Crowd Surfing: Asia in Cleveland, 8/13/10
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
I caught prog rock super dudes Asia here in Cleveland at the House of Blues on Friday night. My proper review of the show can be found here, but I also took time to jot down a few sarcastic thoughts regarding the interesting people watching opportunities (as well as random band-related thoughts) that were all around me.
- As a member of the cult of prog, please note that it is an unspoken requirement that you must wear a t-shirt of your favorite prog band when going to see another prog band play a show. Since this is an Asia show, it is completely acceptable to wear Yes, Rush and Porcupine Tree t-shirts to show the others in attendance that you are legitimately prog. Remember, wearing an Asia shirt if you're going to see Asia violates that other unspoken rule. (Additional concert t-shirt tips can be found here.)
- There are girls here at this show, but I'm not quite sure how they got here. Many of them are stuck on dates that they will never forget, and not for good sentimental reasons. Some are in attendance as the supportive wife/girlfriend and surprisingly, there are quite a few here that are visibly big Asia fans. Is it a Wetton thing? Or perhaps it's something along the lines of "that Geoff Downes guy is so dreamy." You tell me.
- The tribe is cheering as Palmer raises a mallet high into the air to signify that there will be gong-age on "Time Again."
- I know I said this earlier in the review, but Steve Howe shouldn't be able to play guitar like that. Massive amounts of geeking out during his acoustic guitar solo portion of the show. And during "An Extraordinary Life," why play one guitar when you can play two guitars instead? You're welcome, disciples.
- "The Heat Goes On" brings the expected drum solo from Carl Palmer. I feel sympathy for guys like Carl Palmer, because drumming is a very physical activity and yet you're expected to bring it every night on that solo, just like you did back in 1973. So it's no surprise that at the end of the song, Palmer springs from behind the kit and does a victory lap out to the microphone. You'd better believe that he earned that lap and subsequent riotous standing ovation from the ever-adoring audience. Actually, most of us are already standing, so does that still count as a standing ovation? Sure.
- During "Days Like These," I observe a shocking moment where Geoff Downes actually has time to step away from the keyboards and he makes good use of the time, playfully mugging with the crowd. Up until this point of the show, all hands have been on deck with Downes manning at least one keyboard at all times.
Here's the evening's setlist:
I Believe
Only Time Will Tell
Holy War
Never Again
Through My Veins
Don't Cry (John and Geoff solo with crowd singalong portion)
Steve Howe solo
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (John and Geoff solo with electric full band reprise at the end)
Open Your Eyes
Go
Time Again
An Extraordinary Life
End of the World
The Heat Goes On (w/ Palmer drum solo)
Sole Survivor
encore:
Days Like These
Heat Of The Moment
Quick Hits: The Wrestler, The Yayhoos, Mix Tapes, & Lemonheads
Written by: Matt Wardlaw
Hey kids,
I had a "moment" this past week. Occasionally, I'll lend out music to friends, although if I have my ultra-anal thinking cap on, I'll often just burn them a copy instead. In this case, I wasn't thinking straight (not the first time that this has happened.) A couple of weeks later, my co-worker returned my formerly pristine double disc .38 Special anthology in a condition that appeared as if they had applied an electric sander to the discs in an attempt to edit out "Second Chance."
Speaking of "Second Chance."
Anyway, my physical music collection means less and less to me with each passing year and moving van, but seriously, why can't people take care of, and be respectful of possessions that are on loan? The former me would have had a conversation with the perpetrator, but the new me decided to just let it go. And blog about it here.
Now that I've got that off my chest, here are the links that have been rocking my world this week!
The Wrestler is one of my recent favorite movies, and one of the things I enjoyed most was the masterful and very specific use of music in the soundtrack that ties the entire film together. Give those music supervisors a big fat check for a job extremely well done. Cory Frye at Popdose contributed a recent piece regarding The Wrestler that is one of the finest pieces of writing I've read on Popdose to date. If you've seen the movie, you really owe it to yourself to check out Cory's piece. And if you haven't seen The Wrestler yet, rent/buy that sucker, and cross it off your list!
While we're hanging out at Popdose, let's check in with Ken Shane, who shares his thoughts and memories on one of my favorite albums, Days of Future Passed by The Moody Blues. The Moody Blues piece is part of Cratedigger, one of my new favorite features on Popdose. Don't forget to snag yourself a copy of the upcoming DVD of their classic Isle of Wight performance!
Sad news to hear of the passing of Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Donald "Ean" Evans this past week after a short battle with cancer. I met Ean for the first time last year when the band was in town for an evening at the Rock Hall. He was one of the nicest and most humble people I've ever had the pleasure to meet, and very respectful to the legacy of original Skynyrd bass player Leon Wilkeson.
Southern fried all-stars The Yayhoos played their first gig in quite a while, including the debut of their version of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered," which drummer Terry Anderson describes as a track that is "tailor made for the Yayhoos." Check out an entire gig recap from Anderson here.
Thanks to Peter @ Blogness on the Edge of Town for sharing the following bit of humor related to the pending Yes/Asia tour happening this summer. I'm planning to head to Michigan to catch this show, and I am planning to also hopefully catch the Michigan stop for the double bill of Bad Company and the Doobie Brothers as well!
Here's some more great reading regarding the recent birthday of legendary former Plain Dealer rock critic Jane Scott.
Michael Gallucci at Scene Magazine spent some time recently lamenting this year's most unwelcome reunion - the return of Creed. A haircut can't hide the fact that Creed is still polluted by the walking vomit that is Scott Stapp. The nauseating story behind Stapp's new look can be found here.
I really enjoyed this Lemonheads "Drug Buddy" related flashback. Definitely looking forward to the new covers disc, and the Cleveland date at the Grog in June.
Speaking of Cleveland shows that I am really looking forward to, I am quite happy to get a Cleveland stop for the "Gin and Tonic" tour, a summer tour featuring the Gin Blossoms and a reunion of Tonic! You might recall that I'm a bit of a Tonic fan. The band will be at Cain Park in August, which will be my first show at Cain Park since Sarah McLachlan in 1995! Check out the complete tour schedule of upcoming Tonic dates here.
With our recent mix tape discussions, Peter at Blogness pointed me towards his own personal mix tape memories from the summer of '93.
My friend David Lifton has been grabbing some nice press for his new book set about the Obama family, including this nice interview here. Grab your own copy of the set here. While we're throwing this unexplainable spotlight on Dave, if you're a fan of the television show Scrubs, you might enjoy his thoughts on the wrap-up!
Here on the site, make sure to check out Kevin's recent Webb Wilder primer including some great live tracks! Meanwhile, our pal Mel takes a crack at year 32, offering some musical playlist listening in relation to the milestone, and also plenty of dish about her recent Vegas trip. You can also check out her non-musical Vegas wrap post here on the Boyfriend blog.
That's it for now - I am off to help my friend Amy move some boxes, preparing to get her the hell out of my house, clearing the way for my good pal Adam to take her place in June. That previous sentence sounded kinda bad, almost like I'm pushing her out the door, when the reality is that I'll miss my housemate when she departs next week. We've had some good times, and of course will continue to have many, many more!
Thanks for your support of Addicted to Vinyl!
Cheers!
Matt
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