WURM

Awaken got a big ovation from many people who just adore it. I also got the impression that this view is not shared by everyone including me. To me this song was drawn out and it simply bored me. Rick's keyboard section to me went on way to long and it's just plain dull. This song to me is what defines prog that is just plain too pompous for it's own good. The song is imo simply overrated. While it got a big ovation from it's diehard lovers it seemed to sap the emotion out of the crowd. There was no energy when Yes left the stage. I was in the section right in back of the orchestra. I looked around and many people were simply not clapping or going crazy to get Yes back on stage. THE ABOVE COMMENTS ARE FROM THE LAST REVIEW. This guy has the nerve to say that Awaken is overrated. HA,HA, HA, HA. From where I was sitting people were going nuts and were screaming for them to come back. Awaken is the greatest studio and live song ever!!!! In 1977 people were going out of their minds, during and after Awaken!!!!!! 1978 & 1979 Awakens were beyond words!!!!

SuperYESfan

Everyone, YES, was Backstage.

Rick first [and he was the last to leave] He was in a great mood, very friendly, said he will stick around for a studio Cd. We asked for a Masterpiece, he said they are always searching for one!

Alan was in good spirits, he talked about going to theWho tonight,

Jon wondered past everyone waving hello. I got him to come and sign my shirt! He split right away.

Steve made his entrance and was in a great mood. he hung out for quite a while. He finally seems happy with the Band! He is at the height of his career!

Chris was Last..He was in a GREAT Mood too! I asked him about the 3 neck Bass. He said the original is in theHARD Rock. This is a Japanese copy! I said i'll bet the Jap copy is Cheaper, He said "Yea it was FREE...LOL

Thanks guys for another memorable evening!

CLMoon

YES, THEY WERE EXCELLENT AT JONES BEACH
By DAN AQUILANTE

August 5, 2002 -- WHEN you listen to Yes, you've got no question that the quintet has total mastery over the music. Unlike younger jam bands who trip their way through music, Yes - at Jones Beach Saturday night - made it feel as if every note was planned, each transition calculated, every tempo change measured.

One reason that the tunes were symphonic tight was that the band truly knows itself - this Yes line-up mirrors the '72 roster, with Steve Howe on guitar, Rick Wakeman playing keyboards, Jon Anderson singing, Chris Squire thumping bass and Alan White drumming.

White has the most difficult job in Yes. He has to play odd and straight meters at the same time, set intricate tempo changes and maintain a rhythm cycle over the course of epic length songs. He provided the framework for nearly every song. He was outstanding.

The same could be said for all of the Yes men. Whether Howe was plucking a mandolin, caressing a classical guitar or swiping at his six-string electric, the bug-eyed picker was inspired.

Then there was Wakeman, who dealt speed, precision and heart in the keys. It was a performance that made you want to shake his hand - because he was so impressive and to check if he has six fingers per hand.

It wasn't a perfect show. The band rolled over and played dinosaur dead on a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "America."

They've been doing this song for years, and it continues to sounds like a mess. Yes should just say no to "America."

Yes fans will argue the intricacies of this concert, but few would disagree that the end-show finale of "Roundabout" and "Yours Is No Disgrace" was where the goodness peaked.

The band is probably sick and tired of playing those old songs, yet the guys presented them with the kind of care that said thanks to an audience that's stuck with them for more than 30 years.

Steven Gross

Very good Yes concert at Jones Beach. Good weather. A bit hot but not uncomfortable. A few random thoughts about the show (not in order of performance}

I thought that the group sounded a bit tight on Siberian Khatru. I also didn't find it as together as it should have been. They didn't really kick into gear on this one until the ending musical section after the vocals ended. This ending section really cooked.

I thought that America was really well done. Excellent harmonies. I thought that the group sounded tight on this one, contrary to what I've heard. I'm glad they did it.

In the Presence Of and Magnification both sounded good but not great without the orchestra. Obviously this is perfectly understandable. I thought Rick did a good job of doing the parts previously done by orchestra. Still better and fuller sounding with an orchestra. These two songs were not that well received by the audience, probably having a lot to do with the audience being unfamiliar with them.

We Have Heaven was cool and South Side of the Sky was very well done. Rick again did an excellent job in the middle section. It got a tremendous ovation, probably the biggest of the evening.

The Revealing Science Of God was my favorite piece of the evening. It was performed beautifully. Anderson sounded great on this one and was in excellent form the whole night.

Don't Kill the Whale was well done even though I'm not crazy about the song. They did a good job on it.

Anderson's new song was real pretty and I liked it. I thought that Howe's solo acoustic section was excellent. To me he is and demonstrated the whole evening why he is the best musician in Yes. His guitar playing the whole night was graceful and subtle when necessary and filled with good chops when required. I thought he had a great night. I enjoyed Wakeman's solo piece even though a lot of it was some fast keyboard wankary.

Heart of the Sunrise was terrific. Awaken I have a real problem with. This to me is no spot for Awaken. Not as your last song before leaving the stage. It killed the emotion in the crowd. To me you leave the stage with a more upbeat song such as Starship Trooper.

Awaken got a big ovation from many people who just adore it. I also got the impression that this view is not shared by everyone including me. To me this song was drawn out and it simply bored me. Rick's keyboard section to me went on way to long and it's just plain dull. This song to me is what defines prog that is just plain too pompous for it's own good. The song is imo simply overrated. While it got a big ovation from it's diehard lovers it seemed to sap the emotion out of the crowd. There was no energy when Yes left the stage. I was in the section right in back of the orchestra. I looked around and many people were simply not clapping or going crazy to get Yes back on stage. It they had left after a Starship Trooper, you would have had a better reaction.

The energy came back to the crowd during a ripping version of Roundabout. Everyone standing and having a good time. Yours Is No Disgrace to me was an excellent closer. Great energy and Howe was absolutely on fire.

Note to all Wakeman haters. Wakeman is Yes's best keyboardist during live performances. The answer is simple. The keyboards are out there in the mix unlike Yes's other fill ins. I thought Rick did a very good job most of the night. It was nice to actually "hear" the keyboards for a change.

You know, I'm a little tired of everyone saying what a great musician Squire is. Squire may be one of the better bass players in rock, but I still think he's vastly "overrated". His solos are full of showy emotion and energy and little else. His solo to me was unimaginative and lacked what Steve Howe does best. Squire's solos are not subtle or graceful or tasteful.

I'd take Jon Camp of Renaissance or Entwistle of the Who over Squire.