ASIA Cover-Tribute Band Project + Musician in Orlando, FL

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ABOUT

Trying to see if there is any interest in a tribute/cover band for the music of ASIA. There doesn't appear to be any active *anywhere* at this time, and with John Wetton no longer with us, and the future status of the band in question, it would now be a good time for one.

* There was a side-project tribute on the US East Coast a several years ago, but appear to be no longer active. There was another tribute that existed in Japan (there are videos online proving it), but that was actually over a decade ago, and there is no evidence of any further activity. While there are many bands out there who have recorded and/or performed one or more songs by ASIA as part of a classic rock or Eighties cover band or for a specific project (such as the Aurora Project), there doesn't appear to be an active dedicated ASIA cover/tribute act anywhere at this time.

I would act as the stand-in for "John Wetton" (bass and vocals...I have a baritone/tenor range that compliments John's singing style and range well). Would need a versatile guitarist (not necessarily just like Steve Howe, as other guitarists played with Asia as well...including Mandy Meyer, Scott Gorham, Pat Thrall and Sam Coulson), a drummer/percussionist ("Carl Palmer") and last but not least (**ESPECIALLY NEED**) a multi-keyboardist ("Geoff Downes"). It would be desirable that all parties also be able to sing well enough to do backing vocal harmonies.

The focus would initially be the "hit" songs of the first three studio albums. Deeper cuts (i.e. Asia fan favorites and concert staples) would follow, as well as music from their 2006 original members reunion onward, and perhaps even select songs from the Wetton/Downes 'iCON' project, as they were the nucleus of ASIA's songwriting for nearly all of their material whenever Wetton was part of the band. Heck, I might even be open to doing a John Payne-era ASIA song or two (I really like that version as well, but felt that without Wetton it was essentially a very different band, just ASIA in name only).

There is also the opportunity to do what many bands are doing nowadays, which is to perform an album of material in its entirety live. With this in mind, the 40th Anniversary of the release of the band's first self-titled album is just six months away from the date of this entry (September 2021). It would be awesome to be able to showcase this ground-breaking and hugely successful debut album in recognition of this.

I wouldn't exactly classify this project as a pure tribute act, as I am personally not concerned with 100-percent note-for-note mimicking of the original material...just a group of good blokes performing tight, well-executed songs by one of our favorite bands, for fun and possibly for a bit of profit. While there are some minor specifics that I would like to see come about, these are not as important to the overall scheme of things.

I think that at first playing gigs in Orlando and the surrounding Central Florida area is a reasonable starting point. Expanding the range of possible shows can come gradually.

**Addendum** I have been doing some more thinking over the past couple of months. I understand that I may not find willing and able players local to me to execute this project. And even then, with the pandemic still raging on, it may be more prudent to stage meetings and even some rehearsal opportunities online. It is not ideal, but it is better than nothing. With that in mind, this also opens up the possibility that there may be willing and able players that do not live in Central Florida who could express their interest. It is simply then a matter of logistics.

Please help me realize this "Rock and Roll Dream". I have been thinking a lot about doing this while having everything put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. This thing will eventually come to an end...I want to be ready and play some shows with this music when it does! We are not getting any younger!

Please send a message with your contact information included, so that I may get back to you!

Ride Easy, my Friends!

Screen name:

ASIA Cover-Tribute Band Project

Member since:

Apr 08 2017

Active over 1 month ago

Level of commitment:

Very Committed

Years playing music:

30

Tend to practice:

More than 3 times per week

Available to gig:

2-3 nights a week

Most available:

Nights

Influences

ASIA - John Wetton/Geoffrey Downes/Carl Pamer/Steve Howe

Also, due to association: Yes, King Crimson, UK, ELP, Buggles

Related tags: Asia, Progressive Rock, Arena Rock, AOR, 80s Rock, Eighties, Symphonic Rock, tribute, guitar, guitarist, drums, drummer, percussion, keyboard, keyboards, keyboardist

Instrument experience:

Vocalist:

Moderate

Vocalist - Baritone:

Moderate

Vocalist - Tenor:

Moderate

Bass Guitar:

Moderate

MUSIC