“The Best Gig I Ever Saw” is a weekly column that will see us ask a musician to chat about their favorite concert thus far. This week it’s Jeff Matz, bassist with Oakland metal band High On Fire…
Choosing one “best gig” is an impossibility for me, as there are so many that stand out for different reasons–but King Crimson at the Fox Theater in Oakland on June 16, 2017 was one of the best I’ve ever attended.
King Crimson are definitely in my top 5 of bands that shaped me musically. This particular show in Oakland was unbelievably great. I was seated in the second row in front of the subs — the sound was crystal clear, perfectly pummeling. The set list was heavily laden with early obscure tracks; material I never thought I would hear performed live.
I’ve seen the recent incarnations of Crimson several times, but the stars seemed to have been aligned on this night. The band was so tight, the playing so powerful, and the music so perfect — beautiful and crushing simultaneously — I felt like I was floating the entire show. It was a transcendent experience.
High On Fire plays with Power Trip, Devil Master and Creeping Death at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 7 at the Regent Theater; then at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 8 at the Observatory. 

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