If I’d been a betting man I would have been a few quid lighter tonight, this reformed,  original line up of Asia have managed to survive more than one tour without imploding and, even more incredibly, have managed to record a soon to be released new album entitled Phoenix.

Hitting the stage at 8.00pm prompt and opening with Daylight,  a song that was the bonus track on the cassette version of the bands second album Alpha,  the familiar strains of Only Time Will Tell and Wildest Dreams that followed soon got the ¾ full crowd going. Next up the introduced the first, of what be two numbers, from the forthcoming Phoenix, namely Never Again. Arguably this could well be the lyrical sequel to Wildest Dreams and hence fitted into the set perfectly. Following this though was the first of the band members “history tracks”, Roundabout from Steve Howe’s other band Yes. At this point I’m going to make my one complaint about the show. Last years tour was a celebration of 25 years since the release of the first Asia album and a chance for the band to do the tour that they should have done for that album. With that Idea in mind I had no problem with Asia playing songs from the illustrious careers each member had prior to the formation of Asia. However as that tour was recorded and released for posterity as the Fantasia DVD/CD and is thus readily available to watch listen to this time around the band should have stuck to the Asia tracks. As an Asia fan I want to hear Asia music at an Asia concert,  especially as the band now have three full studio albums to pull from for the set list.

To make this worse each of the quartet also enjoyed their own solo spots as well. John Wetton’s acoustic version of Voice of America was hugely enjoyable as was Carl Palmer's excellent drum solo included during The Heat Goes On and  at least Geoffrey Downes solo, Bolero, was culled from the debut Asia album. But why the band had to deliver ELP's Fanfare For The Common Man again or Buggle's Video Killed The Radio Star is perhaps beyond comprehension and to this day I still cannot understand why Wetton serves up King Crimson's In Court of the Crimson King as he never recorded the track in the first place.  Unless that is it’s a friendly jibe at his friend Greg Lake.  Mind you those are only small gripes in what was an otherwise polished and professional performance and if that's what it takes to keep Asia intact and touring it's a price worth paying.

Given recent medical problems both Wetton And Palmer were looking fitter and healthier than at any time in the recent past, both seemingly fully recovered from their recent heart ops. Steve Howe, despite looking like a teacher at Hogwarts proved he is still a doubt wizard on guitar and a master of soundscapes and different instruments. His use of a lap steel on both The Smile Has Left Your Eyes and Don't Cry was excellent and, speaking of wizards, there are surely few better keyboard players around than Geoff Downes.

Asia truly are an amazing group of musicians who individually can play circles around most other bands and together produced a show that was highly enjoyable. Perhaps next time round the band will include a few more tracks from Phoenix rather than the individual spots. Despite that though if you get the chance to see the band do so, Asia 2008 are pretty damn good, so much so that even our non-prog loving webmaster enjoyed the show.

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