Live in San Francisco 2008 [Live]

This is the authorized bootleg of the concert that includes the first ASIA album played in order. On the whole it is good. There seems to be some mixing problems in the first couple of songs on disc 1. The bass guitar mix is on overkill throughout and drowns out Steve Howe in those early songs. They did get it reasonably straightened out by the time we got to the second disc and the playing of the first album. You will want to take the bass down a few notches when listening to it. I had to buy it through Amazon U.K.. I guess they still don't have a U.S. distributor.

I love these guys. It's fantastic that they all got back together, recorded another album and then went on tour. The live show itself was set up as if I was in charge. The whole first album played from start to finish. A smattering of other Asia music including tracks from the new album and songs from each artist from their individual careers. Really fun show to see. Fortunately, I was there at the San Francisco show to watch as this CD was recorded.

I'm not much of a live CD kind of guy. A live DVD is really a better way to go. I like concerts on video but because I was there I got this CD and I really like it. If you weren't there you probably shouldn't buy this CD mostly because of one major technical flaw. Periodically, it sounds like the bass was so loud that it interfered with the sound of the other instruments. Kind of annoying. I guess it's possible I got a bad CD but I don't think so. The performances are great though.

I once again grabbed the wife, loaded up the wagons and we headed to San Francisco for a concert.
But, this time it was not just any other concert, this time it was ASIA a band I had been waiting almost thirty years to see perform live. This is the original band of: John Wetton, Geoff Downes Carl Palmer & Steve Howe.
It is well-known in some circles that I tend brag about those 1970's shows that I had already attended in SF to anybody that was within earshot. So I knew at once that this show had all the ingredients of the shows I had attended in those glory days of almost four decade's past.

After a stop in Daly City, we left the wagons in a crummy hotel with the commuter trains from San Jose running between buildings of that complex, day and night (fun for me, not for my wife!) and made our way north up to that foggy city of hazy dreams known to mere mortals as: San Francisco. As I had never heard of the Regency Center on Van Ness, I had to do some advance scouting in that crazy city of one-way speedways that climbed and dropped off the tops of little mountains that tested nerves and made mice outta once were men.

After locating the venue and having a killer Thai meal across the street from the nice old (but restored) theater, we crossed the busy avenue and got in line for a dash inside to locate a good spot up-close and center (general admission, no assigned seats) Well, we must be real good at this sort of activity as we ended up center placed in the third row looking at an empty stage full of equipment that already hummed and buzzed. Then, for the next forty minutes I exchanged war stories with some North Beach Babies about concert tales of shows between 1967-1979, heaps of groovy fun!

Asia, was now up there on stage. John, was just a slight bit larger than he used to be...But, his singing was almost up to what he could achieve in the peak days of 30 years past. Carl Palmer, oh buddy what can I say about the greatest living drummer on the planet? This youthful looking and very fit chap is just a drumming force that I couldn't keep my eyes from. Carl, is as great as he was at California Jam on a very cold night in 1974 when I last witnessed his grace and fire in concert. Carl, takes a drum solo (stay with me here) and you will end up cheering him right through the entire deal. I know I was, my wife was, and the entire place went bonkers. Steve Howe, plays guitar like nobody's business and makes funny faces while he plays, a weird but effective showman that reinvents guitar playing. And, the secret weapon of ASIA the fantastic Geoff Downes, who ranks up their with Keith Emerson & Tony Carey as the best live keyboard playing masters that I have seen play at a concert. He is the center of ASIA as his playing is the soundbase that Carl, Steve & John play on top of to create all of this magic.

This show is two hours and ten minutes in length, it is in two parts as the band takes a 15 minute break between "The Heat Goes On" and the begining of the first ASIA recording played in it's entire form. Selections from Yes, ELP, The Buggles and King Crimson are played and focus on where these guys were known outside of ASIA. I remember the shock of hearing a majestic and powerful: "In The Court Of The Crimson King" being performed in perfect and overpowering fashion right in front of me. This was a big deal as I never dreamed of witnessing a live rendition of this most famous and glorious song.

To hear live Buggles music, to be floored by this version of: "Fanfare For The Common Man" where Carl huffs and puffs and pounds his dozens of percussion devices like a crazy madman. To hear all of the sounds coming forth from Steve's guitar (a hundred foot pedals are helpful!) and to live through the might of: "Sole Survivor" and the other great moments from that first ASIA album. This fine 2-CD set brings it all back with a much better mix than was heard in that old building on Van Ness. There is a lot of magic on these two CD's of a night just like any other night when ASIA plays a show. I do hope that you were able to attend one of these shows. ASIA is and incredible concert experience to see and hear....But, if not, you better sit yourself down and turn up the stereo for the next best thing. These two CD's show that ASIA with this magic lineup is a fantastic as you remember them back in 1982.
Four & 1/2 Stars!