Flashing back to Asia’s reunion stop at House Of Blues in honor of its late leader John Wetton

Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Remembering vocal powerhouse John Wetton with a flashback to Asia’s reunion with all four original members at the House Of Blues on July 5, 2007.

When Asia first formed in 1982, the pop/phase two prog rockers were immediately dubbed a supergroup thanks to a core four that included King Crimson’s John Wetton, Yes’ Steve Howe, Emerson, Lake & Palmer’s Carl Palmer and The Buggles’ Geoff Downes. Though the line-up has been a revolving door beyond the band’s first two initial albums, this year marks the 25th anniversary of its inception, making it perfect timing to follow in the reunion footsteps of fellow Englishmen Genesis and The Police.

The foursome proved it was well worth the wait come resplendent versions of “Don’t Cry” and the fitting finale “Heat of the Moment,” extended to nearly nine minutes, but tastefully executed as an electrifying jam session that was quintessential Asia.

And after a 90-minute romp through the collective’s early years, plus nods to the bands in which members first found fame, the gap in between touring cycles quickly closed. Despite the age of the material, there was nothing stale about the set list and reinvigorated presentations, which mirrored the band’s stellar new double disc “Fantasia Live In Tokyo” (Eagle Records).

Asia hit hard early with the stadium-filling fist-pumper “Sole Survivor” and the mid-tempo ballad “The Smile Has Left Your Eyes,” demonstrating finely tuned instrumental precision and an uncanny chemistry that’s been remarkably preserved even after so many years apart. Hearing those selections, along with even older material from the four original acts that formed Asia, also drew accessible links to the current progressive rock revival.

When Howe broke into Yes’ standard “Roundabout,” it was evident his fast-action fingering and cerebral chord structuring has rubbed off on younger acts such as Porcupine Tree or The Mars Volta. Similar patterns could be traced throughout “In The Court Of The Crimson King” and ELP’s famed classical piece “Fanfare For The Common Man,” which also steered clear of self-indulgence for relatively succinct versions.

While The Buggles’ weren’t part of the same graduating class, the new-wavers were also history makers by having the first song ever broadcast on MTV, which Downes referenced by wearing a silver jacket reminiscent of the futuristic video as clips played on a trio of hanging screens. Yet the show’s home stretch took faithful even further down Asia-specific memory lane, mixing up the order from the current live album and delivering back-to-back versions of the band’s biggest hits.

“The Heat Goes On” kicked off the parade, followed by “Only Time Will Tell,” which was ironically the old adage fans clung tightly to for so many years in hopes of this reunion. But the foursome proved it was well worth the wait come resplendent versions of “Don’t Cry” and the fitting finale “Heat of the Moment,” extended to nearly nine minutes, but tastefully executed as an electrifying jam session that was quintessential Asia.

For additional information on Asia, visit OriginalAsia.com.