ASIA Axis XXX Live in San Francisco MMXII

album by:
ASIA
Version:
cd
Price:
£18.99

Reviewed by:
Rating:
4
On 2 June 2015
Last modified:2 June 2015

Summary:

This is a historical document of where the band was at the time and a snapshot of their musicianship, camaraderie and passion. This live CD / DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the “XXX” studio album

Recorded on November 7th 2012 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, this captures the original line up of Asia as they toured in support of the “XXX” album.

Geoff Downes, Steve Howe, Carl Palmer and John Wetton truly make this a night to remember as the set list features songs from their first two albums and selected cuts from the reunion albums. Asia’s first release was in 1982 and was absolutely massive,  it sat at the number 1 spot in the USA for 9 weeks, powered by the classic rock anthem, “Heat Of The Moment,” and four other radio friendly hits.

After a brief musical intro, Asia come out firing on all six with two classics, ‘Only Time Will Tell’ and ‘Wildest Dreams’, we then get the latest single from XXX ‘Face On The Bridge’. The musicianship on this release is, as can be expected, first class, everything flows and nothing is out of place.

Some of these songs are over 30 years old, yet within a modern live setting, they do not sound old, with the sound and production being crisp and clear. There are no real surprises here,  just first class musicians playing first class song’s, we even get a drum solo. The set ends with the two massive hit song’s’ Sole Survivor’ and ‘Heat Of The Moment’.

This is a historical document of where the band was at the time and a snapshot of their musicianship, camaraderie and passion. This live CD / DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the “XXX” studio album.

ASIA

John Wetton: bass and vocals

Carl Palmer: drums

Steve Howe: guitars

Geoff Downes: keyboards

Cd1 – Introduction; Only Time Will Tell; Wildest Dreams; Face On The Bridge; Time Again; Tomorrow The World; Ride Easy; Pyramidology; The Golden Mean; I Know How You Feel; Don’t Cry; The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.

Cd2 – Cutting It Fine; Holy War/Drum Solo; An Extraordinary Life; Here Comes The Feeling; Open Your Eyes; Sole Survivor; Heat Of The Moment.

AXIS LIVE – SAN FRANCISO will be released on June 19th EU / June 22nd UK / June 23rd U.S.

This is a historical document of where the band was at the time and a snapshot of their musicianship, camaraderie and passion. This live CD / DVD is an irreplaceable companion to the “XXX” studio album

About David Farrell

General Manager and 'THE' competition guy at planetmosh.com. Manager of The Goddanm Electric www.thegde.co.uk, Tour manager for Serpentine, and ex-general Dogsbody at Hammerfest.co.uk. Media partner to numerous bands. Also takes photos, writes reviews and likes classic rock, with a touch of thrash to get the blood flowing.