I must admit I had reservations about going to see Yes without Jon Anderson on vocals but that was quickly set aside as soon as they started.
Chris Squire of Yes. Photo by Ros O'Gorman
The last time Yes toured Australia was 2003 with Anderson, Rick Wakeman, Steve Howe, Chris Squire and Alan White. Anderson and Wakeman are no longer around and Jon’s replacement was replaced by Jon Davison just after this current tour was announced.
It turns out Davison is the perfect replacement. He doesn’t reinvent the sound but rather maintains it. Instead of Rick behind the keyboards was former Yes keyboard player Geoff Downes (who played with the band in the early 80s on ‘Drama’). Downes was a former member of The Buggles and also played with Howe in Asia.
This is a show worth seeing just to see Steve Howe. The legendary Yes guitarist takes centre-stage for his solo pieces and together with Chris Squire’s unique bass sounds is the sound of Yes.
Special mention needs to also go to “the timekeeper” Alan White. White was a member of John Lennon’s Plastic Ono Band before he joined Yes. His credits include being the drummer on John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ AND George Harrison’s ‘My Sweet Lord’.
This current Yes tour showcases the band’s new album ‘Fly From Here’. The show goes for 2 hours 45 minutes with an interval and covers the classic Yes nicely.
‘I’ve Seen All Good People’, ‘And You And I’, ‘Heart Of The Sunrise’, ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’, ‘Yours Is No Disgrace’, ‘Starship Trooper’ and ‘Roundabout’ sounded exactly like Yes and reminded the fans why this was one of the greatest rock bands of the 70s.
Yes have one more Australian show to go tomorrow night April 13 in Sydney at the State Theatre, presented by Noise11.com.
The setlist is:
Yours Is No Disgrace (from The Yes Album, 1971)
Tempus Fugit (from Drama, 1980)
I’ve Seen All Good People (from The Yes Album, 1971)
Life On A Film Set (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Solitaire (Steve Howe solo)
Australia (Steve Howe solo)
And You And I (from Close To The Edge, 1972)
Fly From Here – Overture (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Fly From Here – Pt 1 – We Can Fly (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Fly From Here – Pt 2 – Sad Night At The Airfield (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Fly From Here – Pt 3 – Madman At The Screens (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Fly From Here – Pt 4 – Bumpy Ride (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Fly From Here – Pt 5 – We Can Fly (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Wonderous Stories (from Going For The One, 1977)
Into the Storm (from Fly From Here, 2011)
Heart of the Sunrise (from Fragile, 1971)
Owner Of A Lonely Heart (from 90125, 1983)
Starship Trooper (from The Yes Album, 1971)
Roundabout (from Fragile, 1971)
