The 2nd Connecticut show was at Oakdale colliseum. I had excellent seventh row seats in front of Steve. The set was identical to the previous evening at Foxwoods. The band played well, but did not have any magical moments like the night before. At one point, between songs, fans were yelling out song names and one yelled out "Mind Drive" which Jon mistook for "Bud Light." It was a funny moment and Jon did say that they would like to play "Mind Drive" (Then why aren't they?). When the band came out to play the encore, it sounded like they played it too loud and blew a speaker. "Owner.." and "Roundabout" didn't sound so good from where I was sitting afterward. The band does seem to be playing real well live these days. I look forward to hopefullyu seeing them a few more times this summer.

Easily one of the greatest shows I have ever seen, visuals were unbelievable and the sound was positively massive.Right from the get-go it was Steve who seemed to have the energy in YIND.Jon is such a kick ass vocalist and he was the next one to shine during Time and a Word.I saw last years tour and thought Chris was really driving the band then, but this time around , he seemed more content to just let it happen, and boy it did happen.This version of Yes seems very well oiled, a real sonic machine.I was so blown away, I kept telling my friends in the past weeks that I was "ready" for this show, Well, I wasn't ready, I was mesmorized by the images, blown away by the sound and emotionally moved.When Yes are playing And You and I, is there anywhere else you really want to be other than 12 rows back center stage?I think not!Awaken left me totally speechless, behold the power of it all!!!!

I went to see Yes at the Oakdale Musical Theatre in Wallinford, CT on November 28, 1999. I live one town over and only 5 minutes away. I had been serfing the net at Forgotten Yesterdays and the local venue sites for months, as I waited for the concert. I bought the tickets in October and as the concert got closer and closer, it started to haunt me.

I am a 15-year-old Classic Rock fan. My favorite band is Rush (who I have a website for at http://www.geocities.com/rushledzeppelin) and I also like Led Zeppelin, Yes, Black Sabbath, The Who, Cream, Hendrix, etc. The only other concerts I had been too were Ozzfest '99 and the Buddy Rich Big Band (pretty cool if you are a drummer like me.) My dad got me into Yes. He saw them 3 times back in the early '70s. Before he knew it, I knew almost everything about them.'

Before I went, I was lisetening to one of my local radio stations (WHCN 105.9) because they were interviewing Chris Squire at the theatre. I arrived there with my 13-year old brother, my 43-year-old dad, and my 39-year-old uncle. I bought a black t-shirt with the tour dates and my uncle bought me a tour book. We went in there and I reviewed what I thought would be the track lisiting as I waited. I was in the 14th row. The 12th row is the best at the Oakdale. The first row is bad because you constantly have to look up. Then they started playing Firebird Suite, but I was totally clueless until the crowd started cheering. Then the band came on stage and they started showing pictures of the members on the sreen in retrospective. They played Yours Is No Disgrace and everybody was on their feet. We sat down afterwords. They then played Time and a Word (excerpt). Jon was in good spirits that night. Chris seemed to have the most energy. Homeworld (The Ladder) was a good tune. Perpetual Change gave me goosebumps. Lightning Strikes and The Messenger I liked, even though I wasn't familiar with them. Then they played Ritual--Nous Sommes Du Soleil (excerpt), And You And I, It Will Be a Good Day, Face To Face, and Hearts. The highlight was probably Awaken. Igor did excellent on it. I was a little dissapointed to hear that Wakeman wasn't going to be with them, but Igor is definately the next Wakeman. I caught a whole bunch of confetti at the end for my concert scrap book. I've Seen All Good People was just great. Then the necore came. The guys left for the longest time. I was wondering if they were ever coming back. Then they played a medley with Cinema and Owner Of A Lonely Heart. And then finally they played Roundabout.

I must say that it was an excellent show. It was my third and best concert I've ever been to. My dad thought it was better than any Yes concert he was ever at. I just wished that I had stayed a little bit longer. I heard that Yes came to see the fans afterwards. Oh well.

Hi there-just saw Yes at the Oakdale theatre in Wallingford, Ct-it was a great show a great mix of new and old-I thought Igor is coming of age as a stage presence in terms of personality-his playing was awesome both tours I've seen him on-but he seemed to be having alot more fun this time around. Great surprises for song choices(no spoilers)-and everyone was having a good time on and off stage-it was a very lively for a holiday weekend Sunday and a nice long show. Steve Howe didn't look to happy up there-maybe it was me but he seemed either pissed off or bored. Anyway-next Yes album will surely have a new line-up as true to form with Yes history-My 2 cents.

WELL, I just got in from the Oakdale concert, and it was GREAT !! We had seats that were a bit out of the way and in the rear, but with an open seat in front of us, we had a good view! The sound was very good using the full range boxes on stage, I believe there were possibly 10 of these on each side..

CS's bass as with the Direct TV recording is percusive as always, but lacks fundemental (which made for a thin sound to keep up with the BIG bass drum in White's kit), but the BASS PEDALS were deep and heavy when they were used (O:

As for Jon's voice? I felt he was right on! And the last thing he sang before the Round about encore, was some little `thank you' blues tune, and this was the highest pitched singing of the night !! THAT is something considering this was done at the END of the show and yet so much reserve still left to do such a thing !!! (((((((((((You reading this Erik Shane ???)))))))))))))) Needn't worry (O: I was watching the two large screens above the stage, and there was always some good closeups of John, and I didn't notice any dubbed in business going on what ever...

I gave a good look to the sound both before we took to our seats, and there was at least 5 Yamaha digital sound processors for pitch doubling, delays and chousing for vocals and or instruments as well as a STUDIO Lexicon reverb controller present. Everything needed to give a good `studio' mix for the live setting, no stone left unturned in the production dept. !

There were a couple of changes from the Direct TV concert, most notably the tune `Hearts' was brought back, and Jon made some comment about the rehearsals with it etc.... Sounded nice.

Being a keyboard player for over 14 years professionally and watching all the different artists that have graced the YES stage had me paying close attention to the Ladder CD when it arrived, so I was eager to see Igor play... One thing for sure, he is a bit of a ham, and seemed to be having a better time tonight then on the DTV broadcast (O:

AND, `our' audience was very much like the DTV audience, little standing ovations between each tune, and almost NO ONE standing up until the last few tunes (COMPLETE with LIGHTERS GOING!!), so, in short, it was a great time, and we even had the smell of good 'ol gungie coming from somewhere in our row which added to the projections on the stage (((((((((((((O:

Jon dedicated "it will be a good day" to Chris and Melissa Squire who are going to have a baby in 2000. Great show at the Oakdale tonight. Every one seemed on tonight.

Igor has become quite the character on stage. Steve was his usual self didnt move much but played great. I 'll take that combo anytime.

Well!!! Hello brothers and sisters.


What can I say...

I am very moved and very excited about the concert and it was certainly one of the most memorable times for me.

Yes, indeed, they performed "Awaken", and to a house of nearly 3,000 that all arose to their feet before, during, and after the piece. It seemed that almost everyone was deeply moved.

I was up in the balcony, so I did not see all, but Steve was beautiful in his execution, and very smooth with the instrument changes. Billy was, how can I say it, a true compliment, and he was a blast with "Cinema". He had a real role in this gig. Igor was having a major blast, he danced from the keyboards several times and out to the stage side audience, he was exhuberant. Chris was in his zone, and styled around. Alan went to the audience edge after the pre end and the end and he also was connecting to the fans. Jon was a presense, it was deep.

Here is the big one! Awaken. I am so moved, that to tell you the truth, I cannot write about it yet. I would have to say this, for now: "awaken, gentle mass touch" That would summerize it. It happened.

Jon expressed what seemed some heartfelt joy that he and the band were indeed performing the piece, and that he appreceated the audience's response, it was powerful.

Sadly, my brother got quite sick (too much of everything) during the gig, and the ride home was, shall we say, a little rough (I am going to have to go get some alka-sletzer in the AM and clean a car. Well worth it, you know?

Jon met us first after the concert, he was very warm and kind mannered, shook all our hands. He told us that he "just wanted to meet us". Damn, that was cool coming from him.

Chris, a real prince who wanted to get going, was so kind as to sign my program with a note to my filipina fiancee. Billy, when he came out to meet us, went right up to and within the small crowd of fans. Told him how many in the NG were behind him and the band mix, and that the CD was a big hit with us here in AMY. I told each member that the NG was very much behind them and "The Ladder". Jon, Chris, and Billy seemed quite interested in that.

well, enough for now, I am on a strange computer and it is uncomfortable to type.

Jon Anderson:
Thank you so much, thank you. Great to be with you again at Oakdale Theatre. That was a song from the new album. That was called 'Homeworld' and we'll be playing quite a lot of the music from the new album, and tonight it won't be called the Oakdale Theatre, it will be called the House of Yes.

Jon Anderson:
Steve Howe on guitar. Thank you so much, thank you. That was a song called 'Perpetual Change' which I think we wrote...uh 28 years ago, would you believe? That's older than me. I wish...here we go with a couple of new songs from The Ladder. And uh...this is a sort of a Trinidadian blue beat sorta groove, and uh... it's kind of a song about how lightning can strike you at any moment in a spiritual and powerful way. Here we go... groove thing going...okay, I'll have a martini please.

Jon Anderson:
Chris Squire...bass guitar there. Thank you so much, thank you. We had such a uh.. different time making this new album, The ladder. We were up in Vancouver all the way through the winter, and uh..we had a great guy working with us, a producer called Bruce Fairbarin. And uh.. he was so good to this band, and made us all realize how good Yes music can be, and he believed in the band so much. And he went to heaven toward the end of the mixing of the album, and he's looking down on us now saying "C'mon guys, get it right, you can do it"....sweetest guy...anyway, he asked me one day why don't I write a song about somebody I really believed in...a singer or somebody. And I thought of Bob Marley right away, and uh...here's a song about Bob Marley, it's called "The Messenger". Okay.

Jon Anderson:
Here's a song for my beautiful, wonderful wife, travels with me all the time, keeps me so together. I appreciate it so much.

Jon Anderson:
Wooo. Thank you so much. Thank you. thank you very much, thank you. Sometimes its hard to believe we are moving very quickly into the year 2000. It's amazing. I want to thank you all for staying with the band for such a long time...keeping us going. On keyboards, on keyboards, International Keyboard Player of the month, Mr. Igor Khoroshev. This is a song for Chris Squire, and his wife Melissa. They are having a baby in the year 2000. Life is wonderful.

Jon Anderson:
Thank you so much, thank you. Thats a new song. We want to do another one, when we were rehearsing we wrote quite a lot of songs together, and you get into a song, and all of a sudden, Mr. Alan White on drums...lets hear it for Alan White on drums. He would come up with some great rhythms, and this is no exception. It's sort of a Central African High Life sort of groove...here we go.

Jon Anderson:
Wooo. Thank you so much, Thank you. That song is racing up the charts in ah...sonewhere, in our hearts [???]. When we started rehearsing uh..we came up with a few songs we'd like to try that we hadn't played in quite a long time, and this is one of them. And uh..listening to the uh..lyrics, they're very simple, and uh.. sort of the underlying message in the song is all about the idea that the children will really teach you all you need to know, if you listen...[???] I know. He said 'I'm trying' I know. What? I thought he said "Budweiser". Bud light? Sorry

Man In Audience:
Mind Drive!

Jon Anderson:
Mind Drive? We love Mind Drive. One day..one day...when the time comes.

Jon Anderson:
Wooo. Thank you so much...thank you. Thank you so much, thank you, thank you . When you are listening the way you listen it's so... it's so amazing, its like a dream doing that piece of music. I want to thank you so much, thank you. We're going to sing a song we can all sing along, and half way through get up and boogie. ...boogie.

Jon Anderson:
Wooo. Thank you so much. We'd like to take this opportunity to wish you a great, great Christmas and a Happy New Year into the year 2000. Okay, let's do it, one more song. Here we go.

Jon Anderson:
We want to thank you, thank you, thank you for being here tonight. We want to thank you so much, Thank you for being here tonight. You're so wonderful, beautiful, everything's going to be alright. Into the year 2000, everything is going to be alright.