Asia co-founder Geoff Downes talks about the band's tour ahead of show at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles

 

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Last summer, Asia co-founder Geoff Downes organized a memorial concert to remember and celebrate the life of his friend and Asia co-founder John Wetton, who passed away in 2017 at the age of 67.

During the show, Downes invited guitarist John Mitchell – who had played with both Wetton and Downes on the album "Icon" – on stage. Joining them was Harry Whitley, who Downes discovered had a similar vocal style to Wetton. 

The reformed Asia will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 30 at the Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles, as part of The Heat of the Moment Tour, a reference to the band's hit song, "Heat of the Moment." The band will be joined by former Wishbone Ash singer Martin Turner along with progressive rock bands Focus and Curved Air.

Artist Roger Dean will be the MC for the show. Tickets are available at arcadalive.com.

I had the chance to talk to Downes about the tour.

 

Q – I understand that this tour was born out of the memorial concert last August for John.

Yeah, we put together a band and the response was phenomenal. 

 

Q – Did you think there would be such an outpouring of support? 

John had a lot of followers. Outside of Asia, he was also involved in other bands like King Crimson.

We headlined the show and I think it really brought it home to me that there was still a lot of appetite for the music of Asia.

Q – Not only a love for Asia's music, but also a love for John, right?

John was incredible. I was very, very privileged for him to be a part of my life, certainly in terms of the writing partnership.

It was really a sad loss for me, obviously, because John was a very important part of my life.

Q – I understand that you might be looking to finish some songs that you worked on with John.

I think John would have wanted me to carry on and finish those songs, which I intend to do. And hopefully Harry can sing those songs.

Maybe by next year, they'll see the light of day. I certainly hope so.

Q – A lot of people would like that. How did you go about picking the other bands that are part of this show? It seems like the other bands bring their own identity to the show.

We got interest from the other bands, Focus in particular and Martin Turner from Wishbone Ash as well.

 

I think it's going to be a real good feast of music.

Q – Of course, you are also touring with Yes this year. What do you think about the band's current lineup and what did you like about working on the band's latest album, "Mirror to the Sky"?

It's a strong lineup. I think the lineup has essentially been there since 2016.

We lost Alan White a couple of years ago and then Jay Schellen took over the drum stool as it were. We lost bassist Chris Squire in 2015.

I think people are really getting to appreciate what we're like and what we do. It's great fun.

I think fans really want to hear new music as well as the classic songs.

 

Q – I understand that “Machine Messiah,” off “Drama,” your first album with Yes, is a joy for you to play live. What do you like about playing that song live?

 

It has all the dynamics that I suppose are very synonymous with Yes' music. You have the big highs with a powerful rock section and then it comes down to a very, very quiet moment. 

That song is a very, very powerful piece. It's almost like a piece of classical music.

 

Q – Your band The Buggles released the song “Video Killed the Radio Star” in 1979, which dealt with the impact of video and television on traditional radio. What do you see as the biggest challenges facing the music industry these days?

I think the fact that technology has really taken over has made musicians not so important any more. I think that a lot of the control over making music now is with the producer.

When you look at bands like Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson, their focus was very much on the music and musicianship as well. And I think people really are scared about AI.

It could really take over a big place in the music market, eventually. 

Q – I know that vinyl records are popular again. Why do you think people want to listen to vinyl records?

I think people like to listen to music in its entirety. Nowadays, I think people are appreciating albums that were put together in that way.

Q – You've worked with so many different bands and worked on so many different projects over the years. It must be refreshing for one thing that so many people want to work with you, that you're an in demand musician.

I feel very privileged that I am still here and still going and still making music and still meeting some great musicians. There's a lot of cross pollination with all the musicians I've worked with.

You end up having a great time working with these people.

Q – But do you have any dream projects?

I'm just happy to be doing what I'm doing. I think it's great to be able to take Asia's music out again because I think that we did have a significant part in other people's lives when we first came out with an album in 1982.

 

 

With new album in tow, critically acclaimed blues musician Albert Castiglia to perform at SPACE in Evanston

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

With a new album in tow, critically acclaimed blues musician Albert Castiglia will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 23 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets range in price from $15 to $20, available at ticketweb.com.

Plenty of his musical friends join him on his latest solo album, "Righteous Souls," released on Gulf Coast Records on July 19. They include Joe Bonamassa, Josh Smith, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Gary Hoey, Popa Chubby, Ally Venable, Danielle Nicole, Kevin Burt, Monster Mike Welch, Rick Estrin, Jimmy Carpenter and Alabama Mike.

I had the chance to talk to him about the new album and the upcoming show.

Q – I guess it's kind of a coincidence that I interviewed Mike Zito a few months ago. Of course, you and Mike are part of Blood Brothers and your album, “Blood Brothers” was named by the Blues Foundation in May as being the best blues rock album. And it debuted on the Billboard Top US Blues Albums chart at #1. Were you surprised at all that the album was such a critical and commercial success?

I don't know if I was surprised. I knew we had a good team behind us.

After it was done, I had a good feeling that it was going to do well. When you have Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith producing the record, you just get a feeling that things are going to happen.

It was such a joy being in the studio and making that record and what came out of it to me was remarkable. It was unlike any recording I've ever done.

So I was pretty confident it was going to do well.

 

Q – I would imagine the name Blood Brothers is about how close you are to each other and that you are almost brothers. Why do you think you work so well together?

 

We've been friends for a long time and he's always looked out for me. He's like my older brother, although I'm about a year and a half, two years older than he is.

He's like the brother I never had, to be honest with you. He's the closest thing to a brother I've ever had.

Q – And he suggested that you do another solo album, although you were a little hesitant because you hadn't worked on your own material for a while.

 

We were touring so much that I really didn't have a lot of material. I didn't have a lot to work with at the time when he told me it was time to make another album.

 

I was worried that we weren't going to have a good concept for the album and then he suggested that we make it a special guest record and have my friends play on it.

And I wasn't sure how that was going to work out because a lot of our friends are very successful and very busy and I didn't know if they were going to have time to contribute to it. But boy, they all stepped up.

Q – "Righteous Souls” came out on July 19 on Gulf Coast Records, which Zito co-owns. It does seems like there's a who’s who in blues music on the album.

How did you go about choosing the guest stars on the album and did some of them come up to you and say they wanted to appear on the album? 

Well, we had to approach them. They didn't know we were planning this.

 

We made a list and we got most of who we wanted on there. There's a few I wish we could have gotten that I plan on putting on my records down the road.

Most of them stepped up. Joe Bonamassa was like the first person to step up when we asked.

It's pretty awesome to know that your friends are able to make time to play on this record. It just shows we don't do this for the money, we do this for the memories and the friendships that we make.

At least that's why I do it. This album is very symbolic in the sense that I've made a lot of really good friends in this business along the way.

 

Q – And your daughter, Rayne, who was the focus of your album “Masterpiece,” appears on the song “You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover.” That must have been a treat to have your daughter on the album.

I just felt the time was right to get her on a record. I wanted her to experience a little bit of the joy of making music and hearing it being played on the radio.

She did a great job with the song, which is a Bo Diddley song. I'm very proud of her.

Q – I know she reached out to you after getting a DNA test done. Is it surprising to you, given your background, that she has a musical background?

Her mother sings. Her mother is the lead singer in a Stevie Nicks tribute band down in Florida.

So it wasn't just on my side of the family where the music ability came from. I felt really good that I was able to get her to open up and sing out in public.

She's got this confidence now that she didn't have in the beginning. I'm just really proud of her and tickled pink that she's on this record.

Having your kid on a record, there's nothing quite like it.

Q – I know that you found each other right at the same time that unfortunately you lost your grandmother.

Yeah. My grandmother was 101. It was sad that she left us, but boy, what a long life she had.

The day of her funeral was the day I found out about my daughter. I can't help but think she was the conduit to this whole thing happening.

Q – Of course you have strong connections to the Chicago blues scene. On the album, you pay tribute to your former boss and mentor, the late Junior Wells, by playing two of his songs, "Come On In This House” and “What My Mama Told Me.” 

 

So you really wanted to thank Junior Wells on this album.

 

I did. I owe him a lot. 

I wouldn't be where I am today without him. I wouldn't be living this life I live without him and all the blues guys in Chicago that gave me work the five years that I lived there.

 

But Junior was the one that opened the door for me. He hired me on in the spring of 1997 and changed my life.

Q – I understand that he taught you a lot about being a musician, including that you have to engage the audience and make them feel like they are part of the show.

 

Yeah, he was so good at that. Before I met him, I thought it was just about playing. 

I was kind of a shy person and that kind of came out in my playing prior to joining his band. I realized from being with him that there is more to this game than just playing.

The audience has to be a part of this. And the only way you're going to do that is by engaging them and making them feel that they're a part of the show.

That might be the greatest lesson I learned from him.

 

Fox Valley musicians to come together as part of Fox Valley Jammers Club Summer Open Jam Festival

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Musician and St. Charles native Ryan Carney loves seeing – and hearing – the creative juices that start flowing when musicians have the chance to jam together.

Last year, Carney started the Fox Valley Jammers Club Facebook group as a way to connect musicians who want to participate in the open mic and open jam scene across the Fox Valley. There will be plenty of chances for musicians to create some magical moments on stage during the Fox Valley Jammers Club Summer Open Jam Festival.

The festival will take place from 2 to 11 p.m. July 20 at the Aurora Athletic Club, 550 Clearwater Drive, North Aurora. Those who want to participate just have to bring their instrument.

Admission is free, though donations are welcome. Musicians will perform on two backlined stages. 

"It's non-stop, 15-minute rotations on two stages," Carney said. "Leave your amps at home. We have fully backlined stages. We don't need your amplifiers. We just need you to bring your instrument and your art. Bring your music and we'll take care of the rest." 

The festival will also feature drum circles, bonfires and visual artists along with Island Boy Food Truck. And if you aren't a musician, you are welcome to stop by and hear some of the talent the Fox Valley has to offer.

The event is rain or shine. Fortunately, both stages are under roofs, a blessing in case of inclement weather.

 

To give thanks to those venues that host open mic and open jam events, Carney and fellow musician Izzy Kucera, who oversees the open jams at Bar Evolution in Batavia, in February hosted a state-of-the-jam dinner party at Pollyanna Brewing Company in downtown St. Charles.

The event was even more successful than they thought it would be.

"We had 90 people RSVP and more than 200 people showed up with their gear wanting to get up on stage and play," Carney said. "So that was really sort of the litmus test of the demand that we're seeing. This event is in response to that. This is our chance to really expand the offerings in a much bigger location."

As Carney noted, the open mike and open jam scene has really exploded, especially in the Fox Valley. 

"There's a lot of talent out here," he said. "We're kind of a platform for the underdog. We don't cater to the best. We're not cherry picking the best musicians and giving them the most attention. We're trying to give the common musical amateur an opportunity to get up on stage and be heard. Everybody is a star for a day."

He is constantly hearing stories about the positive impact the Fox Valley Jammers Club is making.

"People are telling me that the Fox Valley Jammers Club has motivated them to pick up their guitar after putting it down for 30 years," Carney said. "I've had people tell me they've formed full bands exclusively with members of the Fox Valley Jammers Club."

The number of members in the group continues to grow. In February, there were 650 members.

"We just doubled that," Carney said. "We have more than 1,300 members right now."

That includes young people. A couple of weeks ago, Carney hosted an open jam night at Pollyanna Brewing Company in St. Charles.

"I had two high school freshmen playing on the stage," he said. "This is their launch pad to figure out if they love this or not. I've seen musicians as young as 10 or 11 years old."

 

That gives Carney, who also teaches music, a lot of satisfaction.

"I've been teaching music privately for almost 30 years," he said.

He plans to stage an even bigger event next year.

"I want to build on this so I can do this even bigger next year," Carney said.

 

Chicago blues guitarist Joanna Connor provides blistering set of blues at The Venue in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Aurora has a strong connection to the blues.

In 1937 and 1938, Sonny Boy Williamson, Henry Townsend and other notable Bluebird artists made recordings at the Leland Hotel in downtown Aurora. 

Since it opened in 2019, The Venue in downtown Aurora has featured many blues musicians.  On July 5, The Venue kicked off its summer of blues with Chicago's own Joanna Connor.

Connor's sweltering guitar licks and soulful vocals captivated the audience. In the process, she more than lived up to her reputation as the queen of blues rock guitar.

Connor was backed by a group of musicians who provided their own energy. During the evening, she showcased her songs along with inventive takes on such classic songs as "Fever."

Blues musician Joanna Connor performs the song "Fever" July 5 at The Venue in Aurora.

 

Blues musician Joanna Connor performs Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" July 5 at The Venue in Aurora.

 

To find out more about the summer of blues at The Venue along with other shows, go to The Venue's website at themusicvenue.org.

For more videos from Connor's show, go to  https://www.youtube.com/@ericschel12/videos.

Banned From Utopia to bring Frank Zappa's music to Martyrs' in Chicago July 12

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Banned From Utopia was formed in 1994 to keep the true spirit of Frank Zappa's music alive.

The band is comprised of former members of Zappa's band, including singer and guitarist Ray White, who grew up in Aurora and is a 1963 graduate of West Aurora High School.

Banned From Utopia will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 12 at Martyrs', 3855 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, as part of the We Love Zappa Tour.

The Paul Green Rock Academy also is part of the bill. Tickets are $30 in advance, $35 the day of the show, available at martyrslive.com.

I had the chance to talk to White about the upcoming show.

Q – Great to hear that you grew up in Aurora. I understand that when Frank took you to his home, you were impressed by his musical catalog, especially all the doo-wop albums you saw.

That was our commonality. 

Doo-wop was it, man. Frank loved doo-wop. I loved doo-wop. 

It was a done deal. It was cool.

Q – Maybe some people who hear Banned From Utopia playing Zappa’s music are hearing his music for the first time. If they are, are you hoping that they will discover Frank Zappa's music?

 

Absolutely. When I see people bringing their kids and their grandkids out to the shows, it's the coolest thing.

 

 

Q – But are you trying to add a new dimension to his music as well?

We want to keep moving forward, because you don't want to become boring. It's got to sparkle.

If it doesn't sparkle, you're just playing notes. I just want to have more and more and more fun.

Q – You are touring with another Zappa tribute band this year, The Stinkfoot Orchestra. How would you say the bands are different from each other?

 

They're night and day. They play the same music with the same respect.

Nick and those guys just have a lot more of the show stuff in it, like Frank used to do. It's really, really cool.

They spend a lot of time putting the music together. I just love them.

They're good people and they're doing the work. You want more people to play Frank's music.

 

Q – What was it like playing with Dweezil Zappa in the summer of 2007 as part of the Zappa Plays Zappa tour?

 

It was fun. I've known Dweezil since he was a little kid.

 

Q – Of course, no one can replace Frank Zappa. But was it good connecting with somebody from his family?

Dweezil amazed me. This kid gravitated to some of the most difficult stuff ever.

Being able to read notations is one thing. But to have the spirit to play fluidly like that, that's a different thing. 

That's a different animal completely. And he's got that.