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week Transatlantic, YES in the next...life sometimes can't get any better.
As part of the 'Yessymphonic Tour' this 33 year old Rock institute moved
in at the Heineken Music Hall for two days with the second date being
recorded for a future DVD release.
With the beautiful album called 'Magnification' added recently to their
huge and impressive catalogue, YES took on the challenge and decided
to feature an orchestra as well on the tour. For the last 6 weeks the
honour fell to the European Festival Orchestra from Poland with Wilhelm
Keitel conducting. The EFO is a young but eager group, the enjoyment
of playing with Yes was very well noticeable by the look on their faces,
their clapping, singing and even dancing on stage during the encore
'Roundabout' at the second night. Extra nice was the fact that a group
(about 20) of 20 year old girls is also very nice to look at, ahum.
So what about the music? Die hard fans were sayng that it was the best
show (2nd) they ever saw and I think I agree with that. During the first
night the orchestra parts were a bit low in volume but the 2nd night
totally made up for that. After the orchestral opening drummer Alan
White counts the band in to 'Close To The Edge' one of many Yes epics.
With Jon Anderson on his percussion and little keyboard island, Steve
Howe concentrated to the max, 'amazing bassman' Chris Squire rumbling
and session keyboardplayer Tom Brislin the band was on fire from scratch
and the fire never ceased! Jon Anderson's voice, 57 years old, is out
of this world, un-be-liev-able...
Especially the songs that everybody were waiting for: 'Gates Of Delirium'
and 'Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil)' were performed in such manner that
it was pure magic, I'm getting goosebumps while I'm writing these words,
talk about an aftermath! But also the more regular songs in the set
like 'And You And I', 'Your Move (All Good People)' and ' Long Distance
Runaround' were amazing. The three new songs 'Don't Go', 'In The Presence
Of' and the recently added 'Magnification' made it clear that the songwriting
spirit and skill of Yes is still very strong and that is actually making
them the best Progressive band ever in my opinion.
On the second night even 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart' got played, a rare
thing these days as Steve Howe doesn't like playing it, a fact that
was very much noticable on the first night; when the band returned for
an encore Chris Squire thought they were going to 'Owner...' as well
but Steve Howe started 'Roundabout' instead...the song started but Chris
stopped yelling "No, NO!!" As Steve didn't react he took off
his 'Owner' bass, walked to the side to get his 'Roundabout' guitar
and gave in...during the keyboard solo Squire walked up to Tom Brislin
and when he was near Howe he yelled "Wanker!" at him. Funny
moment, they ARE musicians and things like this can still happen in
a band, no matter if you are Yes or Funky Granny from down the street
at the youth center.
So in conclusion the one conclusion: Yes rules...it's simple...yes.
Winston Arntz/2001
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