Asia, Pavilion, Bournemouth
From Asia with Love, on Mother's Day. Coming from Bournemouth himself, John Wetton, frontman to this much-admired and long-running progressive rock band, had a splendid opportunity to treat his mother on Sunday, with a VIP seat for his own show. And no doubt she would have been proud at Asia's enthusiastic local following who didn' even seem to mind the half-hour delayed start.
There have been changes over the years but this is the original '80s line-up. Wetton's voice was impressively powerful despite his recent health problems, while excelling on bass guitar. Geoff Downes provided the swirling electronic keyboard sounds. In Steve Howe they have a finger-flying soloist of few equals, and Carl Palmer's percussion was stunning.
The imaginatively composed favourites from their large back catalogue included Open Your Eyes, The Heat Is On - a showcase for Palmer - and Heat Of The Moment, and my own favourite the brilliant hard rock version of Aaron Copland's Fanfare For The Common Man. From Phoenix, their latest album, An Extraordinary Life expressed Wetton's delight at still being here and enjoying it.
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