PHOTOS
Matt Smith
Sole Survivor: Asia Featuring John Payne
First things first: Asia featuring John Payne - the group headlining the Scranton Pocono 500 Fanfest - is a separate entity from Asia, the current reunion of the early 1980s rock supergroup. So go the convoluted family trees and legal battles in the rock world.
That initial lineup of Asia - John Wetton, Steve Howe, Geoff Downes and Carl Palmer - featured former members of King Crimson, Yes, Buggles, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Its eponymous 1982 debut album sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and spawned the hit singles "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell." When the follow-up failed to recapture that success, Asia continued on with a varied roster of musicians through the rest of the decade. John Payne - he of the aforementioned Asia featuring John Payne - replaced original vocalist/bassist Wetton in 1991, partnering with original keyboardist Downes as Asia until 2005. But now that the original Asia has reunited, Payne is carrying on under that different name. Got all that?
Calling from his California home recently, Payne said he initially didn't want to use the moniker "Asia featuring John Payne."
"I hate it when people get pretty well-known and they talk about themselves as a third party," noted the congenial musician in his British accent. "John Payne should be doing this. John Payne should be doing that. I find that really weird. But after being in Asia for 16 years, when the original guys got together to do a reunion tour, we had to legally settle on something."
Payne said that the break with Downes was a painful one.
"I knew (a reunion) might happen one day," he noted. "There's a huge nostalgia thing in the world with a lot of bands, but it was still a difficult time."
Payne said the validation to carry on came when Sony encouraged the release of the live album Extended Versions, which came out last year. Asia with John Payne is made up of Payne (vocals/bass), Guthrie Govan (guitar), Jay Schellen (drums) and the recently added Erik Norlander (keyboards). The Scranton appearance will mark the first live appearance of this lineup.
Payne called his group a "celebration" of his long run in Asia, but also an "homage" to the original group's early '80s success. So, to answer your question, Asia featuring John Payne will perform "Heat of the Moment" at the Fanfest.
"We have to," said Payne. "I remember as a kid going to see Foreigner and if they didn't play 'Juke Box Hero' or 'Waiting on a Girl Like You,' people are going to be disappointed."
Asia featuring John Payne is currently working on a new album, Architect of Time, and Payne is currently settling into a writing partnership with newbie Norlander. "We've written all the songs and we're recording them at present, but it's a new thing for me. I wrote only with Geoff (while in Asia). ... But the songs we've come out with - I know everyone says this about the new album - but I'm excited by the strength of these songs."
Robert Hazard: Folk Rock Hero
Robert Hazard has enjoyed a long musical career, but the first line in his obituary will undoubtedly mention his primary claim to fame: Penning the song "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," the Cyndi Lauper smash. But Hazard also is a musical hero in his native Philadelphia - literally. In 1982, Hazard and his band The Heroes released an EP on major label RCA featuring the hits "Escalator of Life" and "Change Reaction," and the group opened for the likes of U2 and Bob Dylan. These days, Hazard is enjoying a bit of career renaissance, putting out a trio of folk-rock albums this decade. The latest, Troubadour (Rykodisc), features a dark, rootsy Americana vibe. "Those who value first-rate musicianship, insightful songwriting and straight-from-the-heart singing will greet the album like an old friend," states the press material for the album. Perhaps old rockers just wanna have folk.
Thompson Ward: Dynamic Duo
Thompson Ward isn't a third-party ticket in this year's presidential race, a defunct department store or the name of a blue-blooded frat-boy antagonist in a juvenile college flick. Rather, it's the Mississippi country-rock pairing of Steve Thompson and Bryan Ward. Thompson cut his musical teeth playing solo in Southern roadhouses with names like the Gin, Gabriel's and The Abbey, while Ward tasted some success with Capitol Records-signed act Bonepony. A few years ago, the pair started writing songs together - in a unique style they've dubbed "Porch Funk," also the name of the group's debut CD. "For years, Bryan and I worked together to make (the songs) into a record that satisfied us both," notes Thompson in the band's bio. "We couldn't be more different musically or politically. This record is where we found common ground."
Karissa: American Girl
Wyoming native Karissa la Cour credits her music career to an "epiphany" at a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers concert in 2003. "I came out of that show and thought, 'I'd love to do this,' but I never really felt I could," the singer-songwriter reveals in her bio.
A few years later, Karissa dropped out of the University of Wyoming and headed for Nashville, where she connected with industry veteran Robb Royer, co-founder of '70s band Bread. Their soon-to-be-released collaboration - Shades of Green - features accessible pop that draws inspiration from K.T. Tunstall, Norah Jones and Fiona Apple, although Karissa does list Petty and The White Stripes as influences on her MySpace page. When Karissa performs in Scranton on June 7, perhaps the "next Karissa" will an epiphany inspired by la Cour's music.
Local Flavor
Like the varied list of headliners, the Scranton Pocono 500 Fanfest also features a diverse sampling of Northeastern Pa. talent. The swampy blues of Funk n' Gumbo will get things going on the main stage. Perennial party favorites Music for Models will follow. Then it's time to boot scoot with good-time country act Farmer's Daughter. Yee haw.
Entertainment lineup
Main Stage, Lackawanna and Wyoming Avenues
Noon: Funk n' Gumbo
1:30 p.m.: Music for Models
3 p.m.: Farmer's Daughter
5 p.m.: Karissa
6 p.m.: Robert Hazzard
7 p.m.: Thompson Ward
8 p.m.: ASIA featuring John Payne
Second Stage (The Showmobile), Spruce Street and Penn Avenue
Noon: Game Show Mania
1 p.m.: Steve Hennesey as Doctor Planet (Family Fun)
2 p.m.: Game Show Mania
3 p.m.: Steve Hennesey as Character ED (Family Fun)
4 p.m.: Game Show Mania
* schedule subject to change