Columnist Spencer Patterson: Asia, Rolie represent a lively rock lineage

Spencer Patterson

Friday, July 29, 2005 | 8:18 a.m.

From playing at Woodstock to recording the first song ever played on MTV, Greg Rolie and Geoff Downes have spent their lifetimes contributing to rock 'n' roll's rich history.

The two band leaders' career approaches, however, could hardly have been more different.

For the better part of 25 years, Downes has made it his mission to keep one band -- one-time supergroup Asia -- alive.

"It's been a bit of a labor of love at times, but we've had some good moments and we've done some good albums," Asia's 53-year-old keyboardist said. "So I think it's definitely been well worth keeping us going."

Rolie, meanwhile, has spent four decades moving from band to band, helping found powerhouses Santana and Journey, then leaving both behind to form his own outfits, first the Storm, then Abraxas Pool and now, the Greg Rolie Band.

"When someone tells me I can't do something, it's the very reason why I've got to do it," Rolie, 58, said. "I've been very fortunate to have been in Santana and Journey, but this music should also be heard. This band should be heard."

On Saturday, Asia opens for the Greg Rolie Band at the Club at the Cannery. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $9.95 to $19.95.

Rolie is present on Santana's most famous early music. He is the voice of "Black Magic Woman," and his organ work rages through "Soul Sacrifice," the Santana song featured in the famed "Woodstock" movie.

Rolie's current, seven-piece band features two other former Santana players -- percussionist Michael Carabello and bassist Alphonso Johnson -- along with Adrian Areas, son of original Santana percussionist Jose "Chepito" Areas.

The Greg Rolie Band's sound, not surprisingly, revisits the Latin-rock vibe of late-'60s Santana.

"The live sound is like the original Santana band. It has the fire to it, and that's what blows people away," Rolie said in a phone interview from his home in San Diego. "This band has that energy, and then you put the original vocals on it and it's there."

Rolie also credits his time with Journey -- from 1975 to 1980 -- for helping him grow into an experienced songwriter able to work up the types of tracks featured on recent releases such as 2001's "Roots" CD.

"When Journey started it was fusion-rock with vocals, and the songs were focused on the groove," Rolie said. "Then when (singer Steve) Perry entered the picture, we really started writing songs for vocals. I can craft a better song because I was in Journey and learned how to really put those songs together."

Most important to Rolie, his latest band has a chemistry not always present during his final years with Santana and Journey.

"In a band it's all about the hang," Rolie said. "This is a group of guys that tour steakhouses, and then coincidentally, the next day play music. We go and hang and have a good time, and we're all in it for the same thing."

During the early '80s, Downes had a similarly strong connection with his original Asia mates, well-known musicians Steve Howe (Yes), John Wetton (King Crimson) and Carl Palmer (Emerson, Lake & Palmer).

The foursome put together a radio-friendly, self-titled debut record that included hits "Heat of the Moment" and "Only Time Will Tell." But it wasn't long before the band began to splinter.

"Carl and Steve, particularly, had been in very progressive bands that played long 12- and 15-minute pieces, and Asia was much more of a consolidated version of that, focused on writing more melodic rock songs," Downes said in a phone interview from a Seattle rehearsal space. "Then when John and Carl left, I was kind of left holding the baby.

"But it's always been a great platform for my keyboard playing, and I think that's been the main reason for my wanting to stay focused on it."

With help from vocalist/bassist John Payne, a member of Asia since the early 1990s, Downes has nursed that baby through a series of changing lineups and under-the-mainstream-radar album releases.

"The last few years we've really put in a concerted effort to try and build up the following again, and I think it's a very good band now ... a very good band indeed," the British native said.

Downes' resume includes a stint with the short-lived Buggles, best remembered for single "Video Killed the Radio Star," the first song ever played on MTV, in 1981. (Look for Downes to perform that tune during a solo segment in Asia's Saturday set.)

Downes also contributed to the Yes album "Drama" in 1980, a project he and former Yes mates Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White will resurrect on an upcoming tour.

"These things come full circle, and revisiting that 'Drama' stuff ... it's actually very modern sounding with pretty good arrangements," Downes said. "That album actually kicked Yes into another era of music which became more apparent on the subsequent album, '90125.' "

Local Downes fans won't have to wait long for his return to town. The "More Drama" tour hits the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay on Aug. 6.

Music notes

Chasing Vegoose: The first official details for October's Vegoose Festival have been revealed on Web site www.vegoose.com, namely that the jam-band oriented music event will take place on Oct. 29 and 30 at Sam Boyd Stadium and its adjacent fields.

As reported here in mid-June, rumored acts include the Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends, Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon and Leo Kottke, the String Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, moe., Gov't Mule, John Mayer and Wilco.

An official list of participating bands could be released as early as next week, according to a publicist working with festival organizers Superfly Productions.

Vegoose.com has also confirmed that music will run from about noon to 10:30 p.m. both days, and will be followed by late-night shows at separate venues around Southern Nevada Oct. 29, 30 and 31.

Ticket information for both the festival and after-shows had not been announced at press time.

Slam dunk: Andre Agassi's 10th annual "Grand Slam For Children" benefit concert, set for Oct. 1 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, will feature Mary J. Blige; Celine Dion; Duran Duran; Earth, Wind & Fire and comedian George Lopez.

Tickets for the event cost $100 and $150 and are on sale now at the MGM Grand box office, at Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 474-4000 and at www.ticketmaster.com.

No obstacles: New York City hipsters Interpol have announced a Sept. 19 date at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel as part of their upcoming fall U.S. tour. Ticket information had not been released at press time.

Quick hits

A look at a few of the shows scheduled to hit Southern Nevada in the next week:

The Mandalay Bay Beach is awash with music this weekend, with Grammy Award-winning roots-rockers Los Lonely Boys on tap at 9 tonight ($38.50) and veteran good-time band the B-52's up next at 9 p.m. on Saturday ($41.25).

World-famous house DJ BT (real name: Brian Transeau) spins at club Ice on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and are available through www.wanttickets.com and at the door.

College rock pioneers the Violent Femmes, best known for such fractured '80s anthems as "Blister in the Sun" and "Add it Up," pull into the House of Blues on Thursday. Doors to the 18-and-over show open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 to $25.

On sale

Danzig and Doyle -- a band featuring Danzig's ex-Misfits mate O.C. Doyle -- rock The Joint on Oct. 1. Tickets are $28 and go on sale at noon Saturday through the Hard Rock box office and Ticketmaster.

The "Nintendo Fusion Tour," headlined by Fall Out Boy, hits the House of Blues on Nov. 1. Tickets are $20 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through the House of Blues and Ticketmaster.

Unwritten Law plays the House of Blues on Sept. 18. Tickets are $15 and are on sale now.

Gary Allan swings by the House of Blues on Dec. 3. Tickets are $32 to $45 and are on sale now.