Marc May

It was great seeing Rick back where he belongs again....Had not seen him since the Union Tour.....Band was incredibly tight. SSOTS was played and Jon said something to the effect that he wanted to get this song right and they had tried to play it for awhile now. Revealing Science? Without a doubt the best piece of Yes music ever written. The whole crowd was quiet right before Ricks famous solo for Revealing and nearly everyone's jaw was opened watching him.... I remember that Roundabout was not played..... Great concert

John Sullivan

I just posted my first reminiscence of this group on the 90125 page, so I thought I'd add to this page, since this was probably my favorite show of theirs. I was very pleasantly surprised that they did stuff from Magnification, one of their best albums ever. Wakeman brings out the best in the others, I think, and his interpretation of the orchestral parts from those songs was masterful (even though it was funny watching him read the scores with spectacles---the boys are gettin' old). Steve Howe has finally trasformed himself into a shop teacher, but Squire and Wakeman still look cool together onstage. Me and my friend Nick were acting like churchgoers at a revival. Fantastic show! Got some great seats from a scalper (dead center in the pavilion). Watching this show with childhood friends Nick and Brooks (and Brooks' girlfriend Kirsten) made me feel young again.

Tayo Lopes

"We Have Heaven", "South Side Of The Sky", "Awaken", "America" could go down as the best sounding songs this or any other band for that matter have ever performed in concert. Simply spine tingling. I have heard better ENTIRE Yes concerts in my time but these 4 songs go down with some of their best performances ever. Grade A+ for these 4 songs...B- for the rest of the show. Still not bad.

Steve Sullivan

A Resounding Affirmation For Yes -- and Art-Rock
Monday, August 12, 2002
Dave McKenna

Several thousand Yes fans came to Merriweather Post Pavilion on Friday eager to root on the last of the progressive-rock giants still roaming. Prog, also called art-rock, sprang up in the early 1970s as nothing less than a rebuttal to all the popular music since Elvis. All the big bands were British, but proggers found their core audience to be American middle-class kids too insecure to dance and too comfortable to talk about revolution.

Yes's songs never relied on the verse-chorus-verse structure of all previous rock-and-roll; instead, a typical piece contained several "movements" loosely connected by a lyrical conceit regarding mountains, stars or the deep sea. The Yes faithful committed to memory every movement of 20-minute opuses with titles like "The Revealing Science of God."

Even without radio play, time was when Yes could fill stadiums -- the band packed RFK in 1976. Now touring with a classic lineup (Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Alan White and Rick Wakeman), Yes won't be playing any stadiums, but the size and fervor of the Merriweather crowd proved that the dinosaur's still got a strong kick. The nearly three-hour set shunned more accessible fare (singles "Your Move," "Owner of a Lonely Heart" and, most surprising, "Roundabout" went unplayed), but was heavy with faithful versions of the deep-album cuts from the 1970s that the hardest of the hard-core fans craved: "South Side of the Sky," "We Have Heaven" and 1977's "Awaken" (on which Squire played an oversize and Spinal Tap-ish triple-neck bass).

The very mature audience pumped enough fists and cheered every song so raucously that it seemed memories of adolescence were as responsible for the reactions as the performances were.

Andrew Caines

A pleasantly cool evening in Columbia saw a large crown converge on the covered open-air arena of the Merriweather Post Pavilion. As the show time of eight o'clock arrived the fairly comfortable plastic seats were still being filled, eventually leaving only a few small gaps in the central area and some empty seats at the sides.

The audience was large and incredibly enthusiastic. If ever there was an audience which loved a band, then this audience loved Yes.

Several bursts of applause failed to bring on the band, but around quarter past eight and to the tune of the "Firebird Suite", Jon in a lavender two piece sweat suit, Steve in a silver shirt and jeans, Chris in a pink shirt, black trousers and a long black jacket, Alan in a black t-shirt and Rick in a long silver jacket took to the stage to tumultuous applause.

They arranged themselves across the stage all facing the audience in order from left to right of Steve, John, Alan (behind), Chris and Rick. Behind them were three square sail-like projection screens with the small center one having a lighted tubular "Yes" logo. The projections were mostly simple coloured patterns and were tastefully done, adding atmosphere but not distracting. The lighting was good and mostly coloured, so my garment colours may be slightly off.

As would recur throughout the evening, the only way to stop the crowd applauding and cheering and sit down was to play, so the band launched into a thunderous rendition of "Siberian Khatru".

Jon, as hippy-happy as ever, greeted and thanked the crowd and introduced the next song with a mention of it's creator - Paul Simon. Jon would introduce several of the songs that evening in his own special way, while leaving a few not introduced to surprise the audience.

Every song got a standing ovation and a few (including "Awaken") got more than one. By the time the band played "Yours Is No Disgrace", the crowd stayed standing.

The inclusion of rarities "We Have Heaven", "South Side Of The Sky" and "Don't Kill The Whale" pleased the audience greatly, especially "South Side Of The Sky", which ended with a spirited jam. Unlike the "Yesshows" recording, this performance of "Don't Kill The Whale" was most impressive.

It's probably worth noting the absence of concert standards "Roundabout" and "Starship Trooper" from the set, leaving more time for the less often played pieces, though I had hoped for at least one "Keys to Ascension" piece now that Rick was back, preferably "Mind Drive".

After a beautiful performance of "The Revealing Science of God", Jon handed over to Steve while rest of the band left the stage. Steve had already shown that he was on good form with an unusual amount of variation in his performances and his solo slot was brilliant and received a bust of applause as the audience recognised "Leaves of Green". I didn't recognise his last piece.

After a short break, Jon cam back on and rambled about playing in his garage studio (of which there are pictures on his web site, he said) and played a nicely melodic new piece, his voice accompanied by his oddly narrow guitar until the last part when Rick joined in,. I later learned this was titled "Show Me".

Jon's suit changed to yellow and Steve's shirt changed to a dark chequered pattern when they emerged. Chris has long since shed his jacket, though Rick kept his.

The break itself included an amusing irony which I'm not sure many noticed. To the sides of the stage were raised screens which showed poorly coloured shots of the band during the performance and adverts at other times - mostly for XM Radio, who were apparently broadcasting the show. One of the adverts was a recruitment for the U.S. Army. In my mind I pictured this long line of hippies in their faded "Tales" t-shirts queuing up to kill for Uncle Sam.

Jon's voice was perfect this evening and was nicely placed in the good overall mix, though Steve seemed to too loud th

Relayer

Just a couple of things about this show..apparently the tour is being video'ed for a possible DVD release, and the show was taped, and will be re-broadcast on XM radio in 2 weeks....se the XM site for details. So we should be able to get some clean masters of this one...

Yves Latorte

In a word, tonight was spirited. The Classic Tour has a mojo going at this point and I agree with other postings that if you’re on the fence about going to see the old Yes, decide no more, you’re going. The presence of Rick Wakeman, whose fingers move as quickly as all those years ago, is surely the factor energizing the band.

This was not an over the top night for Yes but a very very good accounting of themselves. They’ve lost some speed on the fastball and the tempos are much slower, but this was the ole college try for real. The big crowd helped, Merriweather allows a maximum capacity somewhere in the vicinity of 15,000, and I ‘d say there were 10-12,000 people there. They played here for the first time 30 years ago to the month. This is a rock band, can we all stop and seriously contemplate this?

I thought The Revealing Science of God was the best interpretation of the night; very loose, totally unrushed and had that oceanic rustle about it that just stops time. TRSoG is very forgiving at the slower pace, at any slower pace. Lyrically, it’s all too true, now.

All night I was stunned by how good the vocal harmonies were. In fact Yes hit the pitches 99% of the time, which is an amazing, beautiful thing.

South Side of the Sky had an unexpected smoking conclusion, with Steve and Rick trading bars. Very satisfying. They filled out the studio version great, the live treatment letting it hang out just a bit more, which is why I used to go to a rock show.

Best solo of the night was Steve’s closer in Siberian Khatru, and Leaves of Green. The former really peeled my eyelids back and I thought briefly “uh-oh, this could be one of those magic dates…” But late in the second set Steve’s fire waned a little. Frankly I don’t know how he manages to play so much music in a night. The spectacles, balding pate with longish hair, and the way he leaned over his guitars made me want to call him Professor Steve Howe. The acoustic solos were lovely, betraying just how musical he has become over the years. His electric playing has always had this angularity about it that his acoustic work doesn’t have. Steve was very energetic all night, very into what he was doing. Body movement, crowd acknowledgement, smiles, that intensity half-crouch he sometimes does. He seemed so much more comfortable tonight, not so careful and studied as during the Masterworks show. To see his boney hands working on the video projection close-ups, was to appreciate how much work he has done in a life on the guitar.

Rick and Chris looked happy and enjoying themselves greatly. Chris is still the perennial showman and its true he dropped notes that shook the place. Alan worked his ass off and perhaps turned in the best all around showing of the night. When Steve, Chris or Rick may have missed a cue, or came in behind the beat, Alan did not let the train stop.

Yet I’m always pausing over how musical Jon is, how overlooked his sense of rhythm. How ‘bout the gong work in TRSoG, or the harp action in Awaken? His voice was in wonderful form, sang comfortably within his range throughout. His “Show Me” had the weight of a Dylan tune. That guy knows how to say right things to a world hurting. Jon was very easy at the mike tonight, not too flighty, but feet on the ground taking lucid unspoken stock of the Yes legacy and how nurturing it has become, how many people it touches. He really has grown fully into the precocious elder stuff that has marked his whole career (the same that invited critic derision all those years ago). His credentials in the spirit really mean something now, last night was proof, you could just feel it. 10,000 aging and wizened persons wouldn’t have shown up if it weren’t true.

This group loves to play Heart of the Sunrise and Awaken, they make them look easy but were entirely inside the music. Awaken had me tear-eyed laughing in ecstasy at the climax. Rick Wakeman

Colorado Mountain Girl & Prozakcbluesman

What an awesome concert! The band's chemistry was great, they really enjoyed playing together and seemed to be having a great time. Rick Wakeman is phenomenal, he certainly makes a huge difference in their sound, both live and studio. He certainly can replace the entire orchestra from the Symphonic tour of 2001! Welcome back Rick, we hope your stay is a long and productive one!

Our favorite songs were America, We Have Heavan > South Side of the Sky, Steve's acoustic bit of "The Ancient", Chris and Alan's Whitefish, and Yours is no Disgrace. Of course, Siberian Khatru, Revealing Science of God, and Awaken were incredible as well. The hairs on my face and arms were standing on end during the second half of Awaken! Nice to see Magnification > Don't Kill the Whale and the beautiful Jon and Rick solo spots/duets.

We are looking forward to seeing these gentlemen play together again in the Fall. Hopefully we can see some other songs like To Be Over, And You and I, Perpetual Change, Turn of the Century, Parallels and Starship Trooper would be nice. Of course I could go on listing their whole back catalouge!!! Thanks so much to YES and looking forward to seeing the extended YES family all again very soon!

Colorado Mountain Girl & Prozakcbluesman

What an awesome concert! The band's chemistry was great, they really enjoyed playing together and seemed to be having a great time. Rick Wakeman is phenomenal, he certainly makes a huge difference in their sound, both live and studio. He certainly can replace the entire orchestra from the Symphonic tour of 2001! Welcome back Rick, we hope your stay is a long and productive one!

Our favorite songs were America, We Have Heavan > South Side of the Sky, Steve's acoustic bit of "The Ancient", Chris and Alan's Whitefish, and Yours is no Disgrace. Of course, Siberian Khatru, Revealing Science of God, and Awaken were incredible as well. The hairs on my face and arms were standing on end during the second half of Awaken! Nice to see Magnification > Don't Kill the Whale and the beautiful Jon and Rick solo spots/duets.

We are looking forward to seeing these gentlemen play together again in the Fall. Hopefully we can see some other songs like To Be Over, And You and I, Perpetual Change, Turn of the Century, Parallels and Starship Trooper would be nice. Of course I could go on listing their whole back catalouge!!! Thanks so much to YES and looking forward to seeing the extended YES family all again very soon!

Dave Knight

I have been a YES fan since 1972, and this was my first YES concert. I was blown away. Thank You Jon, Chris, Steve, Rick, and Alan!!!!!
And a special thanks to my friend and fellow YES fan - Brad.

relayer_25

Let me first say that I am 16 and this is my 1st Yesshow. It was quite a rockin' show featuring the great Classic lineup playing all the 70's classics. The show kicked off with Siberian Khatru. For some reason, Jon's mic wasn't loud enough during half the song but luckily it was corrected. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hear him sing. One great treat for old and new yesfans alike was playing We Have Heaven/South Side Of The Sky which hasn't been played live completely in 30 years. Alan White changed the beginning drum rhythm of America; actually sound Bruford-style but quite awesome. Yes treated the old classics great; practically all the songs IMO were better than the versions featured on the Keys To Ascension albums. They played 2 songs from Magnification, In The Presence Of & Magnification. Sounds somewhat different without the orchestra that was on the album. Jon's wife, Jane, was in the front row; he dedicated the Tour Song to her. We had a very spirited crowd and Jon I believe tried to recollect a past show. Suprisingly and sadly, they didn't play Close To The Edge or And You And I completely and had no time for Roundabout. My friend Chris was hoping they'd play Yes Album songs and he was very pleased to hear them play Yours Is No Disgrace. Nonetheless, Everyone got to play marvelous solos. Howe's Leaves Of Green sounded as fresh as the album version. Chris got a little creative during his solo Whitefish and he shook the hole pavilion by playing a few bass notes. Yea, he just did a slide note and everyone was shaken. Quite amusing actually. It was nice to hear Howe and Squire also get a chance to talk to the audience and was a real treat for me. If only Rick or Alan could say something... They also changed clothes somewhat during intermision. Rick's cape really made me smile as it reminds me of the cape he wore on the tours back in the early 70's. Thanks guys for playing such a great show!!! Hope to see the same lineup next year.

Normnomo

Here is what I know about the show.....

1. Overall it was proof that Yes does not need a great stage show of
lights and such to put on a great show.

2. Alan and Chris' solos worked great in 97 and they did a better
oncor tonight of the same material. Chris did a fine job of working
the crowd with his solo bass show.

3. Rick looked weak with his frail body and long hair...he had a
Phantom of the Opera look at times bent over and his hair touching
the keys. He is still the man!!!! You can't replace him and studio
work with him and Yes will be highly sought after. He did a great
job....welcome back.

4. Jon was very good.... age is not a factor with his talent other
to say that he gets better every time I hear him.

5. Steve is becoming the ultimate perfectionist. He will be around
for years to come.

6. No music was played from the 60's, 80's or 90's (Except Chris'
solo). I really enjoyed the fact that they play a few songs each
time around not heard in a while but Jon must admit that Drama was a
album and Steve has to play a few more from the Rabin years.

Just to let you know..... I was the guy that was busted in the third row swapping MD's just before RSOG. There goes my boot for Yesswap!!!

Skyryder

Same set list. Encore was YIND. They ran out of time, so no Roundabout. They still sound amazing! The volume started at medium intensity, but really cranked in the second half. I don't know how Chris Squire does it, but it seemed he found a resonant frequency for the pavilion, and could just shake the audience by dropping bass notes. Steve Howe didn't miss a note. I heard 1 mistuned oscillator on one note on the mini-moog from Rick. Jon's wife was in the front row, and he sang her a song he wrote in his garage....he mentioned [Link] as a url where you can see his 'garage' set-up. Wakeman IS the keyboardist for this band, IMO. While the keys were sometimes lost in the mix, he nailed every solo, and fill. No mellotrons or Hammonds in his rig any more, but he used one Korg Triton exclusively for Hammond sounds, and another Triton for the string fills. I was on Howe's side of the stage, so didn't get to see all of his rig...I did notice a Roland, a GEM, and one mini-moog, but there were several others as well. (As an aside, I spoke with Keith Emerson last year, who stated he and Rick had been discussing a tour together. As much as I would have liked to see that, I think this is really 'home' for RW.) RSOG was amazing, as was Heart of the Sunrise. I never really liked Don't kill the Whales, but was pleasantly surprised by how it came off live. And South Side of the Sky was a real treat. See these guys!