Howe, Squire, White live in Baltimore

[Lazylion]

Howe, Squire and White of Yes at Ram's Head, Baltimore, MD. 11/16/08

First things first - the old boys can still crank it out. All three are still excellent musicians, don't doubt that for a minute!

Chris Squire played several basses. Of course he had a couple of Ricks, but also a Fender Jazz, a Lakland Jazz, and a bass with a sort of angular body shape and a mirror pickguard. I was a little too far away to see the logo on that one. He used it on the post-70s tunes. He played through what I assume were two Marshall heads, but they were facing backstage, so that his tech could twiddle knobs. Facing the front were a Marshall cab and an Ampeg cab. I couldn't see what kinds of floor devices/pedals he might have had. But most importantly, he can still play and sing. He seemed to enjoy himself, smiling, talking to the crowd, boogieing around, etc. And he made playing the difficult parts, of which there are many, look easy.

By contrast, there was Steve Howe. He's still exceedingly thin and intense, doesn't smile, doesn't boogie at all, you sometimes have to wonder, is he having any fun? It was easy to picture him at home, sticking his head out the door and hollering "you kids get off my lawn!" and meaning it! But it must be quite satisfying to pull off those guitar parts, which he can still do like nobody else. His style has always been one of the most unique in rock. He nailed his vocal harmonies as well. At one point, while he was playing the steel guitar, I thought he was boogieing for a minute there. But I realized that he was just working the volume pedal in a vigorous way. False alarm. But he does have a sense of humor. At the beginning of the solo acoustic guitar interlude, in response to some yelling drunk at the bar, Howe raised the guitar to his face and pretended to be picking with his teeth, a la Hendrix. Much laughter from the crowd. He still didn't smile, just shook his head in mock (I think it was mock) disgust, and went on to play "Classical Gas". Because he looks like such a sourpuss, I'm going to assume that he's the one who knows all the best jokes, and keeps everyone laughing backstage. I have no factual basis for this assumption.

Alan White was masterful, pounding it out with authority, keeping everyone on the beat and navigating the numerous twists and turns. When the stage lighting was a certain way, he looked a bit like a cross between Robert De Niro and Walter Cronkite. No, I wasn't buzzed.

Vocalist Benoit David did a great job. This was his 10th show with Yes, and he seemed quite confident and comfortable. It must be scary to take the place of a singer as unique and well-loved as Jon Anderson (get well soon, Jon!), but David didn't show any pressure that I could tell. He hit all the high stuff no problem. I still don't understand how a guy with the "original equipment" can do that. He must be grateful now for the time he's spent with several Yes tribute bands. Can you imagine the phone call he must have gotten? "Hello, this is Chris Squire. I saw you on Youtube, and I have a proposition for you." Talk about a pinch-me-I'm-dreaming moment! I bet he hung up the phone and then went like this for about an hour!

While not the showman that his dad was back in the day, (what? No cape?) Oliver Wakeman has clearly put a ton of study in on the keyboard parts, and he smoothly delivered. There was no keyboard solo showcase, maybe he felt that was dad's thing, not his.

All in all, an excellent show, well worth seeing. I only noticed one flubbed ending, most everything else was pretty tight. Amazing considering the complexity of the material. I would have liked to have heard "Perpetual Change" and a couple of other things, but of course their catalog is far too large for one concert.

I'll admit to having a soft spot for these guys. I saw Yes back in the early days, on their first visit to the US, opening for Jethro Tull, before Rick Wakeman had joined. I remember thinking "that's a dumb name for a band." But I was quite impressed by them. And they are still impressive now. So go see them! And bring an extra $40 (!) if you want the t-shirt. Is that what all concert t-shirts cost now?? Yikes!

[Geddyfleaharris]

I would love to see YES. IS that what they are calling this? Even without Jon? Their musicianship is beyond superb. I admit some of the old tracks that took up a complete album side might be a bit much to digest but overall a very cool band. And ya....it's Chris Squire for gawds sake!

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by Geddyfleaharris

IS that what they are calling this? Even without Jon?

That's what it said on White's bass drum head. And that's what it said on the t-shirts for sale. FWIW, when Squire introduced David and Wakeman, he called them "the two newest members of the band". But heck, Squire is the only permanent member, right? Everyone else has come and gone at least once. I guess Yes is whoever Squire says it is.
I got an email from Ram's Head a few months ago advertising this show, and they called it "Howe, Squire and White of Yes".

I just hope Jon Anderson isn't permanently POed as a result of this tour, and refuses to ever tour with the others again. That would be tragic.

[Geddyfleaharris]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

I just hope Jon Anderson isn't permanently POed as a result of this tour, and refuses to ever tour with the others again. That would be tragic.

I haven't heard lately where Jon's health is at. He was quite seriously ill back in the spring when the reunion tour was first being talked. I think a heart/lung issue . Hopefully he is doing better.

I would still go and see them. Always loved Steve's guitar playing too!

[KJung]

I saw the new 'Yes' with that new singer playing on some talk show the other day as I was flipping through the channels. Howe was not with them.

Man, it was so depressing. I thought it was a really bad cover band doing Yes tunes. Alan White looks like he's 105 years old!

As a 'Yes' fan from way back, IMO, they need to stop and stop quickly.

It was really terrible, especially the singer. My god, I'm still depressed. It was like seeing a rusted 57 Chevy sitting on the side of the road.

[Bard2dbone]

The last time I saw them was the tour where people were calling them Hell Yes. It was Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, Squire, Rabin, White, and Kaye.



I laughed. I cried. I fell down. I saw God. What can I say. It didn't suck.

[keb]

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

The last time I saw them was the tour where people were calling them Hell Yes. It was Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, Howe, Squire, Rabin, White, and Kaye.



I laughed. I cried. I fell down. I saw God. What can I say. It didn't suck.

Rick Wakemen cried too during that time... it was the Union album/tour but Rick called it the Onion album because the thought of it made him cry (a nasty falling out with the producer who replaced a lot of Wakeman's keyboard work with those of session musicians.)

I kinda wish Trevor Rabin would rejoin the band (again!) Over the last several years, Yes has seemed kind of adrift and aimless... whenever Rabin's around, he seems to bring things into focus, for better or worse. But at least some new music is created... aw heck, I may as well admit that I like the "Yes West" stuff (90125, Big Generator, Talk, the Rabin-Yes tracks on Union.)

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by keb

Over the last several years, Yes has seemed kind of adrift and aimless... whenever Rabin's around, he seems to bring things into focus, for better or worse.

Well...I will agree that Yes hasn't seemed particularly focussed on moving forward as of late. They seem way too comfortable resting on their laurels & playing their greatest hits (sic) but not so interested in writing new, groundbreaking, forward-thinking material. (When was Magnification released, 4 years ago? 14 years ago? I have no idea. And that album doesn't even count as groundbreaking or forward-thinking!)

The problem with Rabin though is that the focus he brings invariably seems to be a different focus than what the band Yes has always been about, regardless of whether they were revealing the nine billion names of god or sucking ass. Rabin writes pop music, period. It can be incredibly deep, detailed, sophisticated pop music, but it's still pop music. Yes was never about pop music.

[tallboybass]

Originally Posted by Hoover

...The problem with Rabin though is that the focus he brings invariably seems to be a different focus than what the band Yes has always been about, regardless of whether they were revealing the nine billion names of god or sucking ass...

Now THAT'S funny!

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Well...I will agree that Yes hasn't seemed particularly focussed on moving forward as of late. They seem way too comfortable resting on their laurels & playing their greatest hits (sic) but not so interested in writing new, groundbreaking, forward-thinking material. (When was Magnification released, 4 years ago? 14 years ago? I have no idea. And that album doesn't even count as groundbreaking or forward-thinking!)

The problem with Rabin though is that the focus he brings invariably seems to be a different focus than what the band Yes has always been about, regardless of whether they were revealing the nine billion names of god or sucking ass. Rabin writes pop music, period. It can be incredibly deep, detailed, sophisticated pop music, but it's still pop music. Yes was never about pop music.

+1 That Rabin era Yes stuff has NOTHING to do with Yes. While it wasn't bad, it would be like the Beatles hiring a Ska guitarist, or the Who hiring Joe Pass or something. Not inherently bad, just doesn't make sense

Of course, all the Yes stuff is old, dated and irrelevant at this point IMO, but the once or twice a year I go back to it for 'old times', give me Close to the Edge and Relayer (especially Relayer... magnificent), and maybe the first and last tracks on Tales.

[Wilbyman]

Originally Posted by KJung

I saw the new 'Yes' with that new singer playing on some talk show the other day as I was flipping through the channels. Howe was not with them.

Man, it was so depressing. I thought it was a really bad cover band doing Yes tunes. Alan White looks like he's 105 years old!

As a 'Yes' fan from way back, IMO, they need to stop and stop quickly.

It was really terrible, especially the singer. My god, I'm still depressed. It was like seeing a rusted 57 Chevy sitting on the side of the road.

I saw that. It was really bad. It did indeed sound like a bad Yes cover band. I don't really have much to add except for the fact I saw it and totally concur! The singer seems well-intentioned (and, somewhat bewildered to singing for Yes) but he just can't pull it off at all.

W

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by KJung

I saw the new 'Yes' with that new singer playing on some talk show the other day as I was flipping through the channels. Howe was not with them.
Man, it was so depressing. I thought it was a really bad cover band doing Yes tunes... It was really terrible, especially the singer.

Originally Posted by Wilbyman

I saw that. It was really bad... The singer... just can't pull it off at all.

Was that the Huckabee show clip? I just watched that about an hour ago. Pretty weak, alright. Almost unbelievable, after seeing and hearing what I did last Sunday. Trust me, the show was way, way better than that. And David did pull it off.

Edit: That was NOT "the new Yes". The 2 guitarists have nothing to do with the band. They were just there for the TV show.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

Was that the Huckabee show clip? I just watched that about an hour ago. Pretty weak, alright. Almost unbelievable, after seeing and hearing what I did last Sunday. Trust me, the show was way, way better than that. And David did pull it off.

Edit: That was NOT "the new Yes". The 2 guitarists have nothing to do with the band. They were just there for the TV show.

I guess that's what it was. I only saw the last few minutes, but it was painful. I was actually quite shocked that they would do that.

I'm sure the show was better, but man, that singer was terrible.

[Lazylion]

Originally Posted by KJung

I guess that's what it was. I only saw the last few minutes, but it was painful. I was actually quite shocked that they would do that.

At the beginning of the clip there is an explanation of a music-related charity, that both White and Huckabee are involved with. I assume that's the reason they agreed to do it.

Originally Posted by KJung

I'm sure the show was better, but man, that singer was terrible.

I was thinking this morning about what it would be like to be in Squire's position. You want to get out there and tour before old age makes it impossible. The fans want you to come around. You've got this fabulous music, that you've been doing for all your adult life. But Anderson is ill, and who knows if he'll recover enough to perform again? So you need somebody who can not only sing in that sky-high range, but handle the difficulty of the material. It ain't 3-chord blues-rock. How many guys fit that description? Now imagine how long it would take for a singer who wasn't familiar with Yes music to get up to speed. 6 months, a year? A singer from a Yes tribute band is the most logical choice. So how many of those are there? You can see where I'm going, he didn't have a huge talent pool to pick from. I think he was lucky to find a guy as good as Benoit David, who was willing and able to take the job.

[KJung]

Originally Posted by Lazylion

At the beginning of the clip there is an explanation of a music-related charity, that both White and Huckabee are involved with. I assume that's the reason they agreed to do it.

I was thinking this morning about what it would be like to be in Squire's position. You want to get out there and tour before old age makes it impossible. The fans want you to come around. You've got this fabulous music, that you've been doing for all your adult life. But Anderson is ill, and who knows if he'll recover enough to perform again? So you need somebody who can not only sing in that sky-high range, but handle the difficulty of the material. It ain't 3-chord blues-rock. How many guys fit that description? Now imagine how long it would take for a singer who wasn't familiar with Yes music to get up to speed. 6 months, a year? A singer from a Yes tribute band is the most logical choice. So how many of those are there? You can see where I'm going, he didn't have a huge talent pool to pick from. I think he was lucky to find a guy as good as Benoit David, who was willing and able to take the job.

I agree with you 100% I'm actually being very selfish in that it makes me sad to see Yes, one of my favorite bands from the mid 70's, finally reach the 'end of the road'. I surely don't fault Squire for wanting to play and if people are digging it, I agree, what's the harm?

However, for purely selfish reasons, it makes me kind of sad. I remember seeing the second Relayer tour at the Mississippi River Festival outside of St. Louis with about 25,000 of my best friends They were at full power and that was about the end of the 'Prog relevance' (must have been in the late 70's). I'd rather remember them like that, in the robes with the smoke, coming on stage with Stravinsky blaring from a PA loud enough to make your ears bleed., and 25,000 people going nuts.

[Lazylion]

A big +1 to that! They've had a good run, though.

Re: volume, at the end of their first set, I turned to my brother and said "shouldn't the whole thing be louder?" I guess I'm old school!