I completely hated the Igor era and had not seen the band since the Warfield a few years previous. But their I sat being bored to tears by Dream Theater (who used to be good.) They ripped into Machine Messiah and that was cool. Then Yes arrived and all my troubles melted away (just like going to Solla Sollew.) I purposely did not look online for set lists, so each song was a surprise, esp. South Side of the Sky. I clapped, swayed, sang and loved every minute of this show. Yes were back.

well. what can i say. i did the platinum package deal, and sit here at home now 3 and a half hours after the final note. i went to my first YES concert back in the 70's..the CTTE tour. ive seen every tour since. this concert has to rank right up there at the very top. im not going to get into all the things some others do, about why they dont like this setlist or that one, or why did they drop this song for another. not going to bother listing the setlist either. im sure you can find it on other reviews. im not a musician either, so cant talk about chord changes or time changes or anything like that. but i am a veteran of many many YES concerts. and tonight, well, i can state catagorically....they were on.

for those of you who were at the concord show, and had to just go home after the show was over, i can share this bit of info i found out about after the show was over, when i did the meet and greet part of the platinum package. jon has bronchitis! and has for 3-5 days! yet his voice was a crisp and clean and clear as ever. all the high notes were nailed! it was obvious at the meet and greet he wasnt feeling well....
as for the show itself..as i said..they were very much on.

tight..crisp..clean and clear....mix was great. ya heard what youre used to hearing when youre used to hearing it, but also a lot of improvisation as well...rick used different keyboard sounds for some of the parts he has not used before. steve was a maniac....just ripping out his stuff with passion. chris was as chris always is.....the best.
the thing that struck me the most about this show, besides how well they did individually, as well as they did as a unit, was how much fun these guys are having. it really came out tonight. for me at least. its a whole different perspective when you can sit right up there in the front rows, and actually see the little things they do, the looks they give each other, the fun they are having as they do what they love to do. and then, to see the same kind of camraderie later..an hour after the show is over, during the photo shoot and meet and greet. well, it just solidifies for me that these guys were destined to be who they are..individuals who acheive their best when the are able to feed off each other. destined to be simply....YES.
dream theater? um...talented musicians, for sure. now they need to get some passion for the music they play. their drummer has it.....didnt see it much in the rest of the band.

so..thats it.....those of you with platinum packages..well worth it.

long live YES......my email addy is there if ya want to say hi.

my favorite bit of lyrics from all YES songs...
"change we must as surely time does, changes call the course
dreams are said to blossom courage, constant to their source."

think about it.

thats it..