Mother Nature’s ongoing threats couldn’t keep die-hard Yes fans away from Artpark in Lewiston NY this past Tuesday night. She had been contemplating a deluge of water along with a dangerous sound and light show, which would have called into question whether the show would have gone on as planned. As luck would have it, as showtime approached, the dark and brooding skies opened up into clear blue happiness for the 10,000 or so fans of the UK prog-rock legends.
The band filed onto the newly constructed Artpark stage to a rousing response from the crowd and jumped straight into the “Your’s Is No Disgrace”. Hearing the classics played live never gets old, and this band still gets it done even after logging over 45 years in the business. Sure, personnel changes throughout the years have put a slightly different face and sound on the band, but this rendition really gets it right. Steve Howe, veteran guitar master, while looking the part of rockstar with decades of experience, is still performing at a stratospheric level. The intricate guitar work up to the last fret and beyond, along with his multitasking ability to play stand held guitar, his neck strapped guitar and a double lap steel slide guitar which he kicks out of the way on wheels when he is done with it, is a treat to watch. Throw in his ability to join a three-part harmony and he seals the deal as still one of the more talented musicians out there today.
The band continued with “Tempus Fugit” from the 1980 release “Drama’. Bassist/vocalist Chris Squire is a madman on the on his axe of choice. The bass guitar thankfully, was front and centre in the mix where it should be. His Rickenbacker offers a signature Yes sound that is unmistakable and he worked it flawlessly. Newcomer to the band, lead vocalist Jon Davison showed his grasp of the familiar Yes vibe with “I’ve Seen All Good People”. The crowd hung on his every breath as he pulled out a perfect version with his own nuances sprinkled throughout. To hear such emotionally charged 3 part harmony beginning the song, and continuing the journey into the huge keyboard parts with such expertise is worth the price of admission alone. Keyboard/vocalist Geoff Downes brought a truckload of gear, which surrounded him on three sides, as any vintage rock keyboardist should have. Add a few pedals in for good measure and his workspace is complete. He pulled out all the vintage Yes signature sounds with complete success. “America”, re-imagined by Yes from Paul Simon’s original work was brought back to the live set after many years on the shelf. And it was great to hear it again. Leave it to a band like Yes to take a 3 ½ minute song and prog-rock it into their own at a healthy 10 ½ minutes. Howe really looks like he is at home playing the most technical and demanding music. All the while, still finding time to make eye contact with the crowd. Any good concert where superior musicianship is the focus, should have a guitar solo. And as luck would have it, “The Clap” from “The Yes Album” is a perfect choice. Howe started the song crosslegged on a small stool at the front of the stage and began with a slowed down version of the intro. It wasn’t long before he was picking his acoustic guitar at the song’s full speed, as the crowd cheered. The title suite from the band’s newest release “Fly From Here” was the next twenty-four minute rollercoaster ride we took. And as the band plays this opus to more and more fans, the reaction is showing that this new work can stand proudly alongside the classic album sides of yesteryear. “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” from the mid 80’s, actually seems quite out of place book-ended by all the other shining examples of Yes’ work, but the crowd cheered it’s pop familiarity.
“Heart Of The Sunrise” was the stand-out performance of the night for this writer. The sheer energy, musical diversity, vocal requirements and soul lifting groove of this song always pulls the crowd right in. People just stood in awe, staring while the song was being played. As the song progressed toward the end though, it was noticed that the sky had it’s own lightshow going on behind the venue. Once completed, Howe approached the mic and offered up the words that no fan or band wants to hear, “We are terribly sorry, but we have been told to leave the stage immediately due to the lightning storm that is coming”. Squire was heard pleading for one more song, but their manager came onstage and convinced him to let the show stand as played. Yes shows are regularly 2+ hours. This one clocked in at approximately 90 minutes. A damn fine 90 minutes of a Yes performance to be sure!
Set List:
Yours Is No Disgrace
Tempus Fugit
I’ve Seen All Good People
America (Simon and Garfunkel cover)
The Clap (Steve Howe solo)
Fly From Here – Overture
Fly From Here – Pt I – We Can Fly
Fly From Here – Pt II – Sad Night at the Airfield
Fly From Here – Pt III – Madman at the Screens
Fly From Here – Pt IV – Bumpy Ride
Owner of a Lonely Heart
Heart of the Sunrise
*Show cut short due to threat of lightning
We would like to thank Jamie Simone from PFA media for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show.
