This was my first Yes concert at the age of 14. My uncle flew me in from louisiana to witness the show with him. He had been a fan since the good old days circa Fragile. He had seen them perform in the round but he can't remember what year, so I am thinking 1978-79? This was at Madison Square Garden.

Anyway, I had been getting into Yes for several months and had just purchased the Relayer album which was hard to find where I lived. I was taken aback by the contrast to thier other works which are also extremely varried. Relayer still stands as a favorite and before the show I had dreams about my heroes performing "The Gates of Delerium" and the underrated "To Be Over."

Yes changed my life forever on the night of the concert. I was moved to tears and laughter that I have rarely since experienced. And I have seen MANY amazing gigs since then. The band played "The Gates of Delerium". I was stunned and shocked since I had no idea of what the setlist would be. Yes played with the coolness of seasoned veteran musicians while playing like a young band full of artistic wonderment. Igor Khoroshev did not dissapoint either. A fenominal keyboardist. We should be thankful that such amazing musicians and human beings come together by fate to create art such as this. Thank you Yes. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I must also mention as an aside:
I taped this show and It came pretty well. So whoever does this site can put the little cassette logo by this gig. I will be sharing it online soon and if anyone here is interested in a copy. Simply email me at: chrisklenox@yahoo.com

For me one of the audience highlights of the show was the guy somewhere behind me to my right in section 100 or 200 who shouted out "OLIAS OF SUNHILLOW!!" during one of the in-between song breaks.

"Yes is back to the basics"
"Regrouped band wisely relies on james at Smirnoff show"
By Matt Weitz
Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News


There was a time - the early '90s to be exact - when there was nothing more depressing than talking to Steve Howe, guitar kahuna of onetime British prog-rock principality Yes.

You couldn't really blame him: He'd just come through a decade when the band was so at sea that it kicked things off by absorbing what amounted to the Buggles (Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes - remember "Video Killed the Radio Star"? Didn't think so.) and ended them by enduring a suit filed by founding bassist Chris Squire over the rights to their name.

Back then talking to Mr. Howe was an exercise in the brutal reality of disenchant. "I don't think we're lousy," he helpfully offered nine years ago when talking to The Dallas Morning News. In the same interview, he optimistically opined that, "We ain't as good as we used to be," and that the group's early '70s playing was "poles better than what we can do now."

Well, OK then. Time brings acceptance to us all, and Mr. Howe must've been closet o the top of Time's list. He returned Sunday night to the Smirnoff Music Centre with most of his original band - notably singer Jon Anderson and Mr. Squire - and helped his old mates deliver an expansive portion of old favorites that helped remind the 3,000 or so in attendance that "classic rock" used to refer to music based on orchestral idioms rather than a horrible marketing niche.

Yes - supported by unusually effective staging that projected waterfalls of color upon a series of triangles (behind) and a billowing canopy (above) - redeemed their old excesses by putting on a great show long on extended jams.

Still, from the first notes of "Close to the Edge," it was all about reassuring the faithful, not winning new souls, a fact the group seemed to recognize by focusing on stretched out versions of essential faves such as "Starship Trooper" and "Gates of Delirium" rather than marketable clinkers such as "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and others too painful to recall.

Age has lent Mr. Anderson's once supremely annoying voice a timbre that leaves it sounding accomplished rather than maddening, Mr. Squire's clanky, full-throated bass lines reaffirmed his position as an important figure in the early "lead bass" school of the bottom end (Phil Lesh and Jack Casady are arguably better but more American competitors), full of sternum-rattling, hair-mussing low notes.

Like recent Smirnoff guest Roger Waters, who had also weathered a long spell of band-name-related legal difficulties, Yes managed to keep their coin legal tender in the realm of rock.

Show opener Kansas, once equally mighty and then equally devalued, did not fare so well. Although their versions of new songs such as "Not Man Big" (What?) and "Icarus II" were every bit the equal of old tunes such as "Hold On" and "Carry On Wayward Son," their blues-based violin-driven approximation of Yes' classicism ahd not weathered the passage of time.

---
Matt Weitz is a Dallas free-lance writer.

I think this can be summed up in one simple word:

AWESOME!!

I arrived at the Smirnoff Music Centre (Starplex) at about 5:30 and gates were supposed to open at 6 but, they were opened at 6:30.. went inside, purchased two t-shirts ($30 each), a hat ($25), and a programme ($15). Not bad, they look nice. Went over to buy a drink and sat down and watched a local band playing on a small stage near the entrance.. They were begging for a record contract obviously.

Went inside the covered section of seats, they had a screen seperating the general seating and regular seating, and not a whole lot of people sat out on the grass. We (me, my mom & a friend) were sitting in section 100 (Squire-Side), Row P, Seats 9-11. Not bad. First, Kansas came on. I, personally, was very disappointed in their set. My mom called them 'wanna-be hard rockers'. They just seemed to swamp each other out with guitars and basses and didn't really sound great at all.

Then, afterwards, a very quick and impressive set change. (I was amazed by Jon's array of instruments). I noticed backstage during Kansas, one of Steve's guitars was being re-strung.. or I thought so. Then the orchestra came over the speakers (Young Persons..) it was definately time for Yes.

"Close to the Edge" - Impressive, very together.. the whole band sounded great.. Jon was slightly covered by the rest of the band, but that didn't matter as they were all impressive.. I wouldn't have minded seeing Chris play with his bass for an hour, alone. Igor's 'big organ' sounds were good, he was doing a very good job this evening.

"Starship Trooper" - This song is definately stuck in the wrong spot. I think it should be at the end with a more impressive solo, but it was good nonetheless, and I enjoyed, as did the rest.

"Gates of Delirium" - Yes became the wall of sound. This was VERY impressive. The band was very tight, although I did notice one mistake, I think, somewhere in the middle (sorry, not sure where), Alan started playing a different rhythm pattern about a measure early and Chris turned around, and then they were back together. Despite this minor minor minor mistake, it was impressive.

"Leaves of Green" - Ah, Steve Howe on guitar on another impressive acoustic solo, for a while. Very beautiful peace, done very well.

"Heart of the Sunrise" - Well Jon talked about Chris' bass for a while, dunno what he was talking about, but this started of with a BANG, and ended with a BANG, and was great. In the middle of the bass solo, Chris came over to our section, stopped playing and gave us a confused look. Obviously he needed cheering, so cheering he got, and more of the bass solo we got!

"Ritual - Nous Sommes Du Soleil" - Its hard to pick out the most impressive piece of the evening, but this is really edging towards the top. Chris' bass solo was absolutely FABULOUS.. the drum solo was VERY VERY excellent, and Steve's solo was great as well. (Igor really got into those drums!)

"I've Seen All Good People" - All this music and still no break! I loved the way Jon started this off.. "this is one of the first guitar chords I taught my son, it goes like this " And then he begins singing, with Steve later joining in on the guitar. Even though the other version is great, this was a very good change, and totally unsuspected as well. "All Good People" was great as well.

- Band walks off stage, Crowd continues to cheer -

"Roundabout" - Ah, even though this is an old worn out classic, its still impressive everytime I hear it. During this song is the only other time I noticed a mistake. This time it was the roadies fault. When Steve was about to turn around and grab the acoustic guitar in the 'holder' for the second acoustic solo, it wasn't there, and he turned over and gave a nasty look to the roadies. Needless to say, he had to play the acoustic solo on the electric, and again the ending as well. That was no problem

Kansas opened. They played a good selection of their older songs, from 'Masque', 'Leftoverture', and 'Point Of Know Return'. But they had a new album to push. You could feel the momentum drop whenever they played a new song. But, overall, they played a strong set and the audience gave a good response. I love to see the opening act get an encore. They deserved it. I couldn't help but notice a little bit negativity in the presentation by their violinist/singer. Something was going on there. They probably wanted more time. Most of their best songs are the longer ones, which could not be included. They had to play the hits and the new stuff and there was no more room.

We were still in the plaza area when the intro started. We ran back to our seats. I made it to my seat just as the first 'bang' of 'Close To The Edge' started. 'Close To The Edge' is a strange song to start the show with. I knew this night would be different.

We were on the right (the audience right) side of the stage, Chris' side. The band was clearly 'on' tonight. The mix was great, you could clearly hear everything. Steve would occasionally drop down some during the intense parts, but what can you do with Chris' earthquake low end?

'Starship Trooper' was pretty much note for note. It's hard to compare with the old days because of the equipment differences, but it was close. Igor was great. He has a tough job. Can you imagine trying to cover for Rick Wakeman and Patrick Moraz while Jon Anderson and Chris Squire are watching you?

'The Gates Of Delirium' was next. This was the first peak. I've never heard this song played live before. From here on out it was like church or something. Towards the end of the 'war' part, a roadie brought out the Fender steel. Oh shit! When it started to settle down, Steve started to play the delay-attack part on I think it was the Tele, then leaned into the steel. Then Jon started the 'Soon' part, and it is just hard to describe. Some guy behind me started to yell "wooooo" or something, and he nearly broke up the momentum. I raised my finger up to my mouth and turned my head to the side (a shush). I don't know if he saw me, but he stopped. Perfect.

'Leaves of Green' was next. I've seen this song listed many times before, but I never realise that it was the 'Leaves of Green' part from 'The Ancient'. This is a good way to get Steve's classical acoustic playing into the show without playing the entire song. This also includes another great vocal by Jon.

'Heart Of The Sunrise' had a funny Chris moment. After the opening intensities, Chris was just starting up his bass part and he froze, holding the note, staring out into the crowd. He just stood there for a second, it seemed much longer. Someone in front of us raised up their arms and waved at him. He saw it, snapped out of it, laughed, turned, and continued the song. It was probably planned, but hilarious.

I was waiting for 'Ritual'. I'd read some things from previous shows about this one. Chris was at it again. During his solo, he pulled out all the stops, changing his tone around, adjusting a colored strobe light in front of him for maximum visual effect. We heard all of the Chris tones, from his trebly, guitarlike tone to the grindy, earthquake tone mentioned earlier. How can he play those big bass strings so fast?There were various drums scattered around the stage that hadn't been touched. Now was the time. The percussion part had everyone in the band (except Steve) beating on something. The effect was incredible. The place shook. When it ended, the audience rose to a loud, long lasting ovation. They knew that they had kicked our collective ass! All smiles on stage, Jon strapped on his acoustic, waiting for it to die down. It did not. Then something happened that I've never seen before at a rock show. Jon raised his arms and gestured us down. He wanted us to sit down and be quiet so they could continue!

The last song of th

Saw Yes last night at Starplex(Smirnoff is it's new name). What a show! This is now my 5th Yes show. I saw them in Dallas in '94(Talk tour) as well as in '97 & '98. I also caught the '97 show in Houston. I was determined to see them again no matter what setlist they chose to play this tour. Rumors have been flying about what Yes was going to play this tour and word was they were going to drag out some old stuff. I was thrilled to learn that Yes was going to play Ritual(which got my vote at Yesworld) and Gates of Delirium.Being born in '72 it was amazing finally getting to see the guys peform these live.

This show was definately for the hardcore fans.As great as the show was I feel sorry for the casual fans that thought they were going to see Owner again.

The setlist has remained unchanged from the other shows. The guys are pretty tight and are correcting problem spots from the early shows. There were a few flubs. Most notably was Jon forgetting the line "the pen won't stay the demon's wing etc" from GoD.

The highlight of the evening was Ritual.Jon joked that the Dallas Symphony orchestra was behind the stage and would be playing with them on this track. Chris was a maniac on bass and really hammed it up on this one. Would we want it any other way? Igor.Jon,Alan and Chris all banging away on drums was indeed cool to behold. I haven't seem anything like this since King Crimson played in Ft Worth back in 95 with Belew,Bruford and Mastelotto banging away at the front of the stage. After the drum part and Steve came to the stage. It appeared Jon forgot when he was to start singing again and the guys just sorta played til Jon felt comfortable joining in. At the end of the song Jon started talking about how the Earth Spirits enjoyed the song and how we "got good Ritual". Good ole spacey Jon. It wouldn't be a Yesshow without Jon saying something about the planet Zongo or thereabouts!

It was a wonderful show indeed. Jon said something during the show that hinted this was their last show in Dallas. Let's hope he was only kidding.

P.S. Don't pass up a chance to get a tourbook($15). It has some incredible pics.