ASIA to headline at The Coach House tonight

ASIA, from left, includes drummer Carl Palmer, singer-bassist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes and guitarist Sam Coulson.

Just a last minute reminder that legendary rockers ASIA headline at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano tonight, Oct. 16, 2014.

The band is touring in support of their most recent album, the excellent Gravitas, which was released in March 2014. Singer John Wetton has truly never sounded better, and the group's artful and accessible songs continue to probe real life with emotional heft.

Opening will be Orange County's own Union of Saints.

The venue is located at 33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano. 

Admission is $49.

For more information, call (949) 496-8930 or visit the official Coach House Web site here.

Legendary artists celebrated via captivating collections

This week marks the release of new discs from iconic country singer Johnny Cash and prog-rock powerhouse ASIA, as well as a reworking of many of Bob Dylan's best 1980s songs courtesy of a number of modern day artists.  

Artist: Johnny Cash

Title: Out Among The Stars (Legacy Recordings/Sony Music)

You might like if you enjoy: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings

Tell me more: A collection of lost tracks recorded by the late Johnny Cash in the early 1980s are featured on the wonderful Out Among The Stars. This is no mere reworking of previously-heard material; Out Among The Stars is a full-length disc of fantastic material produced by Billy Sherrill that showcases Cash's innumerable talents. The Man In Black's gift for musical storytelling ("If I Told You Who It Was," "I Drove Her Out Of My Mind"), heartfelt country ballads ("Tennessee"), rockabilly ("Rock and Roll Shoes") and his singular gift singing on a duet ("I'm Moving On" with Waylon Jennings; "Don't You Think It's Come Our Time" with June Carter Cash) and faith-minded country gospel ("I Came to Believe") shine across this album. His emotive and sparse "She Used To Love Me A Lot" resonates with the power of his Rick Rubin-produced American Recordings that were to follow in the '90s and early '00s. Information: johnnycashonline.com.

Get 'Out Among The Stars' now

Artist: ASIA
Title: Gravitas (Frontier Records) 

You might like if you enjoy: Yes, ELP, ASIA's early 1980s albums

Tell me more:  Gravitas finds ASIA returning with another strong collection sure to please fans of the progressive rock quartet. While original guitarist Steve Howe has officially retired from the band, new guitarist Sam Coulson brings expressive and virtuoso playing to the material performed with founding members singer-bassist John Wetton, keyboardist Geoff Downes and drummer Carl Palmer. Like Daryl Hall and Paul Rodgers, Wetton is that rare lead singer who sounds as amazing in his sixties as he did at age 30. Gravitas thrives via a mix of anthemic uptempo rockers with big choruses ("Valkyrie," "Gravitas") and artful power ballads ("The Closer I Get," "Russian Dolls"), all of which spill over with emotional and musical resonance. Information: originalasia.com.

Get 'Gravitas CD/DVD' collection here

Various Artists: Built To Spill, Glen Hansard, Deer Tick, more
Album: Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One (ATO Records)

You might like if you enjoy: Bob Dylan, Glen Hansard, Blitzen Trapper, Tea Leaf Green

Tell me more: While Bob Dylan's 1980s recordings are not nearly as celebrated as his seminal work in the '60s and '70s, a new collection (Bob Dylan in the 80s: Volume One) of reworkings of songs stretching from 1980's "Saved" to 1990's "Under The Red Sky" is casting a renewed look at Robert Allen Zimmerman's work created during that span. Built To Spill's version of the lyrical rocker "Jokerman," Craig Finn's authentic take on the softhearted "Sweetheart Like You," Glen Hansard's mighty interpretation of the gospel-tinged "Pressing On" and Deer Tick's charming "Night After Night" are among the many standouts. Information: 80sdylan.com.

Get 'Bob Dylan in the 80's: Volume One'

Robert Kinsler

ASIA set to release new album 'Gravitas'

Great news that ASIA is set to release another studio album as a follow-up to 2012's outstanding XXX. Here is the official media release...

ASIA is:

John Wetton - lead vocal and bass

Carl Palmer - drums

Geoff Downes- keyboards

Sam Coulson- guitars

 

            ASIA, the legendary British band, moves into the next phase of its extraordinary career with Gravitas, a brave new album that explores different musical landscapes while embracing its familiar musical past. Produced and written by band members John Wetton and Geoff Downes, Gravitas is deeply introspective within a clearly accessible sound. The album also introduces the world to ASIA's new guitarist, Sam Coulson, who came at the recommendation of Mr Big’s Paul Gilbert.

            Scheduled for release on Frontiers Records on March 5^th (Japan); March 21^st

(Europe); and March 25^th (North America), the album will be available in two configurations: a standard CD and a Deluxe Edition, that will include two bonus tracks and a DVD containing the “Valkyrie” music video, a promotional film, and footage of classic live ASIA tracks such as “Heat of the Moment,” recorded with the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra in Bulgaria.

            From the title track, Gravitas, which chronicles a man's struggle in the battlefield of life, to the powerfully compelling tale of unrequited love, "The Closer I Get To You," the album is a tour de force for the band whose music has become a staple to rock fans.   

            “Pure, unadulterated and stereotypical ASIA, with raw energy, enthusiasm and free from impurities,” says John Wetton. “ It conveys the spectrum of emotion and colour from real life agonies to ecstatic fantasy of escapism. Great songs, fabulous performance. 'Gravitas' is ASIA by ASIA. At last.”

            "With the addition of Sam it allowed us to take the band in a slightly different, and perhaps tougher, direction,” says Carl Palmer. “As a band we have been able to grow, while at the same time, remain true to the classic ASIA sound that our fans know and love." 

            

Asia’s debut album exploded onto the music scene in April,1982, and was the best selling album in the world of that year. Featuring Geoff Downes on keyboards; Steve Howe on guitar; Carl Palmer on drums; and John Wetton on lead vocal and bass;  Asia was the logical successor to their collective bands of the 70s - Yes, ELP, King Crimson, UK, and The Buggles. The original ASIA reformed in 2006 for the first time in 23 years .

            “It always was a great live band, but this time the dragon has awakened with fresh energy, direction and purpose,” says Wetton. "As with any new Asia album, putting it all together presents something of a challenge,” says Geoff Downes. “ Everyone involved rose way above and beyond this challenge. There is a renewed energy when we step on stage now; we can feel it and I know the fans can feel it.”  

            For ASIA's long-devoted fans, the band’s return to the concert stage can not come soon enough. As Palmer says: "Performing on stage is where this band truly comes into its element. Seeing the fans reacting to our music is what makes it all worthwhile. It is the fuel that drives this train we call ASIA."

 

Track listing:

Valkyrie; Gravitas; The Closer I Get To You; Nyctophobia; Russian Dolls; Heaven Help Me Now; I Would Die For You: Joe Di Maggio’s Glove; Till We Meet Again. The Closer I Get To You (Acoustic)*; Joe Di Maggio’s Glove (Acoustic)*

DVD (*): Valkyrie (videoclip), “EPK”, “Heat of the Moment” (Live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra); TBA (Live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra); TBA (Live in Plovdiv with Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra).

*Available only on the Deluxe Edition

 

Preorder ASIA Gravitas at:

Regular Edition: http://smarturl.it/GravitasRegAmazon

Deluxe Edition: http://smarturl.it/GravitasDlxAmazon

 

For all things ASIA, please visit: www.originalasia.com

Follow ASIA on Facebook: www.facebook.com/asiatheband