Index

Last week, fans of the First Supergroup of the 80's finally had their wish come true when the original lineup of Asia released their first album in 25 years. A quarter century ago, one of the first bands I ever became a fan of hit backstage drama that dissolved the founding members and led to a revolving door of musicians from all over the world. Once it was past 1990, it seemed these four men, bassist/singer John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes, guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Carl Palmer, would never sit in the same room together at the same time. So it is with some sense of disbelief that I'm writing about the new Asia album, Phoenix. The original four founding members are back together and actually talked to each other long enough to record something.

All of the hallmarks of the original band have returned, the poppy anthems, the quicksilver instrumental breaks, the dramatic vocals-everything as it was. Well, almost everything. These guys are definitely older and a feeling of maturity shades all of the songs. Some of the Rawk intensity has fallen away to a more relaxed feel. And John Wetton's recent heart surgery has given a theme to the album that suits the group well-second life and seize the day.

Asia balances the different sides of their sound with skill. Even with a lessened edge, tunes like the "Never Again" and "Shadow Of A Doubt" hit like the Asia of old with Howe's angular riffs and Wetton's booming voice. "Alibis" updates a song originally started during the band's initial run with Downes and Howe trading licks throughout. Prog gets play on "Sleeping Giant/No Way Back/Reprise" and "Parallel Worlds/Vortex/Deya" where the band's level of musicianship shines. The age factor comes up with more ballads than prior Asia albums such as "Heroine" and "I Will Remember You".

The most memorable song is the album closing "An Extraordinary Life" which comes across like a TV show theme thanks to it's lifting melody and positive lyrics. It's been heavily touted by the band as their best song and while it's not that, it is pretty great.

Although for me Asia stopped after Then & Now in 1990, the band continued eventually with John Payne replacing Wetton as the main singer/songwriter. Payne's years in the band has resulted in two Asias now, one led by Payne and the other with the original lineup. There is only one Asia as far as I'm concerned, Phoenix is a restablishing of a legendary band not just a quick cash in. Phoenix is easily the best album I've heard this year so far.

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It’s no fun being a punch line. I know it might not be me directly that is at the center of the joke, but it does come dangerously close. I speak of course of a particular scene from “The 40 Year Old Virgin”. In this scene one character turns to another and makes a huge joke about an Asia poster hanging on the wall. And while I don’t have a poster…I do have a signed album.

I can’t help it.

I had the distinct pleasure of seeing the original lineup of Asia recently…and I had a smile on my face the whole time. I am not a huge fan. Dare I say the band probably doesn’t crack my top 20, but there was something about this night that was really cool.

I primarily came to be a fan of Asia by the simple inclusion of Geoff Downes (keyboards) and Steve Howe (guitar). They had spent time in the ranks of what I firmly hold as the third greatest band ever…Yes. So it was logical for me to follow their careers. Now granted I came “late to the show” as they say (probably not getting their huge 1982 hit until 1985ish), but I did discover their music and bought a couple albums. It was decidedly different from what Yes was doing, but I still couldn’t help but tap my toe to some of the tracks.

Come to find out Carl Palmer (drums) was a star in his own right from Emerson, Lake, & Palmer as well. John Wetton was the outsider (at least to me) because I was much less familiar with his work at the time. But I quickly learned the impressive resume he possessed. U.K., Roxy Music, and last but not least…King Crimson. Not too shabby.

And as my musical path wound its way as it did over the next billion years I kept an eye on each of their respective careers after the initial hubbub died down. Progressive rock musicians have a nasty habit of flowing in and out of bands and side projects all the time. The genre is so vast that sometimes it is easy to lose track of who was where when.

(no spring chickens anymore)

In 2006 I heard the original band was getting back together and doing some shows. I thought it was cool, but nothing more. I missed the first go round. Life got in the way, or the schedule did not jive with my job. Blasted work! So when they reconvened and recorded an album of new material and decided to give it one more set of shows…I was in.

I saw the band in a House Of Blues. I have been in 3 different ones, and they all vary to some extent. Yet they all seem to have one commonality…the concert hall venue is small and intimate. To me the room didn’t hold much more than a thousand people, and the stage was right in your face. It is quite something to see a band that once filled huge arenas in such a small venue. I suppose on one hand it was sad, but on the other…it was very cool. I can say this. I have been to a million shows in my life, and this one was different in a very real way.

The folks that showed up on this particular evening were into it. I didn’t witness people wandering back and forth from the toilet, talking, texting, or waiting for the band to get around to playing the hit single as is normal in these settings. Instead I saw most of the crowd (70/30 in the guys favor with the average age being mine or a bit older) singing along, pumping fists, and cheering loudly. Maybe it was the proximity to the stage. I don’t know. But the band had the attention of the crowd without a doubt all night long.

I had seen Steve Howe before…too many times to mention. I had seen Carl Palmer years ago as well. I knew he would do his usual Palmer shtick complete with a gong filled drum solo. I knew it was coming. I had also had the chance to meet Geoff Downes once before as well. He is probably in the top 1 or 2 nicest rock star guys I have ever met. So being the frustrated bass player/vocalist I am…tonight was about John Wetton. Over those billion years I had become a big fan of the U.K. albums…very underrated and inspiring. So I planted my healthy/chunky frame in front of Mr. Wetton throughout the night. I was not disappointed. Vocals. Thick bass. Pedals that rattled the floor. What more could a growing boy want?

So for all the talk that I have been struggling with finding inspiration and joy in attending live shows these days…I owe Asia a huge debt of gratitude. The evening was fabulous.

Oh…Did I also mention that before hand I met Geoff once again and waved at Steve as he stepped outside to make a phone call? Like I said…pretty cool night.

I could go into so much more detail, but instead I will just post the set list below for anyone that cares. Maybe add a couple photos (still haven’t taken my personal ones off the phone yet), a video from the web to give you a taste of the show…and let you know I could care less that I am close to a punch line in a movie. It was fun…in the “Heat Of The Moment”.