Grignion Schrama

Some people never go to festivals, and if they do, they'll always complaining!
Let me tell you that the Arrow Rock Festival in Lichtenvoorde, Holland was a perfect organised festival, with even a restaurant at the back of the field to relax or have a decent meal.
People like to drink a couple of beers, see some bands, and when the headliner happens to be YES, you can't expect everybody to be quiet, like in a concerthall!
I was standing only 10 metres from the stage and all I saw around me, were happy faces, people enjoying the show.
And then there's some guy, a certain Ruud, complaining.
Only a dumb asshole didn't knew that Yes was only going to perform for 90 minutes, and yeah, off course they had to play some hits, since maybe half of the crowd were not familiar with their more obscure songs.
And that was the main attraction of this festival: a bunch of bands from the 60's and 70's playing all their old, most familiar songs to please a festival crowd, and they did!
I had nothing to do with the organisation; I don't even live near the place, but I thought it was great in the open air, in the middle of nowhere...

Ruud E

Yes In Holland

Last night Yes was in Holland, again.
Before proceeding, here's a plea to the group:
Dear Yes, I know we were spoiled in 2001 with two fantastic concerts in Amsterdam,
by many considered as THE highlight in your career.
But please, please next time when you come to Holland,
1. please play the same set as the night before
2. please play in a venue not ment for animals.

Details?
As you may remember Yes played Ahoy last year, a terrible place with bad acoustics
and large parts with only standing places. They played a song they didn't play before
that tour "I've seen all good people".

This time it was ten times worse. They played a festival, as headliners. In comparison
to the previous night in Dusseldorf there were no sculptures, no robokicks and the setlist
was shortened to 90 minutes.
But that wasn't the worst, no the venue where this took place was in the middle of nowhere
and the place was covered with straws and (cow)-shit. (Really!!)
I was at front but exactly behind me there were twenty people around me, who sang
the full(that is the 2nd part) of the show in my ears, trembled the floor and were dancing against my back. Well, well what a nice way to listen to Yes. Come on guys, can't you do ONE decent show in
Holland, in a proper venue.

To make things worse they changed the setlist (auch, here we go again)...Not only was it shortened but we got Owner Of A lonely Heart in electric version (without any of the keyboard effects, or
solos, which were handled by Wakeman in a "simple" way on the Piano...) My god and after that Rhythm Of Love... What a setlist. The rest after MindDrive was one big-hit-bazooka to please
the festival audience. Thank you for five per cent...

Grignion Schrama

No Roger Dean stage and not the full three hour show!
But what we did get was the best show of the day, indeed!
Caravan, Iron Butterfly, Heart and of course Dutch pride, Golden Earring played all very well, but YES was the highlight!
Also it was good for all those who came from Vai/Satriani (right before Yes) to see what it's all about in good music: emotion and good songs in stead of that guitar virtuosity lacking any emotion and no song in sight!
Okay, YES:
A short, 93 minute show, including And you and I and Starship trooper as my personal favourites.
Very brave to play Mind drive and Footprints in stead of crowd pleasers like Yours is no disgrace or Ritual, but I did missed them.
Again shivers to my spine during most of the show.
They were the perfect headliner of the festival!

Grignion

Ruud Ermers

No robokicks, no inflatables

Couldn't have it made worse than this I think {: {: From LDR to the end the audience went nuts and so did I.. off to bed to recover from my worst Yesshow ever.