I’m pretty sure that I still have my vinyl copies of “The Yes Album” and “Close To The Edge” – likely sandwiched somewhere between some equally dusty King Crimson albums. I could download the music but I might just have to get them out and dust them off because overall, it was a pretty good show on Friday July 18, 2014, at the Seneca Allegany Casino Event Center in Salamanca, NY.
The Event Center filled quickly and was near sell-out for this run-through of what was billed as three Yes albums from the 1970s, with back screen projections and a smattering of some lights here and there – nothing that would even begin to compare with their elaborate and inspiring presentations of the 1970s.
They kicked off the night with Close to the Edge (1972), arguably their signature offering to prog-rock’dom and given the absence of Jon Anderson, I thought this was going to be a long 2 hours but before I knew it, the spacey projections that accompanied the various pieces within each song were concluded and the night was almost half over. That’s how it goes when the 3 songs on the album are almost 20 minutes long each. So, that’s how it went.
Now, I have been into Yes since I was in my early teens and have paid attention to their progressions and one way or another, this group of guys has always been on my radar – guitarist Steve Howe was an early influence and then when I wanted to rattle the walls my focus shifted to the other musical genius I identified with, bassist Chris Squire. I have seen Yes probably close to a dozen times over my life and I have to admit, right off the start I was not overly impressed with the prospect of American singer Jon Davidson replacing Jon Anderson, who is perhaps one of the most definitive voices in rock music. Maybe I’m just a JA fan, maybe I think that “replacing” someone of his talent is not an easy thing to present (or accept) but… yeah ok – with a few mistakes, he got the job done. Par.
The core of the group, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White, expertly crafted their still accomplished musicianship, and even for these aging British rockers, the playing has never been better. The only exception was keyboardist Geoff Downes, who must have been intent on proving he is no Rick Wakeman, as he completely missed and butchered key parts of “Close To The Edge,” and the trade-offs with Steve Howe on “South Side of The Sky” were anything but. I think he’s gotten too reliant on his laptops and programming his iPads that seem to be on most of his boards. My $0.02.
Two quick songs from their latest studio effort ‘Heaven and Earth’ and then right into ‘The Yes Album’ (1971), which has produced several notable hits – “Roundabout”, “South Side of The Sky” (my personal favorite), “Long Distance Runaround”, Steve Howe’s solo “Mood For a Day”, and so on…
A few highlights: The opening number itself “Siberian Khatru” from Close to the Edge and “I’ve Seen All Good People” from The Yes Album.
The near-capacity audience offered almost exhausting applause and in return received two encores with “I’ve Seen All Good People” and “Owner of a Lonely Heart.” Yes gave a hearty bow to the audience and off they went onto “The Heart of the Sunrise,” I’m guessing.
Setlist:
Close to the Edge
Siberian Khatru
And You and I
Close to the Edge
Heaven and Earth
To Ascend
The Game
Fragile
Roundabout
Cans and Brahms
We Have Heaven
South Side of the Sky
Five Per Cent for Nothing
Long Distance Runaround
The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)
Mood for a Day
Heart of the Sunrise
Encore:
I’ve Seen All Good People
Owner of a Lonely Heart
We would like to thank Tony Astran from the Seneca Niagara Casino for the credentials to review the show.
