Steve Roehr

Tuesday, February 17, 2015 8:32 PM

My 9th Yes concert, and what a firecracker of a show. I was in Yes heaven. Not only were they returning from what had begun to feel like routine breakups, but my eight favorite musicians in the world were on stage in front of me, playing the greatest music ever written, and seemingly enjoying every second of it. I loved the little skit Chris and Trevor put on before blowing our minds away with a killer reading of "Solly's Beard".

There just aren't enough superlatives.

Awaken was a gem set apart in a galaxy of gems. Heart of the Sunrise as well. Great night. The venue was intimate yet large, and it was the closest my wife and I had ever been to the stage. (3rd row, if memory serves).

After the show, my wife got an autograph for me from Steve Howe who was stopped in a small car, and actually rolled down the window and did the autograph for her, which I don't recall being in his nature reportedly. But the topper of the night was my wife's again. She saw Trevor and Jon getting into a limo they were sharing. Trevor had just climbed in, but Jon was talking to someone, and hadn't entered the limo yet. My wife started running toward the limo. A security guard started moving between her and Jon, and Jon said....."no....let her through". She got to him. They spoke for a second, and then he kissed her on the cheek.

It was a night neither of us will ever forget. Another great Yes concert for the books.

Clydetri

It was the closest venue to me in north Alabama. I made plans to fly an old girl friend into Dayton to do the concert with me. I drove up and we stayed at the Hilton. The Sunday morning after the concert we were enjoying the Hilton buffet when she says "isn't that the lead singer in the omelot line?" Darn if it wasn't. I walked over and thanked him for the great concert the previous night. We made small talk for a couple minutes and I departed. Oh, he was glorious in a flowing cape and jewlery that morning. An hour or so later I was going thru the lobby when I turned towards the elevator and he was in the back of it. We made eye contact and he waved!

Dori Kelly

This day was truly one of the most memorable for my husband Gary and myself.

On arriving at the Nutter Center a security person made me open my purse. Normally this would really piss me off but nothing was going to bring me down today. So we proceded going inside, bought a t-shirt and a program, and then went to our seats, which were sixth row from the stage. Not to shabby eh? If the show wasn't sold out it was damn near close. The Nutter Center is new and approximately seats 12,000.

The show was to begin at 7:30, it didn't but what show ever does? When I heard the beginning of Firebird Suite I checked my watch, it was 7:50. When they came on stage Trevor and Chris were right in front of us. Everyone in the audience was standing, so short me stood on my seat and yelled "Hey Chris!". Yes, maybe it is in my head but even Gary agrees that he looked right at me and smiled. It made my whole night.

The song list for both sets were the same; except at one point Jon made reference to the blue lights and told us if we knew this song to sing because they were going to record it. Of course it was "Your Move / All Good People". I hope the Dayton show makes it onto a live album if there is one.

When Rick came around to our side of the stage Gary said that isn't Rick. I said what the hell are you talking about? He said it looks like he has lost 40 pounds! He really did look great. Did anyone else notice? Rick was in rare form. He and Trevor looked like they were having a blast together. At the end of the show they hugged each other.

Trevor looked so relaxed. YES struck gold when they recruited this guy. What a talent.

Steve was quite a piece of work as usual. I love to watch him play, he has the greatest expressions. Although, I wish he would have traded "Mood For a Day" or "The Clap" for "Sketches in the Sun".

Jon was marvelous. I still get chills when I hear him sing live. He communicates well with the audience. At one point (I think it was during "Tempus Fugit") Jon sat down behind Bill's drumset and was playing a little drums. What a guy! It amazes me how he still hits those high notes. He'll never lose it.

Bill and Alan were great togther. They never missed a beat. Bill's drumkit still amazes me.

Chris Squire whom Gary refers to as "the daddy of the bass" was beyond trying to describe. We loved watching him play as well as sing. He and Jon sounded perfect together. During "Awaken" he was great with the triple neck bass. About a year ago, Gary and I saw his triple neck bass in the Hard Rock in New York City. So of course Gary took a picture of my friend and I touching it.

The guys only did "Roundabout" for an encore which disappointed me a little. The show was over at about 10:50, and was worth every cent spent.

On returning home we were checking out the program and noticed Doug Gottlieb wrote the text. He ought to write an authorized bio of the band, we need a new one. Turning to the back of the program I noticed Chris thanked a couple of companies. I looked again and he also thanked the "Hard Rock Cafe for letting him use a piece of history once more". I thought I had seen that bass once before.

All in all the performance of these musical genius' was powerful. It would be nice to see them all make an album together. Wishful thinking? Maybe not. Lets just hope they don't make us wait another two years for more of the music we want to hear.