Yes/Asia review, The Machine, Gov't Mule, The Hotdamns

A quick review of last night's Yes/Asia show at Innsbrook to start things off. Asia was pretty good. There was a feeling in the crowd, or maybe just me, of how much should we let on that we like these guys. There is still a stigma about Asia, as seen in movies like "The 40 Year Old Virgin" or "South Park". But then had everyone won over by the end, and we were all singing along with "Heat of the Moment". Geoff Downes even gave a nod to their 80s past and busted out the Keytar with an wink and a nod. Other highlights were Court of the Crimson King (King Crimson tune) & Sole Survivor. John Wetton can still sing great, though as Phil said, "He looks like he just got done working on my car". John's gained a little weight. Carl Palmer just pounded the hell out of the drums, especially during "Fanfare for the Common Man" (ELP tune). He was a maniac, doing all sorts of little tricks like spinning his drum stick on top of the cymbal then grabbing just in time, bangin' on the double gongs with giant mallets, etc. Someone in the crowd behind me said "Benihana" and I thought, "Yes, Carl is like the Benihana chef of the drums."

Yes was absolutely fantastic. Opened with Siberian Khatru. "And You & I" was amazing. During the "Eclipse" section, you could literally feel the keyboards and bass vibrate your body. Very heavy. After that song, Chris Squire genuinely commented to Benoit David, the new singer, "Great singing." Benoit graciously said, "Great song". Missed original singer Jon Anderson in a nostalgic way but vocally Benoit sounded great, as good if not better than Anderson. I though Anderson was still ill and unable to sing. But Jon's web site shows that he is doing nine solo shows this summer. I don't know if he is now feuding with the rest of the band or if he's still not feeling well enough to grind out a larger tour.

Other highlights were two songs from "Drama": "Tempis Fugit" and "Machine Messiah" and "Heart of the Sunrise". A beautiful night outdoors and it was great to be the equivalent of the 7th row, just outside of the "Gold Circle" (why pay $40 when you can $20) standing on stage left near "The Man", Chris Squire.

On to the future. Saturday night, The Machine (Pink Floyd tribute band) will play at the National with a 40 piece orchestra made up of members of the Richmond Symphony. They'll be filming the show for a PBS special. Tix are $40 for reserved orchestra, $30 reserved balcony and $25 for standing general admission. Doors open at 7 and the show starts at 8. Since they have the orchestra, I sincerely hope they do "Atom Heart Mother". (Yes, the quality on this video sucks but its rare and its Floyd with an orchestra):


On Wednesday night, the man who has played with every jam band EVER, Warren Haynes, brings his own band, Gov't Mule to Innsbrook. Tix are $12.50 in advance, $15 at the gate and $30 for Gold Circle. Gates open at 6. Here's the Mule with Grace Potter at Rothbury doing CSNY's "Find The Cost of Freedom > Ohio":


You can catch local Americana band The Hotdamns at Wonderland in Shockoe Bottom on Saturday night at 10 PM. Cover charge is $5. Here they are at the Canal Club a few months ago with their ode to porn star, "Gina Lynn":


Looks like something is brewing with the former Toad's Place building. Here's the story from the Times-Dispatch: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/LADY23_20090722-221603/281591/

In honor of the 40th anniversary of the Moon landing, here are some excellent high def pictures from that voyage into the great beyond:


Have a great weekend!

Tony Jordan

Yes, Asia, Cake, Reel Big Fish, English Beat

Cake will go the distance (sorry, I had to do it) for you at The National this Sunday night. Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 8 and it appears to be just Cake with no opener so don't be late. Tix are $30 in advance, $35 day of show.

It'll be a fun-lovin' ska time at The National on Monday night with Reel Big Fish, English Beat , Supervillians and The Big Guys. Doors open at 7, show starts at 8, tix are $23.

Wednesday at Innsbrook's Snaggletooth Pavilion, progressive rock titans Yes will arrive with Asia opening. That means guitarist Steve Howe will pull double duty but despite starting to look like Gollum,
he says he is up to the task. Here is the article from today's Times-Dispatch: http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/entertainment/music/article/W-HOWE66_20090715-222203/280266/. Tix are $20 in advance, $25 at the gate, $40 for Gold Circle (boo!). Doors will open at 6, so I would guess Asia will come on around 6:30. I was amazed when I checked out Asia on Wikipedia that there have been 29(!) members of Asia in the years since the band was founded in 1981. The good thing is that this Asia is the four original members: Steve Howe, John Wetton (King Crimson), Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer), Geoff Downes (Buggles). A lot of musical talent there and according to the setlist in the Times-Dispatch article they'll play one song from their previous bands in the Asia set (except for Howe since you'll get a whole Yes show). Hopefully, they will do "Court of The Crimson King". I'll be attending and having flashbacks to 8th grade metal shop when Asia is on. We were allowed to listen to the radio during shop class and their first album was HUGE then.

I heard excellent reports about Yes when they played The National earlier this year. And as long as they have Chris Squire, one of the greatest bassists in rock history with them, they will be worth seeing. Hope to see you at the show.

Here they are doing my favorite Yes song, "Starship Trooper", last year in NYC. No, that's not the original lead singer, Jon Anderson. His health has prevented him from playing live. The new singer is Benoit David who they found, where else, in a Yes tribute band. He sounds great, though. Sorry they won't let me embed the video so here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkZMT6lzA2c.

If you are hanging at home this weekend, there are not one but two FREE festival webcasts to choose from.

The Pitchfork Festival webcast from Chicago starts Friday at 6 PM EDT, then Saturday & Sunday at 2 PM EDT. This one is full of hot indie bands like Yo La Tengo, Built To Spill, Yeasayer, The National (band not venue), Grizzly Bear and, on Sunday night at 9:40, The Flaming Lips. Watch this one and find yourself a new band to love.

iClips.net will be showing the Mile High Music Festival from Denver Colorado on Saturday & Sunday. The schedule hasn't been posted as of 10:30 on Thursday night. Music at the actual festival starts at 1:15 EDT on both days so check iClips around then on Saturday to see what the schedule is. Playing at the festival (but not guaranteed for the webcast) are: Galactic, Incubus, Tool, Gomez, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Ben Harper & Relentless7, Widespread Panic, Rocco DeLuca, Ani DiFranco, G Love & Special Sauce, Greyboy All Stars, and India Arie and that's just Saturday. Sunday has Gogol Bordello, Buddy Guy, Gov't Mule, Widespread (again), The Wailers, Devotchka, and Robert Randolph.

And of course, Saturday is Spiderman Day at the Children's Museum of Richmond.

Have a great weekend and I'll see you at Yes!

Tony Jordan