mark from moss point mississippi

FINALLY, attending a YES show without travelling at least 100 miles became reality. However, I learned that lots of tickets, especially the good seats, are offered complimentary to the casino's 'PREMIUM" members meaning the heavy gamblers. The same goes for backstage passes. So all of the empty seats close to the stage belonged to those gamblers who didn't even know who the band was and didn't care.
The best part of the show were the visuals. It was the flashiest of any YES concert I've been at.The way the lights played off the ROGER DEAN overhead was mesmerizing. I found myself watching them more than the band.
The sound was a little dissapointing. Alan White's bass drum drowned out the rest of his kit except during his solo break. Steve Howe started the night off badly, his guitar went out during "SIBERIAN KHATRU". He got upset but was back in the groove soon enough. Chris Squire was his usual great self, but I wish that my two teenage sons, seeing YES for the first time, could have been stunned by THE FISH.
As far as the new members, Benoit David was a little tired sounding, but being so close to the end of the tour it was perfectly understandable. He did an amazing job of handling Anderson's vocals.Oliver Wakeman is like father like son not only in his playing YES material but his stage presence in the band; a little aloof and stand-offish.
Several songs played in earlier shows were omitted from this set. The boys and I agreed that the best-performed song was ASTRAL TRAVELER; 2nd place MACHINE MESSIAH.

Kennethb

I agree with Jan, we had three inches of snow here in Baton Rouge on Thursday and then Yes on Friday. What an incredible two days. I don't know if it is rarer to have snow or to see Yes, but having the two together made for a great week.

I brought my 13 year old son to the show. While not as much into Yes, I did want him to see why I listen to Yes. I thought the show was excellent. Not being a musician, I did not detect any miscues. It would have been nice to have Steve's solos as I think the crowd would have been respectful. Did not miss Aliens, and Owner was a surprise.

I guess what made this show special was that I practically ate supper with Benoit. After going through the buffet line, I sat down and noticed someone with a Nashville Tenn shirt at the table next to me that I thought looked like Benoit. I asked him if he was here for the show and he said yes. And after a short pause, said he was the singer.

We talked Yes, his experience joining the band, family, south Louisiana, and all. Later as we were back in the buffet line, I pointed out the alligator sausage and he asked if he should get some. I said as long as it does not effect the show tonight. He has two teenage boys who he has not seen since the first two shows in Canada. He had walked the area around the Beau Rivage and after explaining how the area was effected by Katrina, understood why he saw a barren beach front and abandoned houses.

Overall, he seemed to be just one of us who has the gift of having a voice like Jon's and said is happy to be able to continue the Yes music for all of us to hear. He has not met Jon and does not know if he will.

I did suggest that next time he make the band come to New Orleans to be closer to the french heritage that his part of Canada is connected to. And too, the drive would be just a little shorter.

Jan Willard, Denham Springs, LA

Oh Where was the 3 neck wal?????????????????????

Jan Willard, Denham Springs, LA

We got to have a snow storm on Thursday and see Yes in concert on Friday. How much better can it get. I was fortunate enough to see Yes in 1977 in N.O., LA on the Going for the One tour. I got to take my 17 year old son who is obsessed with Yes. Also been a fan of Chris Squier, my son is a bass player so I only hope he learned something Friday. I wasn't much older then him when I last had seen Yes in 1977. The look on his face was priceless. He was amazed and completely into it. He eats, sleeps, and lives to listen to Yes. We got to move to the stage at the end. He wanted to see the equipment and he got to see Chris Squier up close. So thank you Yes for giving us a chance to hear you. It made our Christmas so much better. We were thrilled. I only hope we will be able to see them again. Again Thanks for making my son the happiest person in the world.

Don in Mandeville. LA

The YES show in Biloxi was FANTASTIC, these old dudes can still bring it!! In my opinion, Howe, Squire, & White are the best musicians, artists ever from the world of rock. If you are in Florida....GO SEE THIS SHOW. The last YES show I saw was back in the 70's "In the ROUND" concert. These guys have lost none of the magic that made them the great band they are. I would have rather seen Anderson, but Benoit David can hit notes that Jon can't anymore. Steve Howe is the most amazing guitarist of his generation. Enjoyed the playlist also. GREAT, GREAT Concert!!!!

Chris Lenox

For anyone who doubts or denies that this is Yes...

You're off your F*****G Rocker!

Tonight Yes performed beneath a huge full moon in a theater overlooking the Gulf of Mexico and it would
seem that the setting may have had something to do with the way the show went.

This was my third Yes concert (first being Dallas, tx. 7-2-2000 on the Masterworks tour, second being at Madison
Square Garden 5-13-2004 on the 35th anniversary tour) and I must say that without a doubt it was the most
enjoyable of all. The band sounded unbelievable the whole night and they gave one of the most inspired
performances this side of the Tormato tour. Benoit David, who seemed to have a cold, was beyond my high
expectations and was especially stunning when singing in harmony with Chris Squire. Steve Howe played
perfectly and played beautiful solos all night often stretching the ear with his signature unorthodox
note choices and polyrhythmic phrasing. Oliver Wakeman remained focused with deadly calm while executing
his parts and finding the right tones to blend with the rest of the group. Chris Squire was very on top
of his game with perfect tone, solid vocal harmonies, and showmanship to boot. Alan White was perfect as
usual and put a lot of energy into the performance while laying back when the situation called for it
always keeping the groove steady.

The lighting and stage design was one of the most effective I have seen in a long time. Very carefully
chosen colors and patterns played in rhythm with the music bouncing off of the birdlike pieces hanging
overhead creating a constantly shifting landscape of psychadelic fury.

The sound was pristine and I could hear every instrument clearly and make out every word sung. The volume
was not excessive but not too quiet and the frequencies were balanced perfectly. I cannot remember the
last time I said that about a concert but it has likely been a few years.

Walt Burgoyne

Although I agree with previous poster about freshness of songs performed, and everyone's performance in general, I must admit I was disappointed when I realized that the show would be shorter than previously posted setlists.
HoS, SSotS, To Be Over all had been played in the current tour, along with a Steve solo section. I was really looking forward to SSotS.
When Steve announced "the last song in our set" vs. "the last song in the first set" my heart dropped, and I sort of tuned out on a quite passable Starship Trooper and Roundabout.
However, my wife enthused "this is the best concert you've taken me to!" and she was not overextended after a recent surgery - so "Balance the thoughts that release within you" resonates this morning.
Best wishes to all.

Steve Wehner

Just got back from the Biloxi show at the Beau Rivage Casino (1700 capacity). Great show! Benoit had some trouble on some high notes and cracked some, but that was the only downside. This was my 12th Yes show (on 12/12 no less) as the boys don't travel to far south unless its Florida or Atlanta. What I was immediately aware of was that some of the often-played songs just sounded fresh. The sound was fantastic as was the light show. Very colorful and imaginative in a simplistic, but effective way. All the instruments were distinguishable in the mix. Sometimes, as was noted in other reviews, Steve's and Chris's vocals overpowered Benoit's, but not so much as to be distracting. I wouldn't say that Steve and Chris were all that animated, but did move around some. Oliver did a good job and didn't miss a lick, albeit with slightly different sounds than Dad usually uses.

All in all a wonderful 115 minute abbreviated show worth the $50 spentt Setlist was as follows:

Firebird Suite
Siberian Khatru
I've Seen All Good People
Tempus Fugit
Onward
Astral Traveller
Close To The Edge
And You & I
Machine Messiah
Starship Trooper
(encores)
Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Roundabout

No Steve Howe solos, Aliens, or Long Distance Runaround / the Fish.
I recorded the show and its complete at 115 minutes.