ASIA featuring JOHN PAYNE + FOGHAT – SHEPHERDS BUSH EMPIRE – 16 NOVEMBER 2025
I had been warned that tonight’s headliners were “not the proper Asia”. Indeed, I had also been told that they were “the cheaper Asia”, as their tickets are cheaper than the line-up led by founder member Geoff Downes. When there are two separate line-ups of a band in operation, there is always debate about which has the greater legitimacy, when often they are equally legitimate. In this instance, the ‘official’ Asia is led by an original member, whilst on the other hand, John Payne fronted the band for eleven years. As far as I’m aware, Geoff Downes isn’t suing John Payne over the use of the name, and John makes it clear that he is the only former member of Asia in his line-up, so I’d say honours are shared.
Support tonight comes from Foghat, who I have wanted to see since I first heard their debut album, already a few years old by the late 1970s. As far as I’m aware, they haven’t played in the UK since around that time, though I could be wrong. As with all of us, time takes its toll, and drummer Roger Earl is now the sole surviving member of the original band. Original vocalist ‘Lonesome’ Dave Peverett passed away in 2000, and original guitarist Rod Price left us in 2005.
Joining Roger tonight are Rodney O’Quinn on bass (a member since 2015) and lead vocalist/guitarist Scott Holt, who has been onboard since 2022. Missing tonight is former Wild Cherry guitarist Bryan Bassett, with the band since 1999. He’s in the States awaiting shoulder surgery, so stepping in is Matt Barranti – and as a guitarist, he’s something of a revelation.
A little guy comes on to give a very vocal introduction to Foghat. It seems a little over the top for a Sunday night. He leaves the stage and nothing much happens for a while, and it transpires that this is Eddie Lefebvre, the band’s percussionist. We’ll be seeing more of him. The band eventually take the stage and jump straight into Road Fever from their second album. From the off, they’re tight, powerful, and full of enthusiasm – far removed from a band going through the motions. Scott and Matt trade solos, and Matt’s slide playing is utterly superb.
Eddie joins the band for the classic Drivin’ Wheel. This song – and indeed the whole set – is a blues-rock masterclass. My Babe, a Righteous Brothers cover, delivers some sweet harmonies, with everyone apart from Roger on backing vocals. Bassist Rodney O’Quinn takes lead vocals for Clarence Carter’s Slipped, Tripped and Fell in Love, and he looks disturbingly like Todd Rundgren. She’s a Little Bit of Everything from the band’s latest album, Sonic Mojo, was written by Kim Simmons shortly before he passed away – closing a poignant circle, given that Peverett, Stevens and Earl left Savoy Brown to form Foghat back in 1970.
At the end of Tampa Red’s It Hurts Me Too one of the Marshall amps blows. Roger comes to the front to explain that the amps are borrowed, so it isn’t their fault. Once replaced, the band tear into Stone Blue, the title track from their 1978 album. Rodney tells us it was “one of the coolest songs of the era” – possibly it was, Rodney! Before Fool for the City, Scott reminds us the song is fifty years old; it barely seems possible. Scott’s Telecaster has an incisive tone that gives the band real bite throughout.
As the set nears its end, they power through Willie Dixon’s I Just Want to Make Love to You – the opening track from their first album, sounding uncannily like the record, with traded guitar licks and an on-fire Eddie on percussion. It’s a lump-in-the-throat moment, what else could they finish with but Slow Ride – with Eddie joining Roger on the kit. It’s awesome. Everyone around me is simply looking at each other in disbelief. How good was that?
The Show Must Go On by Queen plays over the PA, alongside a recorded introduction by Morgan Freeman, signalling it’s time for Asia featuring John Payne. Do you mind if I just call them Asia for the rest of this review? No? Fab.
From the opening duo of Go and Only Time Will Tell it’s immediately clear that the musicianship is top-notch. It’s also clear that my assumption that they would only play material from John’s tenure is wildly incorrect. But it’s only fair they should play the hits. One thing that stands out is the complete lack of ego. There’s a fun vibe onstage with none of the pretension sometimes associated with prog. John jokes that he’s been told he must “be more politically correct” because “it’s not 1990 anymore”. It’s hard to imagine him saying anything remotely offensive.
Silent Nation becomes the first Payne-era track, with a surprisingly bluesy intro from guitarist Jeffrey Kollman. Everyone contributes backing vocals. Jeffrey’s riff on Remembrance Day is also excellent. For Don’t Call Me from Aqua, John straps on a Les Paul and plays a beautifully measured intro. His vocals are superb, with the bass part performed on keyboards. John and Jeffrey trade solos; although John’s name is on the banner, this is very much a band.
Before Who Will Stop the Rain, John recounts how the single’s US radio promotion in 1992 allegedly involved a record plugger offering a station a bag of cocaine, money, and a prostitute’s phone number. Apparently, it was on the playlist “forever”. Record promotion has changed somewhat.
Military Man, co-written with Geoff Downes, is dedicated to ex-servicemen. Drummer Aaron Olson plays a military-style tattoo, and John shares a moving story about his great uncle – a conscientious objector in WWI who was tied above the trench parapet and killed by enemy fire. For Arena, the band replicate an AI arrangement they recently discovered. I must confess I can’t tell the difference. Whether that says more about my ears or the AI, I’m unsure. Given my distrust of AI, I hope it’s my ears.
Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers, a Syreeta cover, is a surprise inclusion, though their version nods toward Jeff Beck’s 1970s rendition. As the set closes, they deliver Sole Survivor, Wildest Dreams and Heat of the Moment – all from the debut – and all magnificent. This has been a superb journey through the Asia catalogue. If Geoff Downes’ line-up is as good as this, they ought to get on the road and show us. Until then, I’ll happily shell out to see Asia featuring John Payne again.
One minor quibble: finishing at 11:15 pm on a Sunday night is pushing it. An earlier start would have been welcome. Beyond that, both bands delivered outstanding performances.
WORDS: MARK KELLY PHOTOS: ROBERT SUTTON
