Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - 1972-01-28

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 5:25 PM

[GOOGLE TRANSLATION - Nieuwsblad van het Noorden - 1972-01-28]

Yes: in the West not to the North

Last weekend the group Yes was in the Netherlands. Although it was originally said that the group would also perform in Eindhoven and yes, Groningen, it was again only the Rotterdammers and Amsterdammers (as usual) and this time also "outer area" Breda, who got to hear and see the group.

And that is very unfortunate for us here in the North, because anyone who has heard the last Yes-LP "Fragile" must be curious about their stage qualities. Fortunately I was able to comfort myself with this LP and the memories to the concert they gave on October 31, 1971 in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

Five tired boys at the end of a long European tour, a not so great support act (the English folk singer Jonathan Swift), an installation that is not perfectly tuned, which mainly means bassist Chris Squire didn't get through very well in the beginning; the first minutes of the concert didn't exactly give the impression of being with the group, as you know it from their album. However, this impression was soon dispelled. The high, almost girlish voice of singer Jon Anderson (also heard on King Crimson's 3rd LP), occasionally combined with that of the two guitarists, makes Yes's vocal qualities something breathtaking. Instrumentally, the group is a very cool whole. The recruitment of organist Rick Wakeman (formerly with the Strawbs) has only done the group good.

A relief between the very long and exhausting songs was the actually too short solo performance by solo guitarist Steve Howe, who gave a demonstration of his qualities on the acoustic guitar. Last man of the group drummer Bill Bruford completed the whole and literally knocked his clothes off. At the end of the concert, the announcement that the group would be back in January and the handing over of the Edison (for "The Yes Album") to Jon Anderson, who after receiving it asked the record company representative: "Is this real chocolate"?

As I said, very tiring to listen to (especially live), but in my opinion Yes is one of the better bands that have emerged in the last two years.

All the more reason to ask again, to all the organizers: "As Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, King Crimson, Fields, Jethro Tull, etc come to the Netherlands again, can they please come to the North?"

Etty T. Bonnema

Het vrije volk: Democratisch-Socialistisch Dag

Tuesday, January 18, 2022 3:38 PM

[GOOGLE TRANSLATION - Het vrije volk: Democratisch-Socialistisch Dag - 1972-01-22]

Yes: factory at full speed

About a year ago the English group Yes played as support act for Iron Butterfly. The Doelen was then sold out, because Iron Butterfly was still very popular. But, on that evening it was already clear which of the two was the best: Yes. Tonight played Yes at the moment madly popular in the US in the main program in front of another sold-out hall. It is difficult to name a group which, in terms of general level, is comparable to Yes. In technique and variety, they match the Mothers and the Who. Vocally they do little under for the quartet CSN & Young. By the way, Neil's latest album, Harvest, has been in Rotterdam record stores for a day.

The advantage that Yes then still is that their music is a lot more commercial and is well on the hit market. During the performance, however, it also becomes clear that too dangers of too much professionalism sticking. You get the impression that a small factory is working at high speeds to achieve an entire year's production in roughly two hours. That, true what, LP - concerns also. pretty nice, especially if you - at the same time. takes the solos that are over twice as long as on the record. There is time for improvisation: not; unknown songs are not played. And that was just as "fun" during the Jam session with the Butterfly last year.

Yes's light show is perfect. Rarely have I seen light with sound like this like tonight. It's right, like a video tape (sound and picture on the same tape). Add to that the boys' gorgeous outfit and you've got it all. ingredients to be sure of at least two encores. No pox happened.

Scan Philips performed as support act. his American-born teacher living in Italy for seven years and relatively unknown, turned out to be an excellent representative of the guild. Singers. He accompanied himself on numerous guitars, ranging from Spanish, through electric, to double-necked 6-string and 12-string guitars. Very strange to see, such a Siamese guitar. But Scan played the instrument—with skillful fingers. Lou van Rees, who organized this concert can and may be satisfied. A few more of these concerts and is recording in the selection corps of pop concert organizers, hitherto consisting of Acket and Mojo.

ART, PROVOOST

your_host

Monday, April 18, 2016 2:34 PM

(1972 review in NRC Handelsblad, badly translated with online tools)

STRONG SHOW OF YES

ROTTERDAM, Jan 22 - The English rock band Yes delivered last night at the packed Doelen in Rotterdam a very representative mix of contemporary pop brew. The quintet is barely two years old group released an unusual rich popshow.

Using a sophisticated lighting in house and other costly electronic exertions Yes came especially visually very impressive about.

Organist Rick Wakeman harnessed it to change the crown, by parading with the collected electronic music equipment, constantly attitude, location and device. Sometimes improvising as a dedicated concert pianist behind a life-size grand piano on a theme of Brahms, suddenly switching to a minutely a computer keyboard organ (Moog synthesizer). In the song "The Heart of the Sunrise" rose from his mellotron (organ with 'canned' recordings) orchestral sounds that reminded directly to Mantovani's thousand golden violins.

Especially in the rock genre juggled Wakeman aggressive sharply over the keys of a Hammond organ. Only guitarist Steve Howe could convince instrumental in this symphonic oriented, pompous music.