Originally published by The Birmingham Mail. March 2008.

With a new album entitled Phoenix out soon, Asia thrilled a small but appreciative audience with a night of tasters, classic and member’s songs.

Asia opened with amongst Only Time Will Tell and the magnificent Wildest Dreams before Steve Howe took centre stage with the Yes classic Roundabout.

As good as the first part of the evening was, by opening the second set with Carl Palmer’s contribution, E.L.P’s seminal piece Fanfare for the Common Man, the music and night was driven up a notch.

Added to this nod to the past was a brilliant version of Video Killed the Radio Star and King Crimson’s In the Court of the Crimson King, before an astonishing drum solo in The Heat Goes On.

Asia left a nostalgic crowd happy with the punchy Sole Survivor.

Ian D. Hall