It was a roller coaster concert to say the least. Up, down, then up again. Specifically speaking: Les Moore, Poco, and Yes. Last Thursday, at Alexander Memorial Coliseum.

Les Moore, Natural Recording artist from New Orleans, took the audience by surprise. What appeared to be a simple, timid acoustical soloist unleashed sounds like you’d never believe possible from one man and a guitar. He plucked like a cracking whip, shifting rhythms like a Ferrari, most notably in the second number “Checking, an original song. The vocals in his rendition of Lennon-McCartney’s “A Day in the Life” had a piercing throatiness, drilling your brain yet soothing at the same time. His guitar was so con-trolled-he could make it scream, then scarcely breathe again. I think he scared some people; I know he knocked a lot out of their seats. Les Moore is dynamic energy, tension with beauty like a stalking tiger.

Poco lost their motivating energy somewhere along the line. All that’s left is a monotonous, sticky, syrupy sweet, country rock sound. Sufficient for passing time. What can I say? New shoes wear out quickly when you stomp around in them too much.

The audience came for Yes; they were ready. Masters of stage presence, Yes held the audience captive, yet set them free, with a generous helping of some of their best music including “Heart of the Sunrise,” “And You and ’ I,” “Close to the Edge,” and fine solos by Steve Howe on acoustic guitar and Rick Wakeman on assorted keyboards. Jon Anderson held center stage with shining vocals, flanked by bassman Chris Squire (“He plays bass like a pipe organ,” said cousin Don), and guitarist Steve Howe. Stage right was the keyboard laboratory of Rick Wakeman, who looked a lot like Gregg Allman disguised as Merlin. Tying the sound together, Alan White on drums provided a (to say the least) competent foundation for the music; still I miss the rhythmic charisma of previous drummer Bill Bruford who now is with King Crimson. All together, their mission was successful, the music was beautiful, the audience had been transported into another dimension for the time spent. I loved it.

—lois lane
The Great Speckled Bird
April 30, 1973
Volume 6, Issue 16, Page 14