Rick

I wasn't going to write, because it's late, and I'm tired, etc, and I came home and went to bed. But I couldn't sleep, so now, much later, here I am... Abbreviated show...90 minutes or so, as you all know by now. Wonderful sound, great show...so glad I went--going back tomorrow.

Every time I see these guys they seem to play at an even higher level than the last time! There was nothing between Wakeman and me but his keyboards and a few feet of stage. I heard him more from his own personal stage monitor than the house...which was true of all the band. I heard Squire's bass coming directly out of his Ampeg cabinet, which was miked. Of all the many times I've seen Yes, I've never sat this close to Squire, who was next to Wakeman. Man oh man... the sound of his bass and the incredible precision with which he handled the Yes music was something to behold. Powerful as can be. He was so animated, too. I remember thinking that this guy and his bass are one, they are inseperable... He played with such power and strength,and his tone was so incredible, it just shook the place, and he knew how to deliver every note, and when to physically animate his lines, and accents.... truly a wonder to watch and hear... He simply was as impressive as can be. It's amazing how the bass parts are equally as exciting and important as any other in the music... how the bass is such a lead instrument...driving/leading the band as if it were his race horse,and he was whipping it down to the finish line... I was totally impressed with Chris Squire. And then, after a tough, tough passage where he played his ass off, and the music settles down, he gives a wonderful smile to the crowd, or a wink to a band member, and you can really feel his warmth and originality and sincerity come through. He truly loves being in Yes, and playing this music.... what a great band for a musician to be in, because the framework of the music is so wonderful, and open.

Wow...it's hard to believe I'm talking about Chris Squire like this, huh? haha...But hey... I came away impressed. Usually, I sit by Steve Howe, or back in the middle and you don't get that 'first row' view of things like I did tonight.... I've always loved Squire, and his bass work on the albums is mind blowing. But, over the years, he's perfected his 'live' sound, and the bass parts are now PART of him, haha... so 'live', he kills it. So, being right there in front of Squire, so close, (we had eye contact many times throughout!) I had my first real opportunity to ever focus on him, and of course, Wakeman... Squire looks old...and worn, and when he smiles he looks like a typical Englishman you'd see in a pub in some small town, wasted on a few pints of stiff brew... He's quite a character... a real one of a kind, true English musician...

Wakeman: I could not believe how old Wakeman looked. Between Squire and Wakeman, Howe actually looked YOUNG..haha..... (For those of you don't know, Howe looks very frail the past few years!--aging poorly.)

This was weird: Wakeman looked like an old classical master...these huge hands, and this stoic, blank face that intensely concentrated on the keyboards... He truly did look like an older day classical musician brought back to life, or 'transported' onto the Yes stage.... very odd. Of course, they are all getting old to the point of looking like 'old masters' on stage, which of course, they really are...in every sense of the word--.Every guy in this band is among the best players in the world...and we know this is true by the fact that the best players in the world all recognize Yes' musicianship and what they've contributed to music... Even the good jazz guys know that Yes is for real... Yes has earned the respect of musicians, and that's the best compliment of all... Bass players KNOW how good Squire is. Keyboard players KNOW how good Wakeman is, etc, and guitar players, no doubt, have watched Steve Howe win Guitar Player Magazine's 'Guitarist of th

Man in a White Car

This is an update for the Las Vegas shows for anyone planning to travel to Las Vegas:

Be advised that according to Yesworld the shows in Las Vegas are to be abbreviated 90 minute shows due to time constraints imposed on the band by the LV Hilton. I urge all of you to call/email the band and the LV Hilton to complain as this was announced only 2 weeks before showtime with no advance warning. This was truly a shocking announcement from Yesworld.