Best audience bootleg I've heard
05/15/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Having bought Asia's double-CD 'Live In Osaka' upon its release in 1997, I hadn't seriously considered spending more money on any of the other "official bootleg" releases. I was tremendously disappointed with the Osaka discs, primarily because they come from a show recorded by an audience member who sounds as though he is sitting outside the venue. Four years on, with the benefit of several reviews of 'Live In Philadelphia' which cite it as the best of the lot, I decided to purchase it. This concert was recorded by Rick Nelson on professional equipment. Although it is not a soundboard recording, the quality is surprisingly good. Based on what I've read about the other Asia live discs, this may be the best performance by the band available on CD. The perfomances of Geoff Downes, John Payne, Steve Howe, Vinny Burns, and Trevor Thornton are very good, with only an occasional flub. Listening to the CD's, I feel as if I am just several rows back from the stage, sweating with everyone else (Downes and Howe both comment on how hot it is in the venue)."