Yes is known for undergoing many lineup changes, and if you gathered all of the groups former and current members you might be able to fill a small auditorium. Two of Yes’s quintessential lineup, vocalist Jon Anderson and keyboardist extraordinaire Rick Wakeman, appeared together at Kleinhan’s Music Hall on Wednesday, proving that the best part of Yes is no longer in the band.
I hesitate to use the word “perfection” when reviewing a show, but in this case, I can think of no better word to use. Anderson and Wakeman are perfect musical partners and bring out the best in each other. There were moments when the audience sat perfectly still and silent, in awe of the duo as they rolled through highlights of the Yes catalogue with a healthy dose of Anderson and Wakeman’s album, “The Living Tree.”
With all of the band’s incarnations, there already exists a multitude of live versions of Yes standards like “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper.” It was hard to imagine the duo being able to offer anything new to the songs, but they play with such a respect and love for the music that it is infectious. Remove the controlled mayhem of Howe, White and Squire and you are left with the raw beauty of the songs. For his part, Anderson filled the hall with vocals that were more powerful than Yes in their heyday. While the superior acoustics of the venue contributed to Anderson’s sound, he sounded fantastic, nailing the high notes with ease and injecting emotion into the lyrics of every song.
While the Yes numbers were great, it was the selections from “The Living Tree” that were special. Anderson and Wakeman took all of the songs on the album to a new level, especially “Garden” and “23/24/11.” The musical interplay between the pair was rivaled by their lighthearted humor. Anderson would attempt to introduce the songs and Wakeman would interject hilarious banter that caused Anderson and the entire audience to burst into laughter. And what can I say about Rick Wakeman, other than the fact that he is a musical genius who seems to know exactly what a song needs. It was quite a treat to see him in person and watch him dazzle the crowd.
Anderson and Wakeman were the heart and soul of Yes, and as much as I hate to say it, they seem to be better off without their former band mates. If you do have the chance to see them, you will not be disappointed, the duos incredible version of “Awaken,” that they end their regular set with, is worth the price of admission alone.
Setlist;
First Set:
Intro
Starship Trooper
Sweet Dreams
Forever
And You and I
Living Tree (Part 1)
Long Distance Runaround
America (Paul Simon cover)
Garden
Living Tree (Part 2)
Time and a Word
Second Set:
South Side of the Sky
Wonderous Stories
Just One Man
Nous Sommes Du Soleil
Leaves of Green
23/24/11
Your Move /I’ve Seen All Good People
House of Freedom
Awaken
Encores:
Roundabout
Soon
The Meeting
Photos by Gus Griesinger
We would like to thank Mike Montoro for setting up the credentials so Backstageaxxess.com could review the show.
