I've always managed to avoid these bands (with consumate ease), and then I find out they're playing in Nottingham together in March.  Given my eclectic taste in music  I was wondering if anyone can recommend that I go and see them.  What will I get for my ticket money - will it be Wetton, Howe, Palmer and the other bloke? Will Palmer do a drum solo?  Will Wetton sing? Will Howe weedle inanely? Is it a completely new band using the name? Are Barclay James Harvest any good? Who are Dare - who are also on the bill?

And while we're on the subject, I notice that a couple of weeks later Porcupine Tree are playing too. Are they any good?  Live?

And shortly after this (June), Styx are coming to town.  Are they even prog?

Any responses are welcomed - and I believe me I dont expect many.

For any interested parties: (although I'm sure all bands are on tour and playing elsewhere)

http://www.rock-city.co.uk/ - http://www.rock-city.co.uk/

I once saw Dare, assuming it was the same band. They were supporting It Bites many years ago at the Astoria in London ( I think) They were sh!t...IMO.

All power chords, leather trousers, sweat and glory. Heavy rock with heavy keyboards, extremly loud, cliche ridden rubbish. That was my opinion anyway, and afair proportion of the crowd did seem to find them amusing.

As for Asia and BJH, I dont really know enough. What I've heard of Asia is like Def Leppard on prozac

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote:  I've always managed to avoid these bands (with consumate ease), and then I find out they're playing in Nottingham together in March.  Given my eclectic taste in music  I was wondering if anyone can recommend that I go and see them.

I was about to post a similar thread, since Asia (but not BJH) are doing Salamanca here in Spain. I haven't avoided them, I even found their first two albums something, well, "interesting", but then completely lost track of them. I guess they'll be mainly playing Silent Nation songs: is this album any good? (I'm not asking if it's prog, I'm almost sure it's not).

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: What will I get for my ticket money - will it be Wetton, Howe, Palmer and the other bloke? Will Palmer do a drum solo?  Will Wetton sing? Will Howe weedle inanely? Is it a completely new band using the name?

This I can tell you for sure: now they are only "the other bloke", aka Geoff Downes (keyboards),  plus John Payne (bass, vocals), Chris Slade (drums) and Guthrie Govan (guitar).

OK, I guess I'll be there anyway: we don't have too many rock concerts in this town of mine and I can't be too selective. But I'll appreciate any comments!

Thanks Nacho, I will definitely avoid this concert.  I'm sure Chris Slade played drums with Jimmy Page in The Firm many years ago, with Free vocalist Paul Rodgers. 

And thank you Blacksword - if ever I needed a disincentive to go to this show, it was your description of Dare.  They sound about right for that sort of AOR gig. 

I was only going to go to see if I could meet Carl Palmer, but this line-up bares no relation to the Asia line-up I'm semi-familiar with.

I shall toast you both when I spend the ticket money on a good bottle of red wine this evening

Sigod wrote:

"I saw Dare the same night as Blacksword (the It Bites gig) and I also think they were a big pile of steaming bollocks."

 Case closed I think!

 Much appreciated

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: Thanks Nacho, I will definitely avoid this concert.  I'm sure Chris Slade played drums with Jimmy Page in The Firm many years ago, with Free vocalist Paul Rodgers.

You're welcomed. And he was also drumming for AC/DC and Uriah Heep for some time.

BTW I've heard that Paul Rodgers will try to fill Freddie Mercury's shoes in a forthcoming tour with the three remaining members of Queen... Brave guy indeed!

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: I shall toast you both when I spend the ticket money on a good bottle of red wine this evening

A good choice, and especially if you go for a "Ribera de Duero" Spanish wine. Trust me...

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: I was only going to go to see if I could meet Carl Palmer, but this line-up bares no relation to the Asia line-up I'm semi-familiar with.

Carl Palmer plays all over the UK a couple of times a year.. basically he tours in the Spring and then again in Oct/Nov with his band... I saw him in Wolverhampton and Sheffield just last Nov. The rest of the year he does clinics all over the world, but most in the UK.  His clinics are absolutely the best things I've ever seen.. especially the ones he does with another drummer and he gets that competitive spirit and the need to show off...

However, he's really cool at concerts and clinics by coming out and talking with everyone after the show.. and signing things and having pictures taken... He's really quite a nice guy!!

Once they get the 2005 schedule up (its not up yet), you should check out his website and see if any of his dates and locations are near you!

http://www.carlpalmer.com/tourdates.html - http://www.carlpalmer.com/tourdates.html

sigod wrote: Asia for me were only interesting circa the debut album but as I haven't seen then since then (too many years ago to mention in polite company ) they could be okay although I can't see how as Wetton, Palmer and Howe are no longer there. I saw Dare the same night as Blacksword (the It Bites gig) and I also think they were a big pile of steaming bollocks.

Small world is it not!?

You should consider music journalism as a profession  I like your honest approach..

That gig was filmed. It was the night my mum found out I smoked when she saw on me on the box a month or so later with a fag (ciggarette - US!!) on the go...

Wrath_of_Ninian wrote:    And shortly after this (June), Styx are coming to town.  Are they even prog? Any responses are welcomed - and I believe me I dont expect many. For any interested parties: (although I'm sure all bands are on tour and playing elsewhere) http://www.rock-city.co.uk/ - http://www.rock-city.co.uk/

Stynx is not prog. The band touring now lacks Dennis De Young who played keybaords and did most of the lead vocals.  It is more of a hard rock pop now with Tommy Shaw and James Young leading the group than a pop pop sound if you know what I mean. I only saw Stynx once back in 1977 and they give a good performance (as to what you hear on their records they can reproduce live)  but don't expect any prog.

threefates wrote: Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: I was only going to go to see if I could meet Carl Palmer, but this line-up bares no relation to the Asia line-up I'm semi-familiar with. Carl Palmer plays all over the UK a couple of times a year.. basically he tours in the Spring and then again in Oct/Nov with his band... I saw him in Wolverhampton and Sheffield just last Nov. The rest of the year he does clinics all over the world, but most in the UK.  His clinics are absolutely the best things I've ever seen.. especially the ones he does with another drummer and he gets that competitive spirit and the need to show off... However, he's really cool at concerts and clinics by coming out and talking with everyone after the show.. and signing things and having pictures taken... He's really quite a nice guy!! Once they get the 2005 schedule up (its not up yet), you should check out his website and see if any of his dates and locations are near you! http://www.carlpalmer.com/tourdates.html - http://www.carlpalmer.com/tourdates.html

Cool, I shall keep an eye out - I'd love to meet him.  Has he turned 30 yet?

sigod wrote: Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: Sigod wrote: "I saw Dare the same night as Blacksword (the It Bites gig) and I also think they were a big pile of steaming bollocks."  Case closed I think!  Much appreciated Your welcome Wrath . Sorry if that review of Dare was a tad stringent.

NOthing of the sort Sigod - reviews on this site should be much more stringent.  If they were, I woudn't have ended up with a Kansas album...

nacho wrote: Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: Thanks Nacho, I will definitely avoid this concert.  I'm sure Chris Slade played drums with Jimmy Page in The Firm many years ago, with Free vocalist Paul Rodgers.  You're welcomed. And he was also drumming for AC/DC and Uriah Heep for some time. BTW I've heard that Paul Rodgers will try to fill Freddie Mercury's shoes in a forthcoming tour with the three remaining members of Queen... Brave guy indeed! Wrath_of_Ninian wrote: I shall toast you both when I spend the ticket money on a good bottle of red wine this evening A good choice, and especially if you go for a "Ribera de Duero" Spanish wine. Trust me...

I shall look for it Nacho, although I dont recall seeing one of that name round these parts.  I tend to stick to the Faustino Riojas - MMMMMMMM! Sumptious!