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Summerfest update - Asia and Smyth
Asia featuring John Payne left the stage at 2:50 p.m. after some serious monster rock and power chords ending with “Sole Survivor.” The Fraze crowd has officially filled out in, as a DJ from Mix 107.7 put it, “an intimate living room setting with about 3,500 people.”
To finally hear “Heat of the Moment” played by Asia, not the original members, but as close to the original band as it gets (thanks steve!), was a thrill. As a child of the ‘80s (don’t tell) with a unexplained love for all things from that time including cheesy rock music, I rekindled my love of Asia’s “Only Time Will Tell” and the synth-a-licious “Sole Survivor.” Led by John Payne who has, “been lead vocalist, bassist and driving force for the Supergroup ASIA for some 16 years, releasing over 15 albums with them and extensive world tours,” according to the band’s bio.
Shortly before Patty Smyth & Scandal took the stage at 3:10, Mix 107.7 threw T-shirts out and a woman in very close to the back row of the bleachers, not only won a T-shirt, but a set of front row tickets that were wadded up in a T-shirt (how cool is that?). Patty Smyth in a hot pink T-shirt was a bit chatty … “If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been I have six friggin’ kids and John McEnroe … seven friggin’ kids.”
Smyth, who left the group in ’85 to persue a solo career, was back with the band that put her on the map in the first place. Smyth ended the little over one hour set with “Warrior” followed by “Goodbye to You” - the livliest and largest the Fraze crowd has been yet today.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment | Categories: Music
Comments
By Steve
July 5, 2008 6:18 PM | Link to this
Asia the original band, consisted of John Wetten, Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer was a group until 1991. Are any of these guys there? All of the hits you listed were done by these guys. John Payne came in after 1991 and has had no hits. Ironically, both ‘Asia’ groups are touring now, though only Payne is playing songs he had no part of composing.By arniez
July 5, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
Well, it sounds great from my front porch here in Kettering!!! Who is next? I need to know whether to fix dinner now or wait till after the band!By Mandie
July 6, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
I thought that Patty Smyth was awesome and really funny!!!By ed c
July 9, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
Patty Smyth was worth the price of admission alone. She was amazing— the biggest crowd pleaser. John Payne decided to sound check over the entire song “Only Time Will Tell”. It was the silliest display I’d ever seen. He ruined one of my favorite songs.By ed c
July 9, 2008 7:23 AM | Link to this
Patty Smyth was worth the price of admission alone. She was amazing— the biggest crowd pleaser. John Payne decided to sound check over the entire song “Only Time Will Tell”. It was the silliest display I’d ever seen. He ruined one of my favorite songs.