ASIA coming to The Coach House on Sunday, Nov. 11

ASIA features, from left, guitarist Steve Howe, keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer-bassist John Wetton and drummer Carl Palmer. The band performs in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday, Nov. 11.

One of rock’s most successful artists to emerge in the 1980s will headline at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Sunday, Nov. 11. It has been 30 years since ASIA released its self-titled album, which became a staple on MTV and rock radio thanks to hits such as “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell” and “Sole Survivor.” Now the band is back with the aptly-titled XXX, which celebrates ASIA’s 30th anniversary with an outstanding batch of songs that is the equal of the gems featured on the British quartet’s strong 1982 debut.

Simply put, progressive rock has never sounded as inviting or thrilling as the brew concocted by the all-original lineup featuring singer-bassist John Wetton, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Carl Palmer and keyboardist Geoff Downes. From the breathtaking “Tomorrow the World” and fiery “Ghost of a Chance” to the confessional “Face on the Bridge,” ASIA still has plenty to say and the musical firepower to get it done.

In 2010 ASIA toured in support of the band's fantastic Omega album, and I got to interview Downes in connection with the band's Southern California concert dates. You can read that article that ran in The Orange County Register here. Indeed, a trio of potent recent releases - Phonenix (2008), Omega (2010) and XXX (2012) - means that ASIA will have plenty of great material to showcase at The Coach House.

For more information on ASIA, visit the band's official Web site here.

Fountain Valley-based Union of Saints will open the show.


  Who: ASIA, Union of Saints
Where: The Coach House, 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano
When: 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012
Tickets: $55
Call: 949-496-8930
Online: www.TheCoachHouse.com