Asia

Tue
26
Aug

ASIA - High Voltage Live (Review)

information persons: 
section name: 
RATING
content: 

 

40%
Produced By: 
Asia
Running Time: 
63
Release Date: 
2014
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
AOR / Melodic Rock
Label: 
Frontiers Records
Artist: 
Score: 
40
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Categories: 
Reviews
 
The world does not need another live Asia album. Not even the most hardened Asia lovers need another live album. But, if we must….as least make it one that’s half listenable.
 
This is not the best live recording, which at times sounds like an audience recorded bootleg. The vocals are hollow and the bass thumps along above the guitars and drums. A dreadful mix.
The band sadly sounds its age here. John Wetton’s once silky smooth vocals are pretty raspy in places.
 
The band has some incredible songs – several from the debut album here and mixed with a few from recent years, but this is not an advert for the band at its best.
The accompanying DVD adds a little more value, but this is not the most visually active band around. Drummer Carl Palmer is the most animated on stage throughout the show. Guitarist Steve Howe continues to give Stones drummer Charlie Watts a run for his money in the ‘awkward skinny old white dudes in rock’ race.
 
I can’t be sure, but I think the guys are having fun on stage…I think I saw a smile during Heat Of The Moment.
 
Avoid unless you desperately need to make up your CD quota for the month or you are a card carrying member of the Asia-Forever fan club.
 
Tags: 
 
Thu
24
Jul

JOHN PAYNE, Fired Las Vegas Musical Director Sues Casino

Artist: 
Thursday, July 24, 2014
 
John Payne claims his creative contributions were copyrighted and that his rights assignment was executed under duress.
 
After being fired from the Las Vegas musical "Raiding the Rock Vault," co-director John Payne has fired off an expansive lawsuit that claims breach of contract, copyright violations and slander.
 
Payne was a lead singer in the British prog rock group Asia from 1992 to 2006. Along with Grammy-award winning record producer David Kershenbaum, Payne helped develop the format behind "Raiding the Rock Vault," which plays at the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and takes audiences on a musical journey from 1948 to 1989. The show features members of some well-known bands and songs from The Rolling Stones, The Who, Led Zeppelin and other acts.
 
In May, Payne was suspended and the following month, he was terminated. Now in a lawsuit against Rock Vault Tours, the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino and its new owner Westgate Resorts that's somewhat reminiscent of Julie Taymor's suit after being let go from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, he's asserting that the show can't simply go on without properly compensating him for his contributions.
 
According to the suit, which has now been removed to Nevada federal court, Payne and Rock Vault Tours entered into an agreement that provided the plaintiff, as co-writer, with 2.5 percent of net box office receipts until costs were recouped and then 3.5 percent thereafter. Payne also got royalties as a co-director: 2 percent of net profits until recoupment and then bumped up to 3 percent.
 
Payne's challenge in the lawsuit might be overcoming an agreement assigning his ownership interest and royalties.
 
He says he was told last May that he assign rights or be fired. He signed "under duress," he says. "Accordingly, the agreement was not supported by adequate consideration."
 
He's now alleging that the defendants breached a performance agreement to pay him $1,000 for each Raiding the Rock Vault show (besides being co-writer and co-director, Payne was a bassist and a vocalist in the show) and breached the royalties agreement.
 
He's asserting copyright infringement, pointing to the show's format being registered with the Copyright Office as "Dramatic Work and Music; or Choreography."
 
He's also suing for slander for unspecified public comments made about his suspension by the defendants.
 
And he's suing for an alleged violation of his publicity rights. Allegedly, the defendants used him to advertise the show even after he was suspended.
 
Here's the complaint.
 
Twitter: @eriqgardner
 
Tue
17
Jun

ASIA RELEASE HIGH VOLTAGE LIVE SET ON FRONTIERS

Artist: 
Friday, August 22, 2014
Categories: 
News Feed

            

ASIA to release a unique live document of the original line-up’s performance of the debut album in full - Out in August on Frontiers!

World Tour announced in support of the new Gravitas album!

 

Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of ASIA newest live CD/DVD package entitled “High Voltage” on August 22nd in Europe and August 26th in North America.

Recorded on the 24th July 2010 at the inaugural High Voltage Festival in Victoria Park, London, this ASIA live CD / DVD captures the band, in the original line-up (featuring Steve Howe on guitar), performing classic material from the 80’s, plus songs from the first two albums of its reunion, “Phoenix” and “Omega”.

The show was performed to an enthusiastic festival crowd, ready to hear ASIA’s eponymous debut album - the world’s biggest selling album of 1982 - performed in its entirety for the first time in Europe.  In fact, this remains the only video document of the original line-up performing the debut album in full.

This live CD / DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the original studio album and the reunion that saw the original members of ASIA return to and stay at the top of their game, this time in front of a ‘home audience’.

High Voltage” will be released in a glossy digi-pack CD / DVD digi-pack format with Roger Dean artwork and the track listing includes:

CD: Only Time Will Tell, Wildest Dreams, One Step Closer, An Extraordinary Life, Time Again, Cutting it Fine, Without You, I Believe, Here Comes the Feeling, Sole Survivor, Heat of the Moment.

DVD: Only Time Will Tell, Wildest Dreams, One Step Closer, An Extraordinary Life, Time Again, Cutting it Fine, Without You, I Believe, Here Comes the Feeling, Sole Survivor, Heat of the Moment.

               

In related news ASIA has also announced a world tour in support of the release of the brand new album GRAVITAS, introducing its newest member, guitarist Sam Coulson.

 

ASIA 2014 GRAVITAS WORLD TOUR

 

UK

Wed 6/11 Malvern UK Malvern Theatre

Thu 6/12 Holmfirth, UK Picturedrome

 

JAPAN

Tue 6/17 Nagoya, Japan Zepp

Wed 6/18 Osaka, Japan Sankei Hall Breeze

Thu 6/19 Tokyo, Japan Shibuya Kokaido

Fri 6/20 Tokyo, Japan Shibuya Kokaido

 

NORTH AMERICA

Thu 9/11 Norfolk, CT Infinity Hall

Fri 9/12 Shirley, MA Bull Run

Sat 9/13 Verona, NY Turning Stone Casino

Sun 9/14 Hartford, CT Infinity Hall

Wed 9/17 York, PA Pullo Center

Thu 9/18 State College, PA State Theater

Fri 9/19 Akron, NY Brauns Concert Cove

Sat 9/20 New York, NY BB Kings

Mon 9/22 Warrendale, PA Jergel's

Wed 9/24 Newark, OH Midland Theater

Thu 9/25 Morristown, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center

Fri 9/26 New Hope, PA (Phil) Havana (Rosh Hashanah)

Sat 9/27 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center

Sun 9/28 Wilkes-Barre, PA Mohegan Sun Casino - Poconos

Tue 9/30 Annapolis, MD Rams Head

Wed 10/1 Annapolis, MD Rams Head

Fri 10/3 Atlanta, GA Variety Theater

Sat 10/4 Biloxi, MS Hard Rock Casino

Sun 10/5 Franklin TN Franklin Theater

Tue 10/7 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater

Wed 10/8 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theater

Thu 10/9 St. Charles, IL Arcada Theatre

Sat 10/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theater

Mon 10/13 Tucson, AZ Fox Theater

Tue 10/14 Phoenix, AZ The Press Room

Thu 10/16 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon

Fri 10/17 Las Vegas, NV Red Rock Casino - Rocks

Sat 10/18 Beverly Hills, CA Saban Theater

Sun 10/19 San Juan Capistrano Coach House

Mon 10/20 Solana Beach, CA Belly Up Tavern

 

UK

Tue 10/28 Gateshead, Sage H2

Wed 10/29 Manchester, RNCM,

Thu 10/30 Wolverhampton Wulfrun Hall

Fri 10/31 Christchurch The Regent Centre

Sun 11/2 London Shepherds Bush Empire

 

MORE DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED!

 

For all things ASIA, please visit: www.originalasia.com

Follow ASIA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/asiatheband

 

 
Mon
16
Jun

ASIA - Gravitas (Review)

information persons: 
section name: 
BOTTOM LINE
content: 

 

This is a really painfully slow album to get through. I spoke of the occasional joys of a nice mellow album, but in this case, the songs are simply frightfully dull and lacking any enthusiasm by those performing them. The production and style of the album is as close to classic 80s Asia as you could imagine, but it's wasted on some tepid pacing and dull songs. 

section name: 
SCORE
content: 

 

70%

 

Produced By: 
Asia
Running Time: 
47
Release Date: 
2014
Released: 
Worldwide
Musical Style: 
AOR, Classic Rock
Label: 
Frontiers Records
Artist: 
Score: 
70
Monday, June 16, 2014
Categories: 
Reviews
Asia delivers another new album in pretty quick time following their acclaimed XXX album in 2012. Gone is guitarist Steve Howe and in his place is young gun Sam Coulson.
The band has stuck to its mantra of slick, polished AOR, staying true to their original early 80s style.
Unfortunately the band seems to have slipped back into the slow to mid-tempo slumber that has been an issue in recent albums. The brief sojourn into a more uptempo realm on XXX is once again abandoned in favor of a moped in first gear here.
The production of course is super smooth and multi-layered, but the songs….dull I'm afraid.
Kicking off with what is possible the most annoying chorus in at least a decade, Valkyrie has a nice laid back verse reminiscent of the band's debut album, but that chorus makes you want to stick cacti in your ear.
Then comes 8 minute title track, where there's no sign of life until near the 3 minute mark. Followed of course by an ultra-slow ballad, a painfully slow song followed by the mid-tempo quirk of Nyctophobia which is kind of annoying also.
Russian Dolls is then another slow song before Heaven Help Me Now finally hits second gear.
That's followed by the album's best track – the slightly anthemic (in a mellow way) I Would Die For You.
That's followed by the horribly slow and dull Joe Di Maggio's Glove and the slightly more dramatic Till We Meet Again to close the album.
Tags: 
 
Thu
05
Jun

YES TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM ‘HEAVEN & EARTH’

Artist: 
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Categories: 
News Feed

 

THE ICONIC AND GRAMMY-WINNING ROCK BAND
YES
SET TO RELEASE NEW STUDIO ALBUM
‘HEAVEN & EARTH’
JULY 22 ON FRONTIERS RECORDS

35-DATE SUMMER TOUR LAUNCHES JULY 8 IN BOSTON
PERFORMING TWO OF THEIR CLASSIC ALBUMS
IN THEIR ENTIRETY IN ONE EVENING:
‘FRAGILE’ AND ‘CLOSE TO THE EDGE’
PLUS AN ENCORE OF THEIR GREATEST HITS AND SONGS FROM ‘HEAVEN & EARTH’


Above: Album cover art for Heaven & Earth by Roger Dean

 

Among the world’s most influential, ground-breaking, and respected progressive rock bands, Grammy Award winning, YES are proud to announce they will release their  new studio album, HEAVEN & EARTH, July 22 on Frontiers Records. Having sold nearly 40 million albums in a career that has so far spanned more than four decades, HEAVEN & EARTH sees YES continuing with its tradition of symphonic progressive rock that remains timelessly fresh and innovative. HEAVEN & EARTH is available now for pre-order on Amazon here: http://smarturl.it/YES_Amz_Preorder.

HEAVEN & EARTH contains eight new tracks, each of which boasts the unique musicianship and craftsmanship that have come to be known as “the YES sound.” YES’ distinctive layered music, swirling arrangements, brilliant vocals and harmonies are all in abundance. HEAVEN & EARTH is an album sure to please both long-time and new YES fans. For HEAVEN & EARTH, YES teamed up with legendary Grammy Award winner, Roy Thomas Baker (Queen, The Cars, Guns N’ Roses, Foreigner, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice Cooper, etc.), who handled the production and Billy Sherwood (Toto, Paul Rodgers, Air Supply, etc.) who mixed the album. Also onboard is long-time YES artist, the world-renowned Roger Dean, who again brings his masterful artistic creativity to the album’s cover art and packaging.

Tracklisting for Heaven & Earth:

1. Believe Again
2. The Game
3. Step Beyond
4. To Ascend
5. In A World Of Our Own
6. Light Of The Ages
7. It Was All We Knew
8. Subway Walls

To coincide with the release of HEAVEN & EARTH, the multi-platinum progressive rock band--bassist CHRIS SQUIRE, guitarist STEVE HOWE, drummer ALAN WHITE, keyboardist GEOFF DOWNES and singer JON DAVISON--announced in March they’ll launch their 35-date summer tour featuring YES performing, in their entirety, 1971’s groundbreaking album FRAGILE for the first-time ever and a repeat performance from last year’s tour of 1972’s CLOSE TO THE EDGE, followed by an encore of the band’s greatest hits.

The album FRAGILE is considered to be their U.S. breakthrough album peaking at #4 on the Billboard Album charts in the U.S. The RIAA-certified double platinum album has sold over two million copies and features YES’ hit single “Roundabout” and other classics likeLong Distance Runaround” and “Heart of the Sunrise.” It also marks the band’s first collaboration with artist Roger Dean on cover art, who has designed many of the band’s album covers and logos. The band’s album CLOSE TO THE EDGE--widely regarded as one of the greatest progressive rock albums ever recorded--was on the U.S. charts for 32 weeks, peaking at #3. A Rolling Stone review noted, “Yes’ colors are subtle, almost imperceptible tints, but the main strokes are bold and thick, applied with sureness and natural instinct.” Inspired by Siddhartha and their “state of mind” at the time, the Gold-certified album featuring epic suites such as “Close To The Edge” and “You And I” was named one of the “100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time” by Guitar World (2006). Track listings for both albums listed here: http://www.smarturl.it/qcbcnm.

Spend “An Evening with YES” this summer in the following cities:

DATE

   

CITY

 

VENUE

Tue

7/8

 

Boston, MA

 

Blue Hills Bank Pavilion

Wed

7/9

 

New York, NY

 

Radio City Music Hall

Fri

7/11

 

Wallingford, CT

 

Toyota Oakdale Theatre

Sat

7/12

 

Westbury, NY

 

NYCB Theatre at Westbury

Sun

7/13

 

Newport, RI

 

Newport Yachting Center

Tue

7/15

 

Washington, DC

 

Warner Theatre

Wed

7/16

 

Hampton, NH

 

Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Fri

7/18

 

Salamanca, NY

 

Seneca Allegany Casino

Sat

7/19

 

Philadelphia, PA

 

Tower Theater

Sun

7/20

 

Munhall, PA

 

Carnegie Music Hall

Tue

7/22

 

Rochester Hills, MI

 

Meadow Brook

Wed

7/23

 

Northfield, OH

 

Hard Rock Live Northfield Park

Fri

7/25

 

Madison, WI

 

Overture Hall

Sat

7/26

 

Chicago, IL

 

Copernicus Center

Mon

7/28

 

Nashville, TN

 

Ryman Auditorium

Tue

7/29

 

Louisville, KY

 

Louisville Palace

Wed

7/30

 

Atlanta, GA

 

Symphony Hall

Fri

8/1

 

Hollywood, FL

 

Seminole Hard Rock Live

Sat

8/2

 

St. Petersburg, FL

 

Mahaffey Theater

Sun

8/3

 

Orlando, FL

 

Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre

Tue

8/5

 

Houston, TX

 

Bayou Music Center

Wed

8/6

 

Grand Prairie, TX

 

Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

Thu

8/7

 

Kansas City, MO

 

Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland

Sat

8/9

 

Denver, CO

 

Paramount Theatre

Mon

8/11

 

Tucson, AZ

 

Rialto Theatre

Tue

8/12

 

Mesa, AZ

 

Ikeda Theatre at Mesa Arts Center

Wed

8/13

 

Albuquerque, NM

 

Legends Theater at Route 66 Casino

Fri

8/15

 

Las Vegas, NV

 

The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Sat

8/16

 

Anaheim, CA

 

City National Grove of Anaheim

Mon

8/18

 

San Diego, CA

 

Humphrey’s Concerts By the Bay

Tue

8/19

 

San Jose, CA

 

City National Civic

Thu

8/21

 

Tulalip, WA

 

Tulalip Amphitheatre

Fri

8/22

 

Grand Ronde, OR

 

Spirit Mountain Casino

Sat

8/23

 

Lincoln, CA

 

Thunder Valley Casino Resort

Sun

8/24

 

Los Angeles, CA

 

Greek Theatre

YES is proud to provide special show packages, which include near-stage seating, a meet and greet with the band, exclusive limited-edition gifts from YES, and much more. For more information on prices, on-sale dates and to purchase YES packages/tickets, go to www.yesworld.com.

About YES:
Since its founding in 1968, YES has created much of rock history’s most important music, including iconic pieces like ‘Roundabout,’ 'Close to the Edge,’ ‘I’ve Seen All Good People,’ “Owner of a Lonely Heart,’ ‘Starship Trooper,’ and countless others. Its albums, including ‘Fragile,’ ‘Close to the Edge,’ ‘Tales from Topographic Oceans,’ and ‘90125,’ have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA. YES continues to inspire millions of musicians, fans, and music lovers around the world.

 
YES (L-R): Steve Howe, Jon Davison, Alan White, Geoff Downes, Chris Squire

Photo Credit: Rob Shanahan

For more information on YES, visit:
yesworld.com
facebook.com/yestheband 
twitter.com/yesofficial 
youtube.com/user/yesofficial
instagram.com/yesofficial#
soundcloud.com/yesofficial

 
Wed
07
May

RICH DAVENPORT ROCK SHOW - SEBASTIAN BACH, ASIA

Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Categories: 
Podcasts & Radio

Rich Davenport's Rock Show this week features exclusive interviews with Sebastian Bach, John Wetton (Asia), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids) and Fabienne Shine (Shakin' Street), and is available now for streaming at this link: www.mixcloud.com/richdav1/rich-davenports-rock-show-sebastian-bach-asia-pretty-maids-and-shakin-street-interviews/
In the first hour of the show, former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach talks about his brand new solo album "Give 'Em Hell", which features an all-star cast of musicians and songwriters, including Duff McKagan (ex-Guns & Roses), Steve Stevens (Billy Idol) and John 5 (Rob Zombie) You'll also hear two tracks from the new release.
Also in part 1, Ronnie Atkins of long-running melodic Hard Rockers Pretty Maids give the low down on the band's just-released collection of re-recorded classics and brand new songs, "Louder Than Ever", and selects tracks from the record.
In part two, Asia frontman John Wetton discusses the band's new album "Gravitas", and the recruitment of new guitarist Sam Coulson. John also chooses two songs from "Gravitas". And finally, Fabienne Shine of Shakin' Street (also featuring Ross The Boss, ex-Manowar) talks about the band's return to action with new album "Psychic", and selects tracks from the new release. Plus a classic tracks and killer new cuts from Motorhead (welcome back Lemmy!), UFO, Hogjaw, 21 Guns, LRS, Deep Purple and Rose Tattoo.
You can also listen on Sunday 27th April 15:00-17:00 GMT and Wednesday 30th April 22:00-00.00 GMT on www.totalrock.com, and on demand on hot new Texas rock and metal station KXZR Radio at www.kxzr.fm.

 

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