come in only a couple of months. I can only imagine how incredible they sound in 2025, having recently toured Japan.
Drummer Danny Carey brings a heavier rock feel to this music than Bill Bruford’s jazzy swing. And while guitarist Steve Vai has cracked the code on many of Robert Fripp’s parts, he sometimes approaches these incredibly complex structures from a different vantage point—with Fripp’s blessings, mind you, as you’ll discover in the Blu-ray’s bonus interview videos. It’s the same music, but played in different ways, and it inevitably sounds distinct and fresh. Steve Vai and Adrian Belew, in particular, have developed a fabulous rapport on stage. This is especially fascinating given that both came out of the Frank Zappa universe.
Pro Tip: When playing the new Blu-ray live recording of the King Crimson-adjacent project Neon Heat Disease: Beat Live in Los Angeles for the first time in 5.1 surround sound, start with track 11, “The Sheltering Sky.” It’s a perfect example of how to use the 5.1 surround fields in a live concert setting that feels both natural and immersive, yet creatively expansive.
The tune opens with Tool drummer Danny Carey’s percussion reverberating naturally across the audience in the United Theater on Broadway in Los Angeles, where this concert was recorded. Then, as different members come in, you hear this wondrous musical interweaving unfold before your very ears (and eyes!), with Tony Levin’s Chapman Stick emerging from behind.
The video quality on Neon Heat Disease: Beat Live in Los Angeles is excellent, as is the 24-bit/48 kHz audio. The music sounds impressively warm, especially for a modern live digital production.
Suggested retail price for the 2CD and 1Blu-ray Disc set is a very fair $26.98. There is also an expanded 3CD/1BD package and a 3LP incarnation if you are interested.
If you love these musicians and 1980s King Crimson music, Neon Heat Disease: Beat Live in Los Angeles is essential viewing and listening.
Where to buy: $26.98 at Amazon
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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