Our pals at Getty Images showcase Frank Hoensch's photos of YES during their May 12 "CLASSIC TALES OF YES Tour 2024" at Berlin's Theater am Potsdamer Platz.

Gunnar Leue - Märkische Oderzeitung - MOZ.de

Sunday, May 19, 2024 3:59 PM

[GOOGLE TRANSLATE from original German to English]:

Yes in Berlin 2024:

That's what the concert in the Theater am Potsdamer Platz was like

Yes are playing on their “Classic Tales Of Yes” tour in Berlin – after several attempts. Was the prog rockers' concert worth the long wait?
May 13, 2024 - Berlin

An article by
Gunnar Leue

The older the band, the earlier the evening, one could say in relation to Yes' concert on Sunday (May 12, 2024) in Berlin. The British prog rock legend, founded in 1968, made a guest appearance at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz, starting at 7 p.m. Even in the pre-Sandman era, there were a lot of older people milling around in the foyer of the uncharming building in the completely aura-less place in the heart of Berlin, and yes, actually, full of expectations.

Many wear T-shirts emblazoned with the distinctive Yes logo. In addition to the merch stand, where many fans still buy a new shirt, there are also graphics on display that come from designer Roger Dean, who designed several of the iconic Yes record covers. They are offered for sale at an expensive price, ranging from 175 to 6,000 euros. Among the graphics is also the template for the album “Relayer” from 1974 (which includes the classics “Soon” and “The Gates of Delirium”), to which the concert actually wanted to pay tribute.

“Classic Tales Of Yes” tour for the 50th album anniversary
At least that was what was planned in 2020, when the “Relayer” tour was originally supposed to stop in Berlin. Then came Corona, then the concert was postponed three times and now, in the year of the 50th album anniversary, the tour is no longer called “Relayer” but “Classic Tales Of Yes” tour.

Why? It's not exactly clear. Steve Howe, the 76-year-old guitarist, said the emphasis was just different. The band currently lacks the mindset to tour with the “Relayer” album. Maybe later, maybe not. As in real life, with Yes everything is a question of attitude.

Band with a lot of personnel confusion
Traditional, one might add. Because Yes have always been a band whose often changing members rarely put their attitudes and sensitivities aside for the benefit of the collective unity. Musicians were constantly joining and leaving due to artistic and other differences of opinion. Also Steve Howe several times.

As a highlight of the personnel confusion, two formations existed under the name Yes from 2017 to the beginning of 2020. One with ex-members Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and keyboardist Rick Wakeman, which has since disbanded. And one with Steve Howe, Alan White (Jay Schellen came in for the drummer who died in 2022), Geoff Downes, Billy Sherwood, Jon Davison. The latter only have Howe in their ranks, who was part of Yes in the glorious 70s, but they still present themselves with a set list that primarily celebrates the 70s phase.

In Berlin, Yes mainly play songs from the 70s
Because they were formative for the band and progressive rock as a whole, as Steve Howe, who was involved in them, rightly explains. This will undoubtedly please the audience. The mix of songs from “The Yes Album,” “Fragile,” and “Going For the One” is exactly what fans want to hear. Art rock at its best, “Time And A Word” and “I've Seen All Good People” from 1970 and 1971 sound so out of time that the seniors in the soft theater seats are happy.

“The main thing is that there’s nothing new,” that’s how the fans see it
Especially because singer Jon Davison not only has the same first name as original singer Jon Anderson, but is also extremely close to him vocally. Not only in the winding numbers, but also in the sometimes more compact songs like “Don't Kill the Whale” or “Turn Of The Century” from the late seventies.

In any case, the person sitting next to you is enthusiastic about the first half of the concert. “Great choice of songs, the main thing is that there’s nothing new.” But there's that after the break, in a modest dose: “Cut From The Stars” is the only song from the current album “Mirror To The Sky”. Ticked off and quickly back to the past, with a lush block from the album “Tales From Topographic Oceans”.
And the encores “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper” also go way back to the last century. At the final, Steve Howe is once again in great form, also in terms of sport. He hops around the stage on one leg playing guitar like Chuck Berry used to. Don't tell anyone that there's no rock'n'roll in art rock.