Glenn Huey

Thursday, June 9, 2016 5:40 PM

I saw the first ever live Tales From Topographic Oceans concert in Gainesville, Florida. They opened with Siberian Khatru with some goofs. Then they did Close To The Edge with a few more goofs. Then Steve did his solo spot. Then Rick did his solo spot and did the big dramatic ending obviously expecting the guys to come back out ( but they didn't come back out on cue). Rick stops playing and walks over to Chris's mike and says "Excuse me" and he walks off stage. A couple minutes later a dis-embodies voice says "Ladies and gentlemen please be patient as we are having some technical difficulties". About 10 or fifteen minutes later they all come out and did all 4 sides of Tales perfectly. Then they did Roundabout as an oncore and made some mistakes in that also. Apparently, they had an enormous falling out backstage with Rick who didn't want to do the entire Tales album on the tour. The concert was in the white sports pavilion next to the Gainesville Football stadium.

Mitch Aunger

Hi all - great site!

This show was my first Yes concert. I was a junior in High School there in Gainesville. Don't remember exactly how a friend and I decided to go but we did and I still remember the event fondly (tho I don't really remember much of the show itself).

I found Yes thru my cousin who was in college and lived in South Carolina. One weekend on a visit, he told me about going to see Yes and he thought they were great - then he played an album for me (I believe it was Yessongs) which got me hooked.

Erik and I were in the nose bleed left side balcony of the gym at the University. That meant we were way above the stage and off to the side - a top view for my first show :)

One of us brought a little hand held tape recorder - I think it was mine because for years I had the tape of that show. I unfortunately think it was pitched decades ago because the sound was horrific! One of the things that I remember most from the show was actually something my friend said before the show ever started... we were joking around and Erik said "Ever eat a pick-up truck? Many parts are edible" and we laughed and laughed (note: this was the time of Euell Gibbons who had a commercial on TV for Grape Nuts cereal - and his tag line was "Ever eat a pine cone? Many parts are edible" - as I recall he died many years later from a heart attack - note: Google tells me he died in 1995 not long after this show - hmmm).

Anyway, other things I recall from the show: The stage set was amazing - this was just after the release of Tales and I hadn't heard it yet, but the set was the Roger Dean stuff and I was stunned when we saw it.

I remember being amazed at Wakeman's ability to play so many keyboards at one time - I don't recall him playing thru the intermission, but heck it was my first show. I also remember the trademark long robe he wore... my feeble mind says it was gold that day, but who knows.

I really don't remember much more about the show I'm afraid. I do remember they played Tales and I ran out as soon as I could and bought the album. Wish I could remember more!

I've seen Yes many times since - tho not nearly enough. They continue to be my favorite music and still listen to them practically daily on my iPod while working.

Had fun the other day with my 6 year old... she asked me who my favorite band was... I said "Yes" - she said... "no, tell me what your favorite band is"... I said "Yes" --- you get the point... it went on and on like the old "Who's on first" routine and I had a blast with it :)

Mitch

Schultzie

[Gainesville, FL is] where Rick Wakeman decided that during the intermission between Close to the Edge and Tales that he would entertain the audience with a 20 minute keyboard solo.