The Official Yes Thread

[goo-goo]

Billy Sherwood doing double duty as well?

Seems like it...Steve Howe will also play with Yes and Asia. Bumblefoot (from Sons of Apollo) is tabbed for guitars in Asia. Quite surprising.

[pg1067]

I may go to this with a friend at work.  I was saying to him that this sounds interesting, but...

It's Yes without Anderson, Squire or Wakeman.

It's Asia with I'm not even sure.  Is Carl Palmer going to do both the ELP thing and Asia?  How much is Howe really going to play with Asia?  Will Downes be doing both Yes and Asia?

It's "ELP Legacy" with only the "P" (and with Arthur Brown singing??).

Not that there's anything that can be done about the lack of Emerson, Lake and Squire, but I can't say any of those things individually holds much interest for me.  All of them together in one place might be worth checking out (especially since the Orange County show is on a Saturday).

[Stadler]

I may go to this with a friend at work.  I was saying to him that this sounds interesting, but...

It's Yes without Anderson, Squire or Wakeman.

It's Asia with I'm not even sure.  Is Carl Palmer going to do both the ELP thing and Asia?  How much is Howe really going to play with Asia?  Will Downes be doing both Yes and Asia?

It's "ELP Legacy" with only the "P" (and with Arthur Brown singing??).

Not that there's anything that can be done about the lack of Emerson, Lake and Squire, but I can't say any of those things individually holds much interest for me.  All of them together in one place might be worth checking out (especially since the Orange County show is on a Saturday).

I'm with you on this.  Yes without Squire, ELP without Emerson OR Lake, Asia without Wetton... might as well go see Rush without Peart or Zeppelin without Page. 

Having said that, I'm warming - tremendously - to Sherwood, and I think the spectacle of the night - three bands, all of whom I've seen in their heyday (or at least with classic lineups, even if on the reunion side of things) - might be endearing.  I will have to travel for this, though. 

[The Letter M]

Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Anyways, I was reading a lot of the comments on FB about this, and reactions are very mixed, with a lot of the negative ones slamming this tour as a Tribute Act. Had they even thrown in Jon Anderson OR Rick Wakeman, they probably would've raked in a LOT of money, if even Yes was only on stage for 45-60 minutes to let the other two acts play, but that would never happen.

It's like the remaining members of Asia (Geoff, Carl, and Steve) wanted to tour together, but didn't want to do a whole show, so Geoff and Steve figured there could be some Yes, some ELP Legacy with Carl, and fill out Asia and Yes with Billy Sherwood. Then it was just a matter of filling in the other missing pieces with ELP and Asia, and boom.

Well, it could be amazing, or it could tank (pun intended), but either way, I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

-Marc.

[Fritzinger]

I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money 

I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Secretly flipping burgers.

[Stadler]

I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money 

The last time I saw Asia - the last tour before Steve quit to devote full time to Yes - they played Mohegan Sun Casino's Wolf Den, a 300-seat cabaret setup that is free to people in the casino (the band is paid, but it's fully subsidized by the casino).  That's not a band that is writing their own checks or holding promoters hostage.

I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Secretly flipping burgers.

Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.

[Fritzinger]

Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.

That's what I just said.

[pg1067]

Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Making history!

And you?

[jammindude]

Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Making history!

And you?

 

[The Letter M]

Well, with Billy Sheehan and Soto busy with Octavision, I guess Bumblefoot decided he'd pick up another gig, too, while SOA was on hiatus. I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Making history!

And you?

That's it. You win. Perfect response. 

I'm sure it'll still make a TON of money because it's 3/4th of the original Asia touring with Yes.

I don't think anything Yes have done in the last 10-15 years has made a "ton" of money 

The last time I saw Asia - the last tour before Steve quit to devote full time to Yes - they played Mohegan Sun Casino's Wolf Den, a 300-seat cabaret setup that is free to people in the casino (the band is paid, but it's fully subsidized by the casino).  That's not a band that is writing their own checks or holding promoters hostage.

Oof, that's...less than I thought they'd be raking in. Well, maybe by teaming up with Yes and the ELP Legacy, maybe they're all thinking that they could rake in higher numbers than they could separately. Maybe if this tour is a failure, Yes will reconsider retirement, or maybe Steve will finally invite Jon to join them and do one last tour together, maybe bring back Tony Kaye to play with Geoff since Rick will likely not (re)join them ever again.

I wonder what Derek has been up to, then?

Secretly flipping burgers.

Duh, he's writing the new Sons' opus.

All by himself? Well, I mean I figured he was writing SOME of it, but hopefully it's not all of Derek's material on the next album.

-Marc.

[Stadler]

Speaking of Jon, I saw - and met - him last night.   First, meeting him was a treat.  I know he has his reputation, and has had his moments, but with me - and the few people around me - he was kind, gracious, present.   I went up to him and said "Mr. Anderson, it's an honor." and he said "Please, it's Jon.  What's this?" And I showed him my Going For The One, and I said "my favorite album of all time, by any band."  And he said something like "Ah, that's very nice.  That part, in Awaken, with the choir, it's special isn't it?"

His show was... solid as a rock.   Not a marathon - on about 9:05, off about 10:55, with a 15 minute or so break in the middle - but he hit every single note.  EVERY SINGLE ONE.  No "rejiggering melodies" to cut out the tough parts, no help (though everyone in the band sang, necessary on his new songs, which were... to coin a phrase, "solid" but not spectacular).  I won't spoil the setlist, but one Yes album in particular got special treatment (three songs) and one song - not a favorite of mine - was by far the best version I've ever heard (and without Chris Squire, that is absolutely saying something).  The other two, both in my Yes top 20, were the highlights of the show, by far.

Not the best concert I've ever seen - the first half of the second set dragged, as the arrangements were full band, but less Yes and more CSN - but certainly up there, and I know I had the thought a couple times listening to him sing "we're watching one of the truly greats".   He's still got it, though whether he can sustain a two-and-a-half-hour rock marathon is to be seen. 

[Fritzinger]

Sounds awesome, I would love to meet him. But I don't think I will spend 122 bucks for it. Was it worth it for you though?

What do you mean by "he has his reputation"? Were there any strange stories?

[Stadler]

Sounds awesome, I would love to meet him. But I don't think I will spend 122 bucks for it. Was it worth it for you though?

You know, I'm not a huge "meet and greet" guy.  I did Neal Morse, because I wanted to meet Mike (I think that was $75 or something), and I'm doing Les Claypool and Sean Lennon, for I think $125, because that's as close as I'm ever going to get to a Beatle (my favorite band), and here I did it because simply put, he's a big part of my favorite album of all time (Going For The One).  I think from that perspective - he signed it gladly - it was, but it's a fleeting thing and generally speaking, I'm not really a huge fan of meet and greets. I met Gary Barden - singer for the Michael Schenker Group literally on the sidewalk in NYC outside the Irving Plaza show, and he talked with me - for free - while he smoked his cigarette and it was far more rewarding and worth it.  I tried to be gracious - "Gary, if you want to smoke in peace, I'll gladly leave you be" - and he was very generous.  "No, stay and chat" or something along those lines. 

What do you mean by "he has his reputation"? Were there any strange stories?

Well, there are several articles about his prickliness with Howe and Squire (on separate occasions) and he has a rep as a stern taskmaster in the studio.   There's bootleg tape of him and Wakeman in the studio doing the ascending organ line in Awaken and he's basically telling Wakeman - one of the greatest keyboardists in rock history - what to play.   A friend of mine - well, I happen to run into him at shows at this one venue because he does like the M&Gs - had met him before, and said he was far more gracious this time; last time he described him as "stand-offish".   The fan site "Notes From The Edge" used to have several of those articles/interviews in their archive.  They were down for a while, though, so I don't know if they are still there.

[ytserush]

Yes, Asia, and Carl Palmer Tour

http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/yes-announces-the-royal-affair-tour-with-asia-and-carl-palmers-elp-legacy/

Bumblefoot will play with Asia.
Steve Howe will play with Asia and Yes
Jun. 12 - Bethlehem, PA - Bethlehem Event Center
Jun. 14 - Farmingdale, NY - Long Island Community Hospital Amphitheater
Jun. 15 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena
Jun. 16 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun. 20 - Westchester, NY - Westchester County Center
Jun. 21 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
Jun. 22 - Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavillion
Jun. 24 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage
Jun. 25 - Lewiston, NY - Artpark Amphitheater
Jun. 27 - Bethel, NY - Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
Jun. 29 - Gilford, NH - Bank of NH Pavilion
Jun. 30 - Providence, RI - Bold Point Park
Jul. 03 - Rochester Hills, MI - Meadow Brook Amphitheatre
Jul. 05 - Columbus, OH - Express Live
Jul. 06 - Aurora, IL - RiverEdge Park
Jul. 08 - Nashville, TN - Grand Ole Opry House
Jul. 10 - Cary, NC - Koka Booth Amphitheatre at Regency Park
Jul. 12 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Jul. 13 - Hollywood, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Jul. 18 - St Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre
Jul. 20 - Irving, TX - Toyota Music Factory
Jul. 21 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
Jul. 24 - Phoenix, AZ - Comerica Theatre
Jul. 26 - Las Vegas, NV - The Joint (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)
Jul. 27 - Irvine, CA - FivePoints Amphitheatre
Jul. 28 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery

Looks like the opener is going to blow both bands out of the water. Suppose I need to consider this.

[Fritzinger]

I put on Magnification yesterday. I found it on that lilac vinyl in a chaotic record store somewhere im Hamburg a few years ago. I always liked it, but I'm appreciating it more and more over the years. I don't understand why it gets so much criticism. Spirit Of Survival is a powerful rocker (Chris' bass line rocks), Give Love and We Agree are brilliantly composed bombastic ballads. The two 10min songs bring back old Yes days. Howe's slide guitar at the end of In The Presence Of always gives me chills. Howe's performance is amazing in general on this album. If it's the freaky fills in Spirit Of Survival or the beautiful acoustic guitar work on We Agree or Soft As A Dove. The dude is just a master.

I also put on Open Your Eyes. Sure it's not a masterpiece, but I didn't find it as bad as everyone says. The title track, Wonderlove and Universal Garden are cool songs. I always loved From The Balcony and I still think it's the best song on the album. Howe and Anderson create a magic as a duo that is unmatched. The Solution is a good song too in my opinion, but I never understood why they made it a 23 minute track. After 6 minutes or so it's just noises.

I have to find The Ladder on vinyl and give it a chance. The only song I have heard a lot is Homeworld and I love that one.

[Mladen]

Magnification is very solid, but I find The Ladder supperior in every way. I couldn't get into Open your eyes, I've always thought it was underwhelming and not at all memorable.

[Kwyjibo]

Magnification is solid, Open Your Eyes has some good tracks but lacks depth and proggyness. The Ladder has some good tracks (Homeworld, New Language) but songs like Lightning Strikes kill it for me. Maybe the worst Yes song ever recorded.

[IDontNotDoThings]

Magnification is solid, Open Your Eyes has some good tracks but lacks depth and proggyness. The Ladder has some good tracks (Homeworld, New Language) but songs like Lightning Strikes kill it for me. Maybe the worst Yes song ever recorded.

Loveshine would like to have a word with you.


Truth be told, I don't think Lightning Strikes is that bad, but it is a good representation of the bland pop mediocrity that showed its head in The Ladder. The album is fine but it's just fine imo.

[SoundscapeMN]

The Ladder is remarkably better than Magnification and especially Open Your Eyes, lol.

[Stadler]

I can at least listen to The Ladder.  I really like Magnification.   I can barely find anything redeeming about Open Your Eyes. 

By the way, I was driving yesterday, and I put on the live record from 2014 where they played Close To The Edge and Fragile in their entirety.

I didn't really like the tempos being slightly slower; you noticed it and it took some of the power away from the songs, especially Close To The Edge.  But what really bothered me was Jon Davidson's vocals.  He's a really good singer, but it didn't work for me on that.   He's got the same countertenor quality that Anderson has, but he doesn't have the edge.  Anderson has that reedy voice, but he's a ROCK singer.  He's not "delicate" in that way.  There were too many moments in that show that Davidson was too... twee maybe?   I don't know what the word is (that's not offensive to someone) but it took the edge right out of the music. 

[Fritzinger]

Okay, really looking forward to giving The Ladder a really concentrated listen now! I have slowly been getting into the poppier Yes music over the last two years or so. It works when you accept that it's just something different than the music from the 70s (although I put on Close To The Edge last night and I gotta say... this is just a masterpiece. Brought me to tears again... and it's not even my favourite Yes album or song!).

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!

[DTA]

The Ladder is really solid. There’s some cringey moments as there are in basically every Yes album, but it’s well produced and has some really good pop hooks. Open Your Eyes has actually grown on me in recent times, though I will never enjoy Man In The Moon or Loveshine. Somehow Someday also amuses me because it sounds like Alan White has no idea what the hell he’s doing. Magnification is great also. Very solid and there’s some really great moments throughout.

[romdrums]

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!

The Keys material is second only to GFTO in terms of what the lineup of Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman and White put out, in my opinion.  Criminally underrated by both the fanbase and the band itself.

[Architeuthis]

Yeah, the Keys studio material is really good!  The live stuff is great too with a fantastic version of Starship Trooper.. 

[Stadler]

I REALLY hope they remaster - or better: remix!! - the studio tracks from Keys To Ascension and put them out as a studio double LP. I believe those songs are the only ones not available on vinyl by Yes. Meanwhile, Open Your Eyes is getting its third (!) vinyl rerelease now. (I think it's being released on 26th of April but somehow I already found a copy in my small hometown's local electronic shop like a week ago.)


@Stadler: Agree 120% on Jon Davison!

The Keys material is second only to GFTO in terms of what the lineup of Anderson, Squire, Howe, Wakeman and White put out, in my opinion.  Criminally underrated by both the fanbase and the band itself.

I should go back to revisit that.

[ytserush]

I like the Keys stuff, The Ladder and Magnification quite a bit.  Open Your Eyes is another story. Don't even own it anymore.

[Heavy Metal Hippie]

Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

[Architeuthis]

Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like how you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I gave your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍

[Stadler]

Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

Cool!  I'm traveling today, but I'll be able to give it a listen tomorrow.  I will and I'll comment.  I'm excited for this!

[Heavy Metal Hippie]

Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like bow you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I have your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍

Thanks Archi, I didn't use anything from Jacuranda, because I know this album inside out and I wanted to achieve a fresh experience for myself.

So, you finally got Jacuranda. Just 7 years after the release. Enjoy.

[Stadler]

So, serious question(s).  I might have a chance to meet Mr. Wakeman in a few weeks.  I was able to get Jon to sign Going For The One (my favorite album of all time), but I'm torn.  If given the chance, do I:

- have Rick also sign GFTO?
- have him sign something else?
- and if so, here's the kicker:  is it out of line to ask him to sign Tales From Topographic Oceans (it's one of my favorite album covers ever)?   

Thoughts? 

[KevShmev]

Not sure why it would be out of line to ask him to sign Tales.  I know he's not a fan, but he played on it and I'm sure would be gracious about it. 

[Orbert]

If I were in your shoes, I'd get him to sign Going for the One.  That's my favorite Yes album as well, and having a copy signed by both Jon and Rick would be amazing.

But... it would also be cool having him sign Tales, and I don't think it would be out of line to ask.  He did play on it and it's a great cover.  Then you'd have two different albums signed by different members of Yes.

[ytserush]

So, serious question(s).  I might have a chance to meet Mr. Wakeman in a few weeks.  I was able to get Jon to sign Going For The One (my favorite album of all time), but I'm torn.  If given the chance, do I:

- have Rick also sign GFTO?
- have him sign something else?
- and if so, here's the kicker:  is it out of line to ask him to sign Tales From Topographic Oceans (it's one of my favorite album covers ever)?   

Thoughts?

Not my favorite Yes album by a long shot, but it is yours so you should probably try and get that and Tales signed.

Funny though, I was actually considering seeing Patrick Moraz but it's on a week night so I might pass on it.
 I likely wouldn't be hanging around to have him sign Relayer or any of  his albums with Bruford either.

[ytserush]

Stadler, Architeuthis and Rabin era fans: Because YES feat. ARW couldn't make an album, I tried to make one for myself by mashing up Rabin soundtracks and other sources with Anderson solo tracks.

It would be great to get some feedback, what you think of the soundquality and if you think it's listenable or too chaotic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paFe9RygVH0

I just listened to alot of it.  Man you must have taken a long time to do that,  it's actually pretty cool! Some parts work better than others as far as the timing goes, but the melodies seem to work on the most part.   I like how you meshed songs from the Tree of Life album with Rabin songs ( I'm thinking from Jacuranda?)   I recently bought Jacuranda, but have only listened to it once. Trevor Rabin has some serious guitar chops on that album. 
 Anyaway, that was fun to listen to and I gave your post a like on the Youtube page. 👍

Jacuranda just might be the best thing Rabin's ever done.