Tom Sampson

6/14/05 post date

Well, I went. My 3rd Yes show. I just sort of...you know...had to go. My college sweetheart, who I could never get into the ass kicking '70s stuff (even Drama from '80) LOVED the 90125 music. She was a pop lover all the way so that was a big step for her. This band captured a new audience for sure. She was living proof! She wanted to go with me but I would not go. This band was a farce I thought. (See my review of the 1979 Hollywood Sportatorium show) Seeing her go with some one else pissed me off - I sat there for an hour - got brave and called into work sick....and went to the show.

Because of my indecision I got there just a tad late. The band was on as I walked outside the arena to the front entrance. Squire hit this thundering note and I heard the building - no kidding - hit its resonance point or something because it VIBRATED loudly for a second or two. This made me hustle inside and the magic of Yes was in the air > but it was a teeny bopperish crowd. Rabin sounded out of tune and hacked Steve' s parts to bits in many places - as was his right. He wanted to be an individual. But to me more RESPECT should have been given to Steve' s parts by Trevor. I don' t know...after seeing In the Round shows...the lasers helped - Jon' s voice was Great...Chris still the best...Alan punding away...they DID have a modern sound. I left laughing at the Starship Trooper version though. It was an imposter of the versions the real (Wakeman/Howe) band can cook up. I yelled out a big "Imposters!" to get it off my chest and went home. So, I gave the show a C. (I heard expert reviewers on the way out saying "They were great. They sounded JUST LIKE the record." sarcastically..Hey!)

Now though?...I have learned to like it - alot. Can not wait until the 90125 live from Canada comes out in Aug. on DVD. Trevor got much better with age too. Loved the Generator, Union and Talk tours with him on stage.


Long winded, sorry - peace > out.

Joseph Palermo

The 4/19, 1984 Lakeland, FL show was the second of two nights in Lakeland. Having been a YES fan for 5 years, this was my first YES show at the age of 16. The most memorable moment for me was the song Hearts. The live performance of this song and the lazer image of two hearts overlapping, spinning throughout the auditorium was truly a profound experience that is beyond words for me. Wonderful.

John Nabors

The most memorable part of the show: Trevor Rabin (sitting in front of the keyboards) and Tony Kaye interweaving their solos back and forth under an inverted cone of blue laser light. Yow.