David Markfield

After viewing Yes in concert the other night, I just had to pause and wonder about the future of the band. Yes played in front of barely 4,000 people here in Indianapolis at Deer Creek Music Center which holds roughly 20,000. In fact, in the end they were giving tickets away just to get people to attend.

All the members of Yes are getting on in years.....all except Trevor are either 50 or fast approaching. Does it become worthwhile for them to do large tours at age 50 and to play in front of minimal crowds. I really tend to see one of a couple things happening with Yes:

a) they become a studio only band and cease touring
b) they simply call it quits
c) the band continues but in a different incarnation. Yes becomes Trevor Rabin, Billy Sherwood and a couple of other musicians as slowly one by one the older members of the band bow out.

Also after seeing the concert, I think I'd prefer if they just stopped doing older material altogether. They really cannot do it justice. Tony doesn't have the technique for Wakeman's parts (through no fault of his own) and Trevor totally lacks any sense of subtlety and texture on the guitar. They should merely stick with what they know best...the 90125 and on material... My fiancee who has never been to a Yes concert before and is not a major fan, said to me after hearing Trevor rip through Rounabout, "Its not supposed to sound like that is it?" No its not. And if the band cannot remain true to the spirit and sound of the older songs they shouldn't do them IMHO. As much as I love And You and I and Heart of the Sunrise, the way they were butchered, I'd rather hear the band do songs that they can do like Shoot High....or Miracle of Life.