Simon Barrow

Thursday, August 21, 2014 7:58 PM

Although I managed to attend three concerts in Britain, unfortunately the schedule of my recent US trip didn't enable me to get to any shows on this tour - so I'm absolutely delighted at the LiveNation internet broadcast of this concert from San Jose. Overall, it was a very good performance from musicians who are, all bar one, well into their seventh decade on this planet.

Jon Davison is a technically fine singer who brings energy, commitment and spirit to the band. All the classics came off well, though 'Siberian Khatru' was a little tardy. 'Five percent for nothing' (a Bill Bruford miniature I really like) seemed a wee bit beyond Alan. I find it incomprehensible that people chose to yell and shriek during Steve's delicate 'Mood for a Day'. European fans sometimes get criticised for their reserve, but at least they realise that other people have come to listen to the band, not to them. It was interesting that Chris chose to blend album and later live elements of his solos on 'The Fish' and 'Heart of the Sunrise', rather than maintaining greater faithfulness to the originals as on the three album tour. Incidentally, I like Geoff's organic approach to the keyboard parts. There is a cohesiveness to this line-up.

It was good to hear two of the strongest tracks from the new album, 'Believe Again' and 'The Game', coming across well live; though they deserved a rather more enthusiastic audience response than they got. I have a feeling that 'Heaven & Earth' is essentially a calling-card for this latest version of the band. Hopefully they'll have another studio run-out next year, using the more extended palette of 'Subway Walls' as a point of departure for something a little more musically adventurous. Meanwhile, I'm still astonished and grateful to be hearing Yes live in the second decade of the twenty-first-century, and still performing 'Close to the Edge' alongside new work. Bravo!