Scott Taskey

Well now, that was a show worth waiting for! They are truly the YES that turns the seasons and replenishes the senses, leaving us yearning for love and life over and over again..... From start to finish they were well maintained and on the edge, to use a quaint expresssion of old.

It appears that after all these years “The Yes Album” and “Close To The Edge” are the albums we want to hear and did hear tonight!! Selections from “The Ladder” dispersed throughout allowed us the immediate gratification of both old and new YES worlds. I thought I was twenty years back in time with the simultaneous power presence and relaxed confidence the band emulated.

Hats off to Steve and his beyond-virtuoso guitar blistering!! What a focused individual he was this night, both acoustically and visually....such demanding demeanour from such a small man! (haha)

The stage set, lighting and backdrop (screen) were all very tasteful and serene as well. What with the “two towers” of their new logos posted on either side of the stage, and branishingly so, for all to look upon as if in reverence for the members of the tribe known as “YES”; with their spinning spellbinding musical incantations and lyrical magic potions.

The crowd was, quite honestly, spellbound and enthusiastic from the very first. As each song played out the evening they were dancing and singing away. The place was packed (the place where “the seats roll down one side and up the other”, as jon put it, motioning with his arm as if on a big dipper (rollercoaster, for those in america reading this). Jon also mentioned that this night the venue would be called “the house of YES”...... cool.

Jon played with the audience by showing off his lack of knowledge of the german language by guessing at certain words and having fun with doing so. The crowd liked that. He tried in vain guessing at the translation of the title of the new album in german: “der leidder”, he was close........ Jon was so very polite, uplifting and talkative, while being so relaxed that I wondered what had elevated him to exude such a persona of grace and benevolence... I mean, we all know these to be Jon’s qualities in general, but in the year 2000 I can’t say I expected to see and feel him so alive, as if the spirtual gates of “Topographic Oceans” came flooding open for all to see, again.

As for Chris and Alan and the rest: Chris was relaxed and enjoying himself immensely, what with his body dancing and twirlings, guitar around the shoulder/neck/head dismounts and gulps of good cold german beer!! He was having loads of fun.

Alan was and is the seriously intense and exact drummer known to everyone. “The nice, nice guy”, as Jon introduced him. He was precise and on time to the whole enchilada.

Igor and Billy were superb. In fact, Igor accomplished the almost impossible: to play Wakeman with heart and spirit and Billy made a great rhythm brigade and trevor pounder.

So, thank you “YES” and I look forward to many more future engagements together (like on friday evening in fuerth- see you there!).