Tony Jaiye

Saturday, February 23, 2013 4:44 PM

My first Yes concert ever! This show was almost a total blur because at the time I was vaguely familiar with Yes. I only knew a few of their songs,Roundabout, the Close To The Edge album and parts of Relayer. But all the music was not ingrained in my mind just yet,and I originally had no intention of going to see them. I only went because a friend of mine at the time had an extra ticket and practically begged me to go. he also 'bribed' me with a little pot too! lol! There were many,many musical and visual highlights: Sound Chaser, Close To The Edge, Gates Of Delirium, And You And I and Ritual. I didn't have the Tales album at the time,but Alan White's drum solo just blew me away! Just the sight of his stainless steel Ludwig kit(with timbales and Moog drum,etc.) and all that percussion was mind-blowing enough for me. And all those keyboards that Patrick Moraz had, plus Steve Howe's guitar collection! I remember standing up during the solo(climax) and my jaw just dropped, and tears were rolling down my face! I was mesmerized! And Moraz's effects, the Barnacle stage and lighting effects were incredible! So from that moment on, I was a Yes-fan for life and I purchased all the albums and I was determined to see them next time and I was going to be prepared for the best concert experience ever.

D. A. Payne

Are you sure this wasn't July 16 1976?

The lapse is perfectly understandable either way. +/- three decades is a lot to keep track of, as I well know ;}

Meanwhile, if you taped the show from audience or personally know anyone who did, please say hello. I'm part of a community who archive and make available such things for the pure love of it: reem@mindspring.com

Steve McCombs

My first Yes concert. I was about to turn 22, going to college majoring in music, and had just discovered the band. I couldn't believe how tight they were; playing all that polymetric music with classical, baroque and impressionistic influences. All that and lasers, a three headed dragon with aircraft landing lights in their noses, not to mention what was "in the air". WOW!!!!
The warm up band had alumni from Peter Frampton's old band Natural Gas. Peter just happened to be in Chicago and drove to Milwaukee to sit in with his old buddies on a couple tunes. I was never a great Frampton fan but it was really cool that he stopped in to gig with them. One of the songs they played together was the Beatles' Birthday Song. That night was my buddy Fred's birthday (who was at the concert) and mine was just a few days away. A night I will never forget!