Stevie B (The Beard)

What can I add that everyone here hasn't already said? Yes, the band were superb. Yes, the orchestra were magnificent (and some were very attractive I may add) Yes, the songs chosen were spot on (with a few exceptions. I may hear 'live' South side of the Sky or Heart of the Sunrise some day)......but do they have always have to end with 'I've seen all good people' all the time? It is a long blown out, repetitive, gospel-like song that drives me nuts. Finish on a true classic guys! i.e Close to the Edge or Gates of Delirium.

Yann Clochec

[before Magnification] Chris goes to the side of the stage to get a refill on his drink

Meanwhile a stage tech takes Chris lyrics sheet from its place at the foot of Chris' mike and puts it at the foot of Jon's mike. Only Chris' sheet has only the lines *he* sings, not the complete song.

Chris enters back on stage, sees the screw up and retreats back to the side.

Steve, who has seen *nothing* starts playing the opening riff and the orchestra follows

Jon, not having the correct sheet, yells "wait wait" and Steve and the orchestra come to a crashing halt.

Jon mumbles something coming from the joke he did *before* "Trooper" while stage tech fumbles with lyrics sheets and finally gets them right.

Steve restarts but Chris is a bit late and throws both Steve and the orchestra off. Some screeching noises from the orchestra while Keitel tries to get everyone playing the same bar and Steve stops playing for some bars.

Everybody finally find themselves on the same note at the same time and here we go !!!!!!

Another good one at the start of "Don't go". Actually the "Don't take love for granted" intro uses vocal samples to beef up the sound and Tom triggers them. First try (Jon and Chris) "Don't taaaake...." *nothing*. Second try "Don't taaake...." *nothing*. Chris turns towards Tom, with some gesture meaning "Hey Tommy boy WAKE UP". Third try (Jon and Chris) "Don't taaaake" (Jon, Chris and tapes) "loooove foooor graaaanted" and everyone has a sigh of relief ;-)

Nigel Bamber

Have just come down to earth after an amazing concert last night. Yes really put their heart and soul into it and were brilliant.

Highlights were:

Gates - the top highlight
Ritual
And you & I
In the presence of
Magnification
Close to the Edge

Gates was superb and the moments just before Anderson came in with 'soon oh soon the light', it was if I had been transported into another world - quite sublime.

It was almost as if JA could also feel the 'tension' in the air, as he said when the song had finished that the band could really feel everyone in the audience listening to every note/sound/chord being played.

After that everything was slightly anticlimatic, until Squire ,who was brilliant on Ritual , really drove that song with inspired playing.

I have always been a fan of Starshiptrooper ( and still am) but it seemed a bit tame after Gates.

Other observations:

Jon played a 2 minute tour song about traffic jams in London and ducks !! (if I remember correctly), which was amusing, as was the fact that they had to restart Magnifiaction due to a mix up with the words.

I was too far back for my liking (row Y) although centrally based but managed to get right to the front (next to the stage) for the last two songs.

I yelled to Jon (after Roundabout), 'Please do Gates tomorrow', he turned to me, smiled and put his hands to his throat - as if to say 'it depends on my vocal chords' - so we will have to see tonight. I got the impression that he would like to do it it he can, due to the fans reaction and his earlier comments.

Alan White looked 'pale as a sheet' and completely knackered with sweat pooring off him at the end - i do wonder how much longer he can keep it up.

Howe was majestic
Squire great
Anderson great form
Tony Breslin (?spelling) - good performance - (i personally didn't miss Igor or Rick) and he and Chris had two or three sparring rifs together which was fun to watch.

Finally, I met fellow AMY contributors Henry P ,Yann C and Simon B in the foyer afterwards and will no doubt see them again tonight.

For me, the best concert from them yet.

Kevin Brudenell-Maylin

All I can say is a big WOW. This was without doubt one of the best Yes concerts I have seen. The performances were tight and the guys seemed very relaxed. The impromptu "Thank-you London - there's the ducks and ducks and ducks" improv between Jon and Alan before In The Presence Of.. was quite amusing as was Jon stopping Steve after the intro to Magnification because he didn't have the words - is this a group that is finally comfortable with itself at long last?

The orchestra were excellent and all seemed really into the music as they were swaying to the rhythms and clapping along through most of the songs.

The impact of the orchestra on the longer set pieces Clost To The Edge, Gates Of Delirium and Ritual was amazing as was the drum battle at the end between Alan, Chris and Jon.

Excellent throughout - when's the next tour?

David Brown

Quite simply an astonishing set list superbly played by the guys ably supported by a very tight orchestra. The highlight for me has to be "The Gates of Delirium" - my favourite song and one I never expected to hear live. Alan was especially impressive during this piece. The orchestra brought another dimension to "Gates", as they did to the percussion section of "Ritual" and the big chordal sections of "And You And I". Tom Brislin had the parts down to a tee and I for one did not miss Rick or even Igor. Steve and Chris were excellent and Jon was in good voice. "In The Presence Of" was the new song which translated best to the stage.

Thanks Yes - see you in 2002/3? How about "To Be Over" next time?!