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Thread: John Payne and the Rock Pack

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    Member paythesnuka's Avatar
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    John Payne and the Rock Pack

    So, tonight I am going to see The Rock Pack at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. It's a touring show that features a rotating group of former lead singers of classic rock bands. John Payne created the concept, so he's always one of the singers.

    Tonight, we're also getting Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Bobby Kimball of Asia and Steve Augeri of Journey (I'd much rather see Gregg Rolie, who is also one of the touring vocalists, but unfortunately he's not on the bill).

    From what I have read, the band behind these vocalists is the Asia Featuring John Payne band. Since Yes is not on tour right now, I hope Jay Schellen is on drums. Not sure if Ryo Okumoto will on keys, but I hope so.
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and... clever" -- David St. Hubbins & Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap

  2. #2
    I know nothing about this tour or current AfJP activity, but accoring to the AfJP review here from last week, neither Schellen or Okumoto are currently with Payne:

    http://www.progressiveears.org/forum...ayne-2017-Tour

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    Bobby Kimball of Asia? 😆

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    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Right - Bobby Kimball was the singer for Toto (and YOSO, for a while).
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

  5. #5
    schellan and okumoto were not at the AFJP show I was at last weekend. two guys I had never heard of before(not that that means anything) were filling in.

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    Member paythesnuka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by LeFrog View Post
    Bobby Kimball of Asia? 😆
    Oops. Kimball of Asia and Payne of Toto featuring John Payne. [emoji6]

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    "It's such a fine line between stupid and... clever" -- David St. Hubbins & Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap

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    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Yell "Yoso" at the top of your lungs.

    I wish him luck with this gig, but Rock Pack is as dumb a name as Adrenaline Mob. Yah!!!!

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    Member paythesnuka's Avatar
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    Here's the concert poster.

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    "It's such a fine line between stupid and... clever" -- David St. Hubbins & Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap

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    Member Gerhard's Avatar
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    Wonder what distinguishes Augeri as a "vocalist", and not a singer, like the other three?

    Hope you enjoy the show, Adam.

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    might be a cool show, songs from Toto, Asia, Journey & Foreigner

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    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gerhard View Post
    Wonder what distinguishes Augeri as a "vocalist", and not a singer, like the other three?

    Hope you enjoy the show, Adam.
    LOL - good question. Featuring Bobby Kimball, washed-up lead vocalist of Yoso.

    Appearing all next week at Siegel Slots & Suits.

  12. #12
    interesting the distinction between former and original they make there. wonder if it is worth it having the two designated as originals or will it just call into question why the other two are not called original amongst those who don't really know the history of these bands?

    it isn't a bad idea but I feel like it might be sort of frustrating to only get the main hits primarily. will be interested to hear what the setlist is if any AFJP songs get played or just the classic asia tunes.

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    Studmuffin Scott Bails's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paythesnuka View Post
    Oops. Kimball of Asia and Payne of Toto featuring John Payne. [emoji6]

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    Kimball of Toto and Payne of Asia.
    Music isn't about chops, or even about talent - it's about sound and the way that sound communicates to people. Mike Keneally

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    Member paythesnuka's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Bails View Post
    [emoji38]

    Kimball of Toto and Payne of Asia.
    I was making a joke after my original mistake.

    If the amount and placement of those with free tix from the casino (my wife and I fall into that category) are any indication, the show didn't sell well.



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    Last edited by paythesnuka; 06-30-2017 at 06:31 PM.
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    Quote Originally Posted by paythesnuka View Post
    So, tonight I am going to see The Rock Pack at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, FL. It's a touring show that features a rotating group of former lead singers of classic rock bands. John Payne created the concept, so he's always one of the singers.

    Tonight, we're also getting Lou Gramm of Foreigner, Bobby Kimball of Asia and Steve Augeri of Journey (I'd much rather see Gregg Rolie, who is also one of the touring vocalists, but unfortunately he's not on the bill).

    From what I have read, the band behind these vocalists is the Asia Featuring John Payne band. Since Yes is not on tour right now, I hope Jay Schellen is on drums. Not sure if Ryo Okumoto will on keys, but I hope so.
    I will be interested to hear what you think of this. The last time I saw Lou Gramm (which has been a while) he was terrible. He tried really hard, but we just kind of felt sorry for him as his voice was almost completely gone. Mabye he was just having a bad day......

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    Funny that Payne bills himself as "Former Asia singer" and not "Current lead singer of Asia featuring John Payne"

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    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dan Roth View Post
    Funny that Payne bills himself as "Former Asia singer" and not "Current lead singer of Asia featuring John Payne"
    Former Asia Singer sounds better. So would Former Temporary Asia Singer.

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    So, my thoughts on the show.

    The first thing I noticed on stage was a bar set up stage right. What's a bar doing up there, I asked myself as we got to our seats. Speaking of seats, if you ever go to the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL, be sure not to sit in the first few rows off the floor in seats 1-8. Unless you figure on standing the whole show, or are 8 feet tall, you will be watching the show through bars as if you were in a jail cell (Note to Hard Rock: Tear the arena down and build a new one from the ground up).

    As far as the show goes, it was enjoyable only because I knew all the songs, and the band was great. Payne had the best chops; the rest are far past their prime.

    Payne started the show with the AFJP backing band (no Jay, no Ryo, just a bunch of unknown musicians and two female backing vocalists). A female bartender tended bar throughout the show. When each singer arrived on stage, he would sit down at the bar with Payne and chat about his career and influences. An interesting idea in theory, but some of the segments took way too long and the crowd was getting restless for them to sing.

    Each song was featured on the big screens on each side of the stage, but along with the live feed, pieces of old videos featuring each vocalist were shown as well. So, in one moment you would see Lou Gramm as a spry, young, athletic vocalist with an afro, and the next you see him in the present as Geoff Downes' current-day doppelganger.

    The setlist was pretty predicable as each vocalist sang four or five songs:
    Only Time Will Tell (Payne)
    Time Again (Payne)
    Sole Survivor (Payne)
    Hold the Line (Kimball)
    Rosanna (Kimball w/Payne doing the verses)
    Separate Ways (Augeri)
    Faithfully (Augeri)
    Anyway You Want it (Augeri)
    Double Vision (Gramm)
    Cold As Ice (Gramm)
    Hot Blooded (Gramm)
    Heat of the Moment (Payne)
    Africa (Kimball w/the keyboard player on verses)
    Don't Stop Believin' (Augeri)
    I Wanna Know What Love Is (Gramm w/Augeri on backup)
    Encore:
    Jukebox Hero (LG w/Augeri on backup)

    Payne never left the stage, since he was the bass player for the whole show. Kimball was supposed to be onstage for the encore, but he wouldn't come out.

    Speaking of Kimball, he seemed IMHO to be drunk. He slurred his words. Screamed into the mic so badly, the soundman turned down his mic, and acted like someone who had one too many. It was sad. Of course, this could have just been his "act" and I am completely off about him being drunk.

    The crowd was the loudest and stood for both Augeri and Gramm, and the place shook because the crowd was so into "Don't Stop Believen'."

    Would I pay to see this show? I would have to think long and hard about that. Maybe if Greg Rolie was there (he sometimes tours with the Pack), I would see them again.
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and... clever" -- David St. Hubbins & Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap

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    nice set, but i wish they could have done some more innovative tunes and not just hits, hits and only hits

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    What was the attendance for this? I checked out the Rock Pack website and they only have 5-6 shows scheduled over the next six months. I'm surprised they can't get more bookings.

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    Quote Originally Posted by arturs View Post
    What was the attendance for this? I checked out the Rock Pack website and they only have 5-6 shows scheduled over the next six months. I'm surprised they can't get more bookings.
    I would say 3,000 tops. Many empty seats on the floor; upper level and a third of the lower level and floor curtained off.

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    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    ^ Adam, was this show in Hollywood, FL?

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    Quote Originally Posted by JKL2000 View Post
    ^ Adam, was this show in Hollywood, FL?
    Yes. Did I mention that too many times in my previous posts?
    "It's such a fine line between stupid and... clever" -- David St. Hubbins & Derek Smalls, Spinal Tap

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    Highly Evolved Orangutan JKL2000's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by paythesnuka View Post
    Yes. Did I mention that too many times in my previous posts?
    No, I must have missed it. I thought it was interesting that you were there. You weren't there for this show, were you? I actually have no idea what's in Hollywood, FL.

    Oh, now I see Hollywood is between Miami and Ft Lauderdale.

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    How was Kimball's singing, aside from his antics? I have seen YouTube videos from a while ago of some outdoor gig he did which are jawdroppingly bad. To whit:



    The other clips from this show suggest the entire gig was a horror-show! Hope he was better here.

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