The Remembering

Jack your comments about Siberian Khatru are absolutly 100% correct. In fact since 1997 i've seen Yes 30 times. They did Siberian Khatru many times. What they use to rip though in mindboggling fashion is a struggle to get through. I agree that Steve is amazing on Yours is no disgrace on this tour, and always is. But some people are saying it's the best one they've ever heard. How can anyone who knows anything say that. Now he's amazing. 1970's versions are beyond amazing and beyond belief, IE: YESSONGS - Also go to youtube do a search for yes sounding out. There are 4 parts. Part 3 has a film of most of Yours is no disgrace from the fragile tour. After watching that I was saying as good as Steve jams now on this. It is nothing. On a scale of 1-10 now he is a 10. Then he was a 1,000,000.

The Remembering

Jack your comments about Siberian Khatru are absolutly 100% correct. In fact since 1997 i've seen Yes 30 times. They did Siberian Khatru many times. What they use to rip though in mindboggling fashion is a struggle to get through. I agree that Steve is amazing on Yours is no disgrace on this tour, and always is. But some people are saying it's the best one they've ever heard. How can anyone who knows anything say that. Now he's amazing. 1970's versions are beyond amazing and beyond belief, IE: YESSONGS - Also go to youtube do a search for yes sounding out. There are 4 parts. Part 3 has a film of most of Yours is no disgrace from the fragile tour. After watching that I was saying as good as Steve jams now on this. It is nothing. On a scale ofg 1-10 now he is a 10. Then he was a 1,000,000.

The Remembering

Jack your comments about Siberian Khatru are absolutly 100% correct. In fact since 1997 i've seen Yes 30 times. They did Siberian Khatru many times. What they use to rip though in mindboggling fashion is a struggle to get through. I agree that Steve is amazing on Yours is no disgrace on this tours, and always is. But some people are saying it's the best one they've ever heard. How can anyone who knows anything say that. Now he's amazing. 1970's versions are beyond amazing and beyond belief, IE: YESSONGS - Also go to youtube do s search for yes sounding out. There are 4 parts. Part 3 has a film of most of Yours is no disgrace from the fragile tour. After watching that I was saying as good as Steve jams now on this. It is nothing. On a scale ofg 1-10 now he is a 10. Then he was a 1,000,000.

Glenn C.

Sorry.....I meant yours is no disgrace.......a disgrace on my part indeed.

Jack Plankton

Of course it is a sweet musical moment when the recorded "Firebird Suite" segues into Siberian Khatru. However, this sweetness is soon compromised by the raggedy quality of the playing on this number, which was the case both times I've seen them play this as the opener with the current line-up. The only thing that saved it was Steve's solo at the end. Steve did some improvising this night which was quite nice to hear. Maybe they shouldn't open with a tune this challenging, before they've had a chance to get warm. They used to rip it up in the old days with this song, but that energy and precision just ain't there now.

Then into "All Good People," which is OK, but I've heard it played in every single Yes show I've ever seen. Is it required by law or something?

Astral Traveller is an interesting choice. This line-up has been doing that song regularly. Do we really need a drum solo though? Seemed like neither Alan nor the crowd really wanted to be there during the solo.

And Onward - does anybody really want to here that pap? I guess Benoit likes it, but this song is so not what Yes is about.

Same with Owner of a Lonely Heart. Raise your hand if you have any interest in hearing that! Although it is interesting to hear Steve play Trevor Rabin's parts. He did solo towards the end, and that was pretty interesting.

The band really hit their stride with Yours Is No Disgrace, one of my favorites. Completely nailed it, to rapturous reception. And then into And You And I which, judging by the crowd's reaction, is an undeniable favorite and perhaps the highlight of the show.

I for one am glad to hear something other than "The Clap" and "Mood For A Day" in Steve's transfixing solo segment.

From Drama, Machine Messiah and Tempus Fugit were solid if unremarkable. Definitely improved on the absolute train wreck on Tempus Fugit from the last time I saw them, in Asbury Park.

Heart of the Sunrise closed the show in excellent fashion, and then it was time to phone it in for the Roundabout encore.

I was the dude yelling "Starship Trooper!" when the lights came on.

I'm sure they had to bolt to get to the next show. I lingered at the end to watch the small army of roadies pack the gear into the tractor trailer. Awesome speed and efficiency! I want them to work for me. At the end the members of the band came outside briefly to hop on the bus and sign a few autographs in the cold. Up close, Chris has the aura and gravitas of a weathered British army general.

Songs I wish we could hear:

Beyond and Before
The Ancient
Ritual
The Gates of Delirium
Sound Chaser
Awaken
Arriving UFO
On The Slient Wings of Freedom
Leave It (just for fun)

Mix it up a bit, gentlemen!

Nicholas Buccino

Well I havn't seen YES since Jersey City in '76 but nothing has changed, this is a British Rock Band for sure. They come at you with a wave of sound kind of pours over you and "tight", thats tighter than a ducks a@#. The time, between White and Squire is truly amazing and drives the movements The volume was a bit over the top so dynamics did suffer but I know tunes so well my brain filled in the spaces. Like most I was looking for Startship Tropper however it was Steve's accoustic solo that left me scratching my head. No Clap... No Mood for a Day. The Wellmount was a perfect venue for either. The number he played was not up to what one would expect and he kind over over played it. There was no Chet Atkins thing going on. My opinion Steve is finest rock guitarist clearly progressive rock and takes instrument to a new level. Just like Wes did just like Chet did.

Wurm

Glen, they did not do Perpetual Change. and I don't care if they do 9 shows in 10 nights. To cut out South Side of the sky and Starship Trooper. Well, There's is a disgrace.

Eric Lipper

Loved the show! -One interesting thing: They had the biggest train wreck I've ever seen them have! In Astral Traveler, a tricky rhythm was muffed. Steve quickly compensated, but Chris kept his (maybe correct) timing going, and forced Alan to actually flip the beat right before his solo.
One criticism: O. Wakeman is the weak link. He's got faster fingers than I, but his rhythm is not strong. It wobbles in and out the whole time.

But...., it was great to see these guys and enjoy their music with you all!

George Miller

All in all a great show Steve Howe is the master of the guitar!! Sound was very good except for Machine Massiah. It was a little muddy I thought. My 64th YES show since 76' Roosevelt stadium! They shorted us like last night No Southside of the sky or Starship Trooper. Still I hope they make good on their word to see us soon!! I can never get enough!! Now I wait for Rush this Summer!!

Glenn C.

For a venue that charged the highest ticket prices on this tour I was expecting a full set list at best.But to no avail,I was disappointed as was the few at the last show in washington d.c.The highlights for me were,Perpetual change,where the band is at there best and also tempus fugit,astral traveler,machine messiah.But to me, the energy of yes shows past is not there.Jon would always end a high octane yes song with one of his patented whews!Yes fans of many shows know what i mean. Benoit doesnt come close,with all due respect.This will be my last show until the main lineup is back,im sorry to say.

John Coviello

Another solid performance in Montclair, New Jersey by the current Yes line up. Steve Howe is incredibile, espcially given his age. It was like he was in his 20s the way he played. Yours Is No Disgrace was worth the full price of admission. Steve tore that song apart.

I like that they went straight back into Astral Traveller after Alan White's drum solo. That was a good change from the summer tour. Great playing by Alan White. They harmonized better on Machine Messiah than last summer. Oliver Wakeman seemed more comfortable and was easier to hear this time around. I wish Steve Howe's guitar work was highlighted more during Machine Messiah, as it really adds to the song, but was drowned out at times. Benoit David was channeling Jon Anderson at times; I could feel it. Chris Squire was as good as ever. The foundation of Yes.

I hope this current line up of Yes puts out an album to make them an official lineup. Also, I hope to see them again. They really are an incredible group.

The setlist should be changed to delete South Side Of The Sky and Starship Trooper, as neither song was played. The show was on February 16th, due to a snowstorm on the 10th.

Kenny J

The show at the Wellmont in Montclair took place on Tuesday, February 16 because of snow on the original date (Wednesday, February 10). Excellent sound. Howe was on fire, and his guitars were placed high in the mix. Highlights for me were "Machine Messiah" (the whole band really nailed it), "Tempus Fugit", "Yours is No Disgrace" and "Astral Traveller". Big crowd ovation for "And You and I" which was well deserved. Steve Howe played "Winter" by Vivaldi and then "In The Course of the Day" during his solo section. He said jokingly that by playing Vivaldi he gave the crowd some culture for the night. Benoit David dedicated "Onward" to the crowd as a late Valentine's day present, and dedicated "And You and I" to the loved ones in people's lives in the audience. The band did not play "South Side of the Sky" or "Starship Trooper" tonight, but I have to say, IMHO the band are a bunch of troopers for playing 5 nights in a row due to the bad weather in the area (this being the 5th night in a row). Thank you Yes! You guys seriously rock! After the show in the cold, Oliver Wakeman graciously signed an autograph for me on his way out of the venue. I was psyched! Looking forward to Yes returning to the area soon! And hoping an album of new studio material is in the works!