Asia - Newcastle Academy Gig Review

Welcome back my friends to show that never ends, come inside come inside, well sort of anyway. Just six months on from seeing half of the original Asia in the shape of Messer's Wetton & Downes in the smaller, more intimate Academy 2, this gig saw the original Asia line up on the road together for the first time in over twenty years -

I'll be honest and upfront here, I did have some doubts about the validity of the original quartet getting back together after all these years. With the band with having utilized the talents of many different guitarist over the years, Pat Thrall, Vinnie Burns, Billy Liesgang, Dave Kilmister, Guthrie Govan and John Mitchell amongst others I wondered whether Steve Howe was still really into the more rock aspects of Asia's work. Don't get me wrong Howe is a guitarist par excellence but I did think he might prove to be the weak link, but never, in my wildest dreams, would I have bet that he would be a s good as he was here.

Obviously his playing on Yes' 'Roundabout' and his own solo spot was spot on, his improvisation on both ELP’s 'Fanfare For The Common Man' and the Buggles track 'Video Killed The Radio Star' was simply stunning. Actually amidst all of the more serious stuff going on Video was a rather a welcome bit of fun in the second half of the set, Downes donning his silver jacket from the video and Wetton having to read the lyrics from the floor.

As you may gather from the blurb above this may have been billed as an Asia reunion, but the band elected to play not only Asia material but a track from each of the members pasts before there was an Asia. Of the Asia material on offer the band served up their classic debut album in its entirety split over a two hour plus set broken only by a fifteen minute intermission. From their sophomore album, 'Alpha' the quarter delivered selected highlights, with two numbers, namely 'Don't Cry' and 'The Smile Has Left Your Eyes' being performed acoustically, which perhaps seemed a little strange given the fact that the electric material had the one thousand plus fans in attendance hooked from the minute the band took the stage.

As for the solo material, well Wetton perhaps somewhat strangely chose King Crimson's 'In The Hall Of The Crimson King', a track he neither wrote nor played on originally and Plamer, 'Fanfare' aside delivered a short, but impressive drum solo built into the middle of 'The Heat Goes On'. Rounding off the main set with 'Soul Survivor' the band returned for a well deserved encore to give the crowd, what else but, 'The Heat Of The Moment' alongside 'Ride Easy' and that was that.

A lot of thought certainly went into the whole production of this reunion tour with video screens being used to good effect, although perhaps having the adverse effect of showing that time has not been kind to some of the members of the band and somehow Wetton managed to look both bored and very happy at the same time. Only time will tell if they can make it as far as a new album however. It may be for Asia fans who missed out on these dates, missed out on a last chance to see the original quartet back on stage together. Given the past history of Asia who can tell. However If you get the chance go and see them, as this nostalgia trip may not last long.....

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