What can I really say about one of the most incredible shows I've ever seen? Brooklyn based Krakatoa took the Alterknit theater of Manhattan's famed Knitting Factory by storm this unseasonably warm February night. Perhaps it was the fiery intensity with which the band delivered their unique amalgamation of chamber-rock, post-rock and prog-rock. Or the schorching drone courtesy of violinists Glendon Jones and Dave Brown and cellist Ben Friedman. Either way, this was quite a hot set. A collective of multi-instrumentalists, lead composers Ted Casterline and Valerie Opielski, doubling on bass/guitars and keyboards/bass and guitar respectively, catered to the ambiance of each individual piece, while Friedman took up residence behind the keyboards of a song, and Jones switched between violin and guitar. Concentrating on songs from their latest release, Togetherness, the band nonchalantly breezed through an hour set so effortlessly  that it was almost impossible to believe it was over so soon. 

The large (50-70) audience packed into the rather cozy performance space enthusiastically demanded more, and Krakatoa obliged with a spirited rendition of "Driving by Candelabrum", from their debut album Plan Ahead. Although this was Friedman's last show with the band, the buoyant presence of the group brought the audience together; a symbiotic reaction of an excited crowd combined with a band giving it their all. Hell, even the dude next to me joined in with my ecstatically stunned "fucking a" to compliment the band on a ridiculously awesome set.

- Mike Prete [February 2002]