Anyone seen Yes live?

Swerve · #1 12-03-2008, 03:20 PM

I read in a local paper today that they are coming soon to my neck of the woods and am seriously considering going...

I've always appreciated Yes and think of them in terms of prog rockers such as Rush and King Crimson. But have never purchased any of their albums and only know a handful of songs.

Chris Squire is great form what I've heard but are they any good live? I'd be paying about 40$ and driving 1.5 hrs so I'd like to see a good show.

Anyone care to chime in? Album recommendations?

Solarmist · #2 12-03-2008, 05:21 PM

Yes! I did with Alice Cooper in Seattle some time back in the now blown-to-bits Kingdome - with all original members - excellent - fantastic light show too.

Yessongs [live from "73"] is a fantastic CD set - it used to come on vinyl as a 3 record set.

projectMalamute · #3 12-03-2008, 05:30 PM

Who is in Yes these days?

I saw the Union tour in the early 90's: two drummers, two guitar players, two keyboard players, bass and vocals. In the round, the stage slowly rotated the whole time. Bitchin' light show.

I thought the music was kinda overly grandiose and tedious. Every one of the eight zillion people on stage got to do a solo thing. They did do Heart of the Sunrise though. That song rocks.

Unless these guys actually have a new album that they are excited about you are looking at a pretty standard dinosaur rock greatest hits show.

stretchcat · #4 12-03-2008, 05:50 PM

I saw them about three years ago for free at Chastain Park. They sounded good and played all the stuff that you would want to hear at a Yes show. I recall the first song was "Yours Is No Disgrace" and I don't think anyone onstage could hear, so it was a little rough starting out. Once they got the monitoring problems ironed out, they were spot on the rest of the night.

The lineup was as follows:

Jon Anderson
Steve Howe
Chris Squire
Rick Wakeman (no cape)
Alan White

Rattman · #5 12-03-2008, 05:52 PM

Oh yeah. . . . I saw live them way back in '73 playing at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. It was during the winter for that show, so I remember being cold much of time getting to and especially leaving the venue with some other high school friends. 'Yes' was everything I expected from them and more . . everyone was in fine form that night.

Swerve · #6 12-03-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by projectMalamute

Unless these guys actually have a new album that they are excited about you are looking at a pretty standard dinosaur rock greatest hits show.

Which is what I would want to avoid! According to their Wiki, it will be Squire, Howe, and Alan White. the keyboard player is Oliver Wakeman who is the son of Rick Wakeman, the original guy.

The singer Jon Anderson is sick and filling in is place is some guy whose normal gig is a Yes tribute band

eh, I'll consider it. Since the venue is in a casino I could always just gamble afterword

James Hart · #7 12-03-2008, 06:52 PM

seen them 3 times... definitely worth the trip!

Dogsferatu · #8 12-03-2008, 07:12 PM

shouldn't even think about it. Just to see Chris play is worth the price. Alan White and Steve Howe just add so much more. Yes has always had a revolving door with members but the mainstay has always been Squire... and if you are lucky enough to meet him.. he's a really nice guy with a hand the size of Mack Truck

ksandvik · #9 12-03-2008, 07:15 PM

...you should see them, as I don't think they will play forever and the tour dates seems to get spread out further and further.

**Freddels** · #10 12-03-2008, 10:16 PM

Last time I saw them I had first row seats and they were in the round (revolving stage). It was the early '80's.

mattq · #11 12-03-2008, 11:47 PM

i saw them with kansas about 7 or 8 years ago when i was in high school. for me not knowing ANY of their music but still being a musician back then, i could still appreciate it and really enjoy myself.

Valerus · #12 12-03-2008, 11:51 PM

dave64o · #13 12-04-2008, 04:55 AM

I've seen them about 10-12 times over the years and with many different lineups. Regardless of the lineup on this tour, don't think about it. Just go!

They may be "dinosaur rock" but you'd have a tough time finding a group of "young bucks" that play with their unbelievable combination of technical prowess AND musicality.

KJung · #14 12-04-2008, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave64o

I've seen them about 10-12 times over the years and with many different lineups. Regardless of the lineup on this tour, don't think about it. Just go!

They may be "dinosaur rock" but you'd have a tough time finding a group of "young bucks" that play with their unbelievable combination of technical prowess AND musicality.

I would agree with you up to this tour. Rick Wakeman's son, and a singer from a Yes cover band. Yuck.

Bruce Lindfield · #15 12-04-2008, 04:58 AM

I saw them in 1974 and they were very good - made me want to be a bassplayer!

KJung · #16 12-04-2008, 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

I saw them in 1974 and they were very good - made me want to be a bassplayer!

When they were at their height during that time period, and the music was still actually relevant, they were something to see. My favorites were the two 'Relayer' tours with Patrick Moraz on keys. That version of the band was SMOKING, and hearing that Relayer stuff live was really something when it came out.

That was the time when they had the full 'prog' thing going... Stravinsky playing through the PA as they came out on stage (it was cool that they merged the 'Firebird' from recording to live), the robes, the smoke. It all seems so silly now, but man was it something at the time. And the sound was just amazing. That bass tone was to die for, and my later love affair with Marcus Miller's tone came directly from the Squire grind and sizzle for me.

KrisH · #17 12-04-2008, 05:17 AM

Saw them about 5 times in the 70s, from Close to the Edge to Tormato (sp?). They were my favorite band to watch, with Squire, Howe, Wakeman, White and Anderson the best lineup IMO. I started loosing interest in the early 80s, but still listen to the classic Yes regularly. Haven't taken the opportunity to see them since, but I did rent the Live at Montreaux HD-DVD. Unfortunately, they, like all of us, are aging. Howe's looking absolutely cadaver-ish.

bobba66 · #18 12-04-2008, 05:44 AM

Go see them. They could all die tomorrow and your chance would be lost forever.

Phalex · #19 12-04-2008, 06:35 AM

I've seen them a couple of times. It was the post break up 1980's owner of a lonely heart YES, but they still put on an awesome show. What can I say? I'm not a huge Trevor Rabin fan.

**baba** · #20 12-04-2008, 07:58 AM

A couple times. Big Generator tour. The Union tour was really cool as it almost like two eras of members.