SeanTGuitar

Another fine Yes tour that seemed to lack a certain spark that I just can't put my finger on. Yes they were back in arenas doing a show that harkened back to the Relayer tour with it's big props, the grandiose scope neccessary for a proper Yes show was there in abundance.

Still, somehow this one just didn't move me much. Their energy seemed lessened since the prior tour where Rick had just returned. They played very well, but something was missing for this fan. I was even sitting there watching Ritual and thinking "Sean, 15 years ago you would have thought you had died and gone to heaven seeing this. Why dosen't this seem to click now?!!!". My only guess is that seeing Masterworks and the first tour with Rick back for the 4th time satisfied my live Yes cravings and the rest was just a case of been there and done that.

It was great to hear Turn of the Century live on this tour, that was the hilight for me. And it's always great to hear South Side. Minddrive meanered a bit but was cool, though Howe just kinda noodled in spots- not quoting what was on the cd. Ritual was good, but Rick looked bored while playing it. Seemed an odd choice for this set. It's good on nights when other epics get played too (CTTE, or Awaken) in the set, but as the lone epic, seems an odd choice. Still, this was one of the better Yes shows I have seen, even if it didn't resonate much with me.

Doyle Clitschea

Any Yes without Rabin or Sherwood is always welcome.They are really not worthy of being in Yes.I thought the set list was fine personally!!!

Thomas E. Altman

As a much celebrated Yes fan since my cousin "dragged" me along to see Yes way back when in my home town of Toledo, Ohio: I have seen and heard such wonderful music spew forth into the airwaves and into the masses with open ears, minds and hearts. This show ranks up there as one of the best Yes concerts I have ever been to. Seeing them a total of ten times now with various line-ups and different stages, I have become a very loyal Yes fan until the day I die! Hopefully the "Gates of Delirium" will be full and ready for the rest of us true die hard Yes fans. In my life this group of very talented and spiritual musicians have influenced my overall life.
For there is truth, realism and effectiveness in every song of theirs no matter how short or how long....Thomas E. Altman 05/12/04

Jack

I was pleasantly surprised at the aesthetics of the set,,,not sophisticated, but it was good to my eyes. And its obviously cheap and easy to transport.

I was amazed not at what they played, but the way they played. I am usually not a great Alan White fan, but it seemed that he was more fluid not so square (in my opinion). Steve Howe was moving and showing more emotion than I had seen from him in eons. Wakeman, about always plays well, and Squire's greatness is a constant.

Given that it seems that they may not make a new album, they should think about playing new material live, and then sell the live CD's.

Does anyone know how many tix actually sold for the Phillips Arena show?

GARY

GEE Tullis Jethron I feel sad for you. And by the way Mind Drive was not from the 60's 70's...I would have like to see Release Release or Silent Wings of Freedom. Have you forgotten the ABWH album? Some great stuff in there...I agree the Rabin years peaked if you can call it that with the first record. But to dismiss everything since 1977 is being narrow minded. I wouldn't have any interest in Yes as an oldies only act, that is not what they are about. Thank god Yes is not as narrow minded as some "fans".

Tullis Jethron

The ONLY period of Yes that really matters is that period through the Yes album and GOing for the One ( about 1970-77). This is the period they will be remembered for and people will be marveling at it 500 years from now. Yes had to change their sound in the 80's due to the decline in Music business standards and the general dumbing down of the listening population, a decline that has sadly continued to this day. Look at the current musical landscape and it is appalling compared to what it was like in the late 60's early 70's. Honeslty folks the kind of music YES was playing in the 80's could have been done by any number of people and in fact it was. I wouldn't have minded hearing something from 90125 ( a decent album ) but Steve Howe did not even play on it so maybe he doesn't want to do those tunes.

What we got Wednesday night at Phillips arena was an absolute stunner of a show. I'm not crazy about Tales of the Topographic Oceans but Rutual was astounding! And YOu And I was Stunning and SOuth Side of THe Sky was a revalation. While Mind Drive was merely mind-blowing.

No complaints from this YES fan but next time I hope they do all four movements of Tales of The Topographic Oceans. Thanks Yes!!!

Bill Phillips

I hate to be the Simon Cowell of the group but the setlist was only exciting to the most ardent Yes fanatics. To end the concert with Ritual which was the entire side of an LP, was beyond comprehension. During the drum solo, I expected Alan White to explode ala Spinal Tap. Those of us that don't feel that "Ritual" is a masterpiece, got to wait 25 minutes for the next songs which turned out to be the encores. Instead of songs which were semi-popular, aka played on FM radio ever, we got an obscure Beatles cover (which was ok, I guess) and "Soon" which is a yawner. There just wasn't enough familiar stuff for the classic rock station listener. If you think about Yes's reawakening in the 80's, you'll realize that a legion of fans in their teens during that period only got to hear one song, "Rhythm of Love", that they heard while wearing out their cd's of 90125 and Big Generator. I don't think that's fair to those in their late 20's early 30's who looked forward to hear "the hits" during what was advertised as a 35 year anniversary tour. Several 30-something folks in front of me announced that they would never attend a Yes concert again because they felt ripped off. I'm thinking that maybe there was some contract problem with using the music from the "Rabin" years which would be the only excuse I could imagine for not including the only hit songs since the Going For The One album. That's one popular song from the last 25 years of their 35 year journey. The group was dead on, fantastic sounding, and amazing musically, but the setlist was not representative of a 35 year retrospective. Lastly, the standout was "Yours Was No Disgrace" which was incredible. Steve's wah effect panning back and forth from side to side was better than wearing headphones.

Chris Colhard

I thought this was a terrific show and shows that the band still has it! They seemed in good spirits and interacted with the audience well. South Side and And You And I were awesome but I also thought some of the "weaker" songs (to me) came off very well like Going for the One and Rythm of Love. Sound was generally very good for a large arena and Jon's voice was great sometimes and fair on other. Not sure if Steve should still be doing backup vocals but of course his guitar playing was unbelievable. My wife commented on how he is rarely mentioned as one of the best guitar players (which he obviously is)! My wife really enjoyed the acoustic portion which I thought was very good also although very similar to the one they simulcast to the movie theatre's on YESSPEAK. I also noticed some background vocals that seemed "sampled" but hey, it sounded good and yes these guys are getting older and voices aren't what they used to be so I liked it. Now if they start doing lip sync no one will go to see them...LOL I estimated the crowd at around 5000 which was nice because it did seem fairly intimate for a large venue. Peace and Love to all!

Floyd Pinkton

Yes was even better than I dared hope they would be. I'm wondering if this was a really "on" night cause they were just incredible. Everything worked well. THe fourth song Mind Drive ( 1st tour this song has been played) was great to hear and it segued into a south side of the sky that was worth the ticket price for me and then back into Mind Drive, YES!! EVerybody played and looked great too. Jon sang and hit everything. Other highlights were Ritual and an absolutely stunning "And You And I". I guess there were 8-10,000 there and people were going wild. All I can is I hope everybody gets a show this great. Yes are the best ever. See you next time.

Steven Sullivan

It was a fine show. I frankly (or luckily) have no idea what people have been bitching about. This was easily better than the last few shows with Wakeman I've seen. I've never seen these guys laughing and smiling so much on stage...*all* of them.

There were no train wrecks or even anything *approaching* train wrecks.

The sound was arena-standard: that is, when everyone's playing, you can forget about detail, but you get the general sense of what's going on. The quieter moments sounded terrific. Howe as nice and loud on every solo. Wakeman mostly cut through, but he was curiously far back in the mix during Ritual, which was my only real dissapointment with the sound. (Where he really shone, though, was not in his repetitive widdly-widdly lead lines, which become ever less impressive, but when he kicked in with the mellotron samples during And You and I...that sounded *great*) The vocal mix was fine (the only 'problem' was that Squire now declines to sing some needed backing vox.

The setlist was terrific. No complaints there, and they pulled off every song well (except perhaps the opener, but that's where the soundman has to do the most on-the fly changes). The decision to elide parts of Mind Drive was a wise one. (Squire's decision not to sing backing vox was not.) It came off far better than I'd expected. The 'Footprints' excerpt was delightful. Sweeet Dream and Every Little Thing both came off well. Wondrous Stories worked better live as an acoustic number than it ever did as a an electric one. I left the show a happy Yes fan. Doubtless the wide-load trailer-trash queen I waited on line behind, who was hoping they'd play 'Hearts' was disappointed, though.

The inflatables looked pretty cool from my seat, or wit binoculars (I had a 6th row seat courtesy of Melodie P, but I sat in the rear orchestra, behind the soundboard cage.) The robodrums *looked* cool...until they were actually activatednd mobile ...at which point they were too brightly lit to sustain the illusion of coolness. As for how they sounded, I couldn't really tell. (From the extensive notes about the set in the tourbook -- which is also a treat, all kudos to the Gottleibs -- I'm yet more convinced that it's a work in progress -- I hope they get the time/funds to finish it.)

I have no hesitation whatsoever recommending this show to long-time Yes fans. I look forward to seeing it two more times.

Estimated crowd: 3,000 -- being generous. I overheard talk that the arena had been providing upgrades so upper-tier peopel could move down.

Bill Bradley

Though I've been a long time Yes fan this was only the second time I've seen them...The show was fantastic of course, but what struck me most was the band's unique ability to connect with the audience. It was a half-house set up which added to the intimacy and the band seemed so personable. Jon Anderson walked the aisles during "Rhythm of Love". I was on the eighth row on the end and was thrilled to "high five" and to pat him on the back. He is such a gentle soul and his vocal range and clarity have not faltered one bit over the years. When the guys came out for the acoustic set, it wasn't just a concert, it was an evening out with friends...friends who happen to be damn fine musicians. Yes can still jam with the best of them as evidenced by "South Side of the Sky", etc. Definitely a concert for the ages and one I will always remember...