Forum Home Forum Home > Progressive Music Lounges > Live Performance Reviews
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Yes and Asia - Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedYes and Asia - Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
jimmy19029 View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: April 24 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 4
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Yes and Asia - Tower Theater, Philadelphia, PA
    Posted: August 31 2009 at 14:05
And the original Asia reunion rolls on for its 4th year now. Steve Howe solved the problem of how to keep it going now that Yes is up and running again too. Both bands are touring in tandem this year, with Howe doing double duty by playing in both.

This show PACKED the Tower and I'm glad I'd headed down earlier this afternoon to make sure I could get tickets. I grabbed two for the balcony at $25 apiece.

Despite a shorter set this year, Asia is still blowing the crowd away with their high energy show. My friend Paul and I had seen them last year and he totally enjoyed it again this year. As for Yes, he didn't seem to be as enthused for them(despite the fact that he's seen them before and liked them), probably because of the fact that Jon Anderson & Rick Wakeman weren't there.

I'll admit, Benoit David has a great voice and can hit Anderson's high notes, but does not have the same enigmatic stage presence as Anderson. He even seemed to be mixed down farther than he should be in the sound at times. Indeed, there were several instances where the sound guys seemed to be asleep at the switch, with Howe's guitar or Oliver Wakeman's keyboards not always as audible as they should've been. Overall though, for where we were in the balcony, the sound was mostly okay.

Oliver Wakeman was adequate though nothing special on keys. Certainly not the flamboyant musical centerpiece that his father is. But then, few are.

Some of the group's regular set staples, like I've Seen All Good People, Starship Trooper, And You & I, etc., I wouldn't mind if they were pulled out and retired for awhile to make way for some other things. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but they've been played at practically every Yes show most of us have attended for the last 30 plus years.

The stuff that came off best to me were the rarities. Astral Traveler, from their second album Time & a Word, sounded great, as did the Drama selections Tempus Fugit and Machine Messiah. Loved the smoky fog effect during the latter while Benoit strummed the acoustic guitar. COOL!

After playing one of his solo pieces, Sketches in the Sun, Steve Howe praised his acoustic guitar which was "made by Martin Guitars in Pennsylvania.."

And original King Crimson member Ian McDonald came out to play his flute parts on In the Court of the Crimson King when Asia played it. Since we were so far up, I wasn't sure it was him at first. The guys near me joked and thought it might be Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, or a local musician they pulled off a corner to come in and play.

Not sure what the future holds for Yes. Will Anderson return? Hopefully they're not done making new music. I would hate to see them just continue doing tours only and rehashing the old music, like too many of our classic rockers are doing today....

Right before Yes hit the stage, my friend Paul disappeared. Later on I saw him standing up near the back wall. When I rendezvoused with him at the show's end, he told me that security guards had blocked his way down for a while since they were going back & forth trying to catch two couples who kept lighting up joints. I did notice the weed smell myself and it was pretty RANCID! I thought a skunk had gotten into the theater for a minute. The overpowering stank odor kept him back near the exit where it wasn't as bad, he said. Other than that and some young kids behind me who would get bored and start chatting to one another periodically, the crowd was fairly well behaved. No screaming drunks or fights.

Asia setlist:

01. Intro
02. Wildest Dreams
03. Only Time Will Tell
04. An Extraordinary Life
05. Video Killed The Radio Star
06. In The Court Of The Crimson King
07. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
08. Don't Cry
09. Fanfare For The Common Man
10. Sole Survivor
11. Heat Of The Moment


Yes setlist:

Intro - Firebird Suite(on tape)
01. Siberian Khatru
02. I've Seen All Good People(Your Move/All Good People)
03. Tempus Fugit
04. Astral Traveler (with Alan White's drum solo)
05. And You And I
06. Sketches in the Sun(Steve Howe solo)
07. Owner of a Lonely Heart
08. Machine Messiah
09. Roundabout
10. Heart of the Sunrise
11. Encore: Starship Trooper
Back to Top
progkidjoel View Drop Down
Prog Reviewer
Prog Reviewer
Avatar

Joined: March 02 2009
Location: Australia
Status: Offline
Points: 19643
Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 04 2009 at 01:57
Sound solid - I hope they come back to Australia...
Back to Top
counterpoint View Drop Down
Forum Newbie
Forum Newbie


Joined: March 20 2009
Status: Offline
Points: 9
Direct Link To This Post Posted: August 03 2009 at 18:29
I was there too.   I enjoy the show immensely.    The Ian McDonald flute solo for ITCOTCK was an exceptional treat!   Smile
Back to Top
SilverEclipse View Drop Down
Forum Senior Member
Forum Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: September 19 2007
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 123
Direct Link To This Post Posted: July 31 2009 at 13:28
Good opening by Asia.  they did some of their band stuff but a good 1/2 of the performance was taken up by ELP's "Fanfare For The Common Man" featuring an insane Palmer drum solo and a rendition of "In The Court Of The Crimson King" with Ian McDonald himself guest starring on flute. 
 
Yes with Beniot David were great.  The guy sounds exactly like an early Jon Anderson.  Setlist included great performances of And You And I, Heart Of The Sunrise, Machine Messiah, and Starship Trooper. 
 
Very good show, but I hope to see Jon Anderson back so I can see Close To The Edge and Tales material live. 
"and if the band your in starts playing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the moon"
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down



This page was generated in 0.234 seconds.
Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.