Rod Harmon - Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Saturday, April 20, 2024 4:02 PM

Retelling untold tales of Yes-terday

Rod Harmon
April 30, 2004
Finally, after decades of uncertainty, here was a chance to answer one of rock's lingering questions:

Just what in Sam Hill was "Tales from Topographic Oceans" supposed to be about, anyway? Especially when you're not using drugs?

"Well, it's no more obtuse than, 'Mountains climb out of the sky and they stand there,'" said Alan White during a phone interview from Seattle, where Yes was rehearsing for a reunion tour.

Of course, the veteran drummer was talking about a lyric from the band's best-known hit, "Roundabout," issued way back in 1972.

And he has a point.

One reason Yes has never been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is because the band's overt "progressive-rock" has always teetered on the fine line separating art and pretension. Throughout its history, meticulous musicianship has often been overshadowed by a fascination with concepts based on such lofty topics as Paramhansa Yogananda's "Autobiography of a Yogi."

But unlike many of its peers, Yes has always retained enough of a pop sensibility to keep its hooks embedded in the brain for days. From its 1971 breakthrough, "The Yes Album," through its biggest hit, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" in the '80s, the band managed to craft commercial-friendly hits without alienating its prog- rock fan base.

"Yes has never been a band where you could go on stage and be intoxicated," White said. "There's too many notes to play."

This year marks Yes' 35th anniversary, and the band is celebrating with a three-disc retrospective, "The Ultimate Yes," a DVD documentary, "YesSpeak," and a tour that retraces its storied history, including some songs that have never before been performed live.

"It's funny. We're almost seeping into the third generation of people who listen to our music," White said. "I sometimes think it's a brainwashing factor. Parents have been playing the records for all these years, and suddenly, (their children) know complex songs like 'Close to the Edge.'"

Unlike "Union," the last major Yes reunion in 1991 that featured almost everyone who had ever been a member, this tour regroups the classic '70s lineup of White, vocalist Jon Anderson, guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire and keyboardist Rick Wakeman.

There was a time when White and Squire weren't even on speaking terms with the others. In 1989, Anderson, Howe and Wakeman reunited with White's predecessor, Bill Bruford, and went to court to reclaim the name Yes. They lost, and issued an album under the rather uncreative moniker Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe.

"It was a silly thing," White said. "We used to talk about having a 'Yes East' and a 'Yes West.'"

Everyone kissed and made up for "Union." But despite the massive success of that experiment, there was never any thought of doing it again, White said.

"This version is the one that broke a lot of ground in the '70s," he said. "When Rick came on board 21/2 years ago, it really felt like the jigsaw puzzle was complete again, and the interaction between the band members is as good as it will ever be."

Another old friend has rejoined the fold as well -- artist Roger Dean, whose work has graced Yes' most memorable album covers. Dean has designed the set for the tour -- but don't ask anyone in the band to describe it.

"The drum set is a real figurehead centerpiece, and everything around it is almost like a surrealistic garden," White said. "And that's the only way I can describe it.

"I talked to Jon the other day, and he said it looks like a bunch of pipes. And I said, 'I don't see any pipes.'"

OK, so no one can describe the set. What about "Tales from Topographic Oceans?"

"You'd better ask Jon about that."

Sigh.

TICKETS

Yes

Performs at 8 p.m. Sunday at the St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (Rescheduled from Saturday.) Tickets are $35 to $65, plus a service charge via Ticketmaster. Call (727) 898- 2100 or access www.stpetetimesforum.com

Christopher Thurow Sr.

Very good show. I just wish we were closer in. This venue is big!

Hartsdale Al

All I can say is that this was my first Yes show since 94, and since the band had Wakeman and Howe, I told my wife that I'm coming out of retirement. Being a guy who spent my heyday with Yes at MSG in the late 70s, I was prepared for something very emotional. RITUAL had me crying like a baby! So sentimental for me. Reminds me of hangin with the boys 20+ years ago. Great show and a great time for all. Hope they will return soon.

Paddy McG

This show was pushed back one night because of the Lightning going into the playoffs. All I can say is, the extra day off must have energized the band. They were INCREDIBLE. Friday night in Sunrise was great, but this just went way beyond what I expected from them. They were just ON. I was really proud of my band that evening. If they ever put out that promised series of "legit bootlegs" from recent tours, this show needs to be one of them!!!

Bill

Awesome show! Huge crowd: floor packed, lower bowl almost full , people in upper bowl.
P.A. loud and clear. Mix excellent. All three voices strong . Lighting excellent. Stage set,
not Roger’s best work , but a lot of fun just the same. When he gets more experience with this inflatable
stuff, who knows what he’ll come up with. I was hoping for a heavier concept though, like the crab nebula (Magnetic Storm pgs. 53-65). Could ELP and Giger have done any better with the budget and transportation constraints?

All five band members were definitely on, and I can’t imagine that this show won’t wind up as being one of the best of the tour. Yes started kicking ass from the very start and never looked back. Let’s hope they were video taping!
Jon just before YOURS IS NO DISGRACE:
“You web people know what’s next, and after that we’re going to have an intermission so I can have crumpets with my favorite apricot jam. Then we’ll all have our ‘vitamins’ and we’ll all feel better.”

SWEET DREAMS: All out jam (not to be confused with apricot jam). Steve could give any heavy metal dude a run for his money with his red strat.

MIND DRIVE /SOUTH SIDE OF EVEREST:
Jon prefaced the new epic by explaining how sometimes it’s necessary to perform a song live to allow it to grow to its full potential. Looking back at how much more incredible the early stuff sounded on YESSONGS, this one seems to be getting better as well. While it may lack the great lyrical
imagery and poetic power of the earlier landmark works , from a musical standpoint it shows that Yes is really trying their hardest. Rick was absolutely on fire during SSOTS, I’ve never heard a more effective use of the piano’s highest keys. Truth is he was great all night long ,all over the place with that moog.
Unlike today’s phony knights, Rick was actually a member of King Arthur’s court , until that darned Merlin grew so jealous of his skills, that he zapped him into the future as far as his powers could muster.
Poor Rick landed somewhere here in the 20th /21st century, sad for him, but great for us!

WONDEROUS STORIES:
“We were in Switzerland trying to record an album and just couldn’t come up with anything. Then after working at it all night and into the next day, at 3p.m. we finally came up with this.” Talk about writer’s block! Sounds like having a baby! Excellent live!

“THE ROUNDABOUT SHUFFLE”
Well ,at least it’s different!

RYTHYM OF LOVE:
Loudest song of the night! Sounded great! Cleaned the wax out of my ears!

AND YOU AND I

RITUAL: “This is a song about getting together with friends and partying.” Although we didn’t get to hear THE
FISH, Chris still managed to insert a superb ivory rickenbacker solo. John Entwistle would have been
proud. Alan great as usual. This was easily the best song of the night, as tall and proud as
Tampa’s 7skyscrapers. When I first traveled from Orlando to Tampa in 1976 there were only 2 ; one a
cylindrical fortress. They looked so big then . Now they are dwarfed by their new 47 story sisters . I was
in town for the same reason: to see Yes.
They played Ritual.

ENCORES:
Why SOON as the closer?
Where does reason stop and killing just take over?

The other encore EVERY LITTLE THING is a cut from the first album. On the back of that album is the name of two groups. One of them has just proven they still have it. The other one will soon do th

Whitney Johnson

Ritual!!!!!! I repeat,Ritual!!!!!!!!!!!!!RITUAL!!!!Friggin' Ritual!!!Holy schmoly!! Ritual!!! The most exciting moment at the St. Pete Times Forum since Vinny Lacavelier's two goal performance versus the Canadians!!!Was also transported during And You and I and Mind Drive!!Thnaks guys!

Patty

I posted the following on [Link] you have to sell merchandise on Ebay to get the money to buy tickets to any show on this tour DO IT!

Last night's performance at the St. Pete Times Forum was nothing short of this side of heaven.

This show started off as sheer bliss for me because a concert scheduling conflict with Steve Winwood left us one ticket extra for this show. I called my sister who works for the airline industry and she jumped at the chance to fly into Tampa Friday for the Sunday show. She is a huge fan of Jon Anderson.

We got to the arena, this venue seats 20,000, 2.5 hours early and went to Newk's right across the street. It was not busy at all, open aired with a cover band to warm us up. 2 hours before show time, we went to the Forum.

I had Section 1, Row 5, seat 12(11,10) seating and we were the first ones to enter the arena just under two hours before the show. Can you imagine my joy seeing a silky PURPLE curtain ..draping the stage and hiding that which was behind. As the other fans trickled in there was a buzz in the air. YES fans are smiling and unsubdued. I met several people in my immediate area who had gotten tickets off YESWORLD. Past tours is always a big topic of conversation not limited to this board in line-up preferences. Scanning the crowd up front I noticed a guy who looked a bit familiar. When he stood up I noticed the t-shirt he had on, the vintage YESFANS.COM t-shirt, it had to be, it was our own Smatt who is currently on his Smattical Mystery Tour. I shouted to him and he came over I told him who I was and got a hug from him. I saw him again in the middle of Roundabout and we touched hands as he passed..Matt, enjoy the journeys brother!

At just after 8 PM we saw Janeeeeee take her place right below Jon's line of sight front row and the buzz began! House lights went down and the place lit up with whistles, applause and shouts of appreciation. The curtain fell back and my eyes beheld a wondrous story!

To let you first know this, cameras were allowed. I freely got up and walked the few steps to the front row where I could take pictures of the band but you needed a press pass to get closer than that. I will get my pics developed today and post them later tonight!

The stage: Hovering over the stage was a white nylon inflatable that looked like an alien hover craft. Pointed sharp edges tipped in black it matched the other pieces behind the band. Behind Rick were two six fingered fin like objects also white with circular painted orbs for the skin. Behind Steve was a thicker and taller structure that resembled coral in shape. It was also painted black and white with a similar design. These pieces were fitted with colored lighting that changed the stage appearance the entire show. Vibrant reds and yellow to create a pulsing orange, blue and purple, deep green to the exciting black lights around Rick that lit his full length coat up. It's silky fabric illuminated like a neon light when the black lights came up.

I'm going to let someone else post the details of setlist and lengths of songs but at quick recollection: Ritual, South Side of the Sky, and if this song was made of rubber...they would have stretched MIND DRIVE to it's break point! AMAZING performance of this song. None of the traditional tour songs that some have complained were "no surprises", no , rather, the band definitely went back into their music history and played some tunes not seen for years.

The boys were in absolute fittest form. Steve got down! Literally! He was animated and rocking and got down on one knee which sent the crowd exploding into applause. Steve was unexpectedly playing with the audience hitting a run of licks and shooting his neck out and staring at us like "How's THAT?!!" with crazy expressions on his face and shaking his head such that his hair sat wildly on top his head. A mad scientist using his strings.

For the first ti

Bill

People Of Central Florida: You're not just getting a YES CONCERT!
Be Prepared for The traveling 2004 Roger Dean art exposition! Think
I'll visit the Dali in the morning to warm-up! I CAN'T WAIT!