Paul McCartney was once asked how it felt to be part of the best band in the world and he replied, "I don't know, I was never a member of Yes." True story!
I’m really impressed by this show. It’s really the first time I’ve checked out live Yes since Chris passed. Here’s some observations: Steve Howe: still awesome. Being the leader of the band seems to be a lot of pressure for him. He handled the idiots in the crowd well, but something was all messed up at the beginning of Gates - before the first verse. The whole band was off, he seemed to be a phrase ahead dealing with the sound and lighting issues. Alan White: Rest In Peace. ♥️ John Davison - on some songs he does better than Jon Anderson ever did. Some songs it doesn’t work. He was amazing on Gates. Billy Sherwood: I was never a hater. And he plays bass like Chris. I hope between Steve, billy and John they can write a good prog album. Geoff and Jay: pretty fuckkng good. Jay is not in my top 10 of drummers but he made it his own filling the shoes of Bruford and White. I like Geoff because Chris and Steve do and that’s all I need.
@@michelforest6329 haha. I have tickets for November 9, 2022, in Madison, WI. Calm down! Steve is in his late 70s and he can’t play like he did on Yessongs anymore. It’s all good. We ♥️ Yes.
@@michelforest6329 12 times = respect. This will be my fifth time. I saw them in 97 98 2000 and 2002. I realized The Masterworks Tour was the best show of those I saw and they probably couldn’t top that, but I went in 02 because Wakeman rejoined. That wasn’t as good as before. This time I’m going to hang out with my friends.
@@michelforest6329 oh Darn See! The Magnification-Symphonic Tour didn't come to N. Carolina, where I was living at the time. The following year was when Rick W. rejoined the band. I felt that was a bucket list that I couldn't miss: Yes with Wakeman. So, we drove from NC to Maryland to see that show - August 9, 2002. I enjoyed the show, but I liked the Masterworks Tour better. I probably would have really enjoyed both The Ladder and Magnification Tours had they come around, but they didn't. Good thing I have the DVDs. I quite like the Songs for Tsongas DVD, too, however I read they were plagued with audio issues and had to do much overdubbing on the DVD. I still like it. Must have been a great show to been at - jealous! The Open Your Eyes Tour came to Milwaukee twice, where I was living at the time. I went to both shows. The second show was forgettable. That's pretty much my Yes concert experience, which I have documented at setlistfm. 4 shows. 2 good ones. 2 meh. It's all fun.
This new line-up is almost well trained, except for one point: Geoff Downes. He simply shouldn't have returned in 2011, all the members played their respective parts exactly (many people talking about Steve's playing "sloppy", but obviously he didn't have the same flowness and "fast thing" in his fingers now he's almost 80 years old) except him. My only complain with this line-up is Geoff due some reasons: his keyboard tones and rigs are mostly unappropriated for the songs, he simplifies the keyboards parts too much (listen here the keyboard breaks in Going For The One and Siberian Kathru, and some solos in Gates Of Delirium), uses pre-recorded key parts (this is utterly unrespectful), and in certain points, misses a bar and simply stops playing and play the wrong notes. I know that Steve (Alan and Chris when were alive too) decided to bring him back in FFH sessions to "evocate" some of the Drama vibe which that album and line-up (Benoit was still the vocalist back then) had, but retaining him after that was a huge mistake. There's a lot of (very) good keyboard players related to Yes and some members which could be part of the band, like Oliver (his return would be awesome), Erik Norlander, Ryo Okumoto, Dave Kerzner. Steve should bring one of these guys, it would be a huge improvement.
Actually, Steve was in his early 70s in 2019. I have to agree with you about Downes; I find he too often simplifies keyboard parts that Wakeman and Moraz had played. Of course, they are both vastly superior to Downes. Agreed also that Oliver Wakeman would be a good replacement for Downes. Oliver has a lot of his dad's signature sound. How the band decided to replace Oliver with Downes is beyond me.
Jon Anderson was, is and always will be the voice of YES... Steve Howe needs to understand that this is just a tribute band... Jon Anderson with the band geeks is YES....
@@playlistmaker90125 Agreed. I think he looks laughable onstage....and sounds no better. I thought Benoit David, before his respiratory issues, was a far better singer.
