I finally saw Chris Squire

MoBeach · #1 07-26-2009, 07:39 AM

I was at the Yes/Asia concert last night, I was very impressed with the tightness and intricacies of both bands. I thought Squire had a great tone but his high notes tend to get a little distorted, but he was playing LOUD out of a big Ampeg rig. Rick Wakemans son Oliver was surprisingly good on keyboards and Asia's drummer Karl Palmer was amazing. They did some old ELP and King Crimson, great show! I'd see both of them again.

Alvaro Martín Gómez A. · #2 07-26-2009, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoBeach

I was at the Yes/Asia concert last night, I was very impressed with the tightness and intricacies of both bands. I thought Squier had a great tone but his high notes tend to get a little distorted, but he was playing LOUD out of a big Ampeg rig. Rick Wakemans son Oliver was surprisingly good on keyboards and Asia's drummer Karl Palmer was amazing. They did some old ELP and King Crimson, great show! I'd see both of them again.

It was a great show, for sure. Congrats! I'd love to see them live, but I don't know anything about Asia's current line-up. Is Geoff Downes still there? Is Steve Howe playing with both bands?

BTW, it is a very common practice here to misspell Squier basses' name as "Squire", but this is the first time I see someone misspelling Chris Squire's last name as "Squier".

MoBeach · #3 07-26-2009, 08:41 AM

Downes and Howe are in Asia, Howe pulls double duty.

Yeah misspelling Squires name is a big oops

I thought I'd fix that!

ZuluFunk · #4 08-20-2009, 03:49 PM

I saw them on the last night of the tour. His bass rig crapped out in the middle of Owner of a Lonely Heart. He made them start over! I think his tone SUCKED up to that point. Much better after that though.

jaywa · #5 08-20-2009, 04:13 PM

Personally I've never been a big Carl Palmer fan... too busy and not enough groove.

He's a great technician, though.

mccartneyman · #6 08-20-2009, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZuluFunk

I saw them on the last night of the tour. His bass rig crapped out in the middle of Owner of a Lonely Heart. He made them start over! I think his tone SUCKED up to that point. Much better after that though.

I though Chris' tone was way too clanky on both Ricks when I saw the in Pittsburgh in July. Much more definition and full sound on his Electra and Lakland basses.

jaywa · #7 08-20-2009, 04:35 PM

Chris Squire is still actually playing Electra basses? Wow...

ZuluFunk · #8 08-21-2009, 06:03 AM

I saw them at an outdoor gig at a pretty horrible accoustic setting. There was literally a train going by about 5 yards from the stage.

He had the electra out for much of the show, as well as a Fender Jazz. The Ric sounded fine.

Hoover · #9 08-21-2009, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

Personally I've never been a big Carl Palmer fan... too busy and not enough groove.

I was indifferent to his work with ELP, but when Asia's debut album came out (was that 1980? 82?) that's when I realized what bad timing he has. Seriously wandering tempos on some of those tunes. I used to play a little mental game where I tried to imagine who would have made a better drummer for Asia...the catch being it needs to be someone with a similar pedigree, since that ostensibly was the whole point of that band. Barrimore Barlow? Simon Phillips? Terrance Sullivan? Anyone but Carl Palmer...

oh, and just to keep this thread on topic...last time I saw Chris Squire (2000 or 2001? whenever Yes did their "Masterworks" tour) he played the Rick exclusively and it sounded absolutely phenomenal. Like, stunningly good sounding.

Barkless Dog · #10 08-21-2009, 08:54 AM

What about Wetton?

I read he is really suffering from Carpen Tunnel. How was he?

polydeathsphere · #11 08-21-2009, 09:17 AM

Carl Palmer will only be known to me as ELP's drummer. He will never be "ASIA's drummer"!!!! (by the way this is coming from a 19 year old

)

Kevinmach · #12 08-21-2009, 09:34 AM

Quote:

the catch being it needs to be someone with a similar pedigree, since that ostensibly was the whole point of that band.

I was casually reading the thread with no intent to join in, but I am sure I am not the only one is a little lost here... please elaborate on this.

jaywa · #13 08-21-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

I was indifferent to his work with ELP, but when Asia's debut album came out (was that 1980? 82?) that's when I realized what bad timing he has. Seriously wandering tempos on some of those tunes.

Yep, "Heat of the Moment" is all over the place, tempo wise. I was just noticing that not too long ago when I heard it someplace or another.

Hoover · #14 08-21-2009, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

I was casually reading the thread with no intent to join in, but I am sure I am not the only one is a little lost here... please elaborate on this.

Asia was a "supergroup" consisting of former members of previously established well-known British prog-rock bands (Geoff Downes' pedigree perhaps being a bit more suspect than the others, though he did play on the Drama album with Yes). I was implying -- perhaps somewhat tongue-in-cheek -- that to be an original member of Asia you needed to be a former member of a previously established well-known British prog-rock band; no ringers or anonymous session men allowed!

Of course, that requirement all went to hell by their 3rd or 4th album.

Anyhow, for the sake of my Alternate Drummer Thought Experiment, that's the criteria: pick a former member of a previously established well-known British prog-rock band who would be a better fit for Asia's debut album than Carl Palmer. Care to play?

JimmyM · #15 08-21-2009, 12:34 PM

Considering Asia's first two albums were monster sellers, I think they made the right choice with Carl. Yeah, he rushes, but so what? It works for those songs.

Hoover · #16 08-21-2009, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

Considering Britney Spears' first two albums were monster sellers, I think they made the right choice with AutoTune. Yeah, she can't sing her way out of a paperbag, but so what? It works for those songs.

Fixed

JimmyM · #17 08-21-2009, 04:09 PM

Don't do that. As far as you're concerned, my words are written in stone. If I had meant Britney, I would have said Britney. Editing someone else's comments to suit your own agenda is the height of arrogance.

Hamrhed · #18 08-21-2009, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Fixed

Is this the same guy who led Delta house insurrection at Faber college

Always wondered what happened to him! Guess he doesnt like Asia

[edited] Sorry... I get it now- /detective work

matrok · #19 05-12-2010, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barkless Dog

What about Wetton?

I read he is really suffering from Carpen Tunnel. How was he?

Just stumbled on this thread. I wanted to go to this show but had tickets to see Adrian Belew in a small venue already. Great show BTW.

I'm a big Wetton fan and have been looking at some youtube video the last couple days of recent performances. He's playing well, but apparently his carpel tunnel is so bad that he tapes a pick to his fingers in order to hold onto it. He also had major heart surgery in the last couple years. Still sings great though.

AnchorHoy · #20 05-13-2010, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoover

Anyhow, for the sake of my Alternate Drummer Thought Experiment, that's the criteria: pick a former member of a previously established well-known British prog-rock band who would be a better fit for Asia's debut album than Carl Palmer. Care to play?

Phil Collins - Genesis and Brand X