ARW 2018-06-12 City Hall Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

Yes Featuring Anderson Rabin Wakeman
Quintessential YES 50th Anniversary Tour
City Hall
Newcastle upon Tyne
Uk
2018-06-12

Following seeing the "other" outfit bearing a similar name earlier in the year, my appetite was whetted for the arrival of this version.  Most people have their preference as to which is for them.  Both have their features, both have their faults, but, importantly, both have the capacity to take you somewhere special.
I prefer this version, but nothing I say at this point is going to change anyone's mind one way or another, so I'll go no further in that respect.  Someone once told me "opinions are like arseholes.  Everyone's got one, but most of the time they're best kept private".

If the City Hall wasn't sold out then it must have been very close to being.  A bit of a crackle in the air, it wasn't short on atmosphere.  Three video screens at the back (deja vu all over again?), banks of keyboards to the right, drums to the back left & a few amps & mics in between, all shrouded in just enough dry ice to create an air of expectancy without risk of causing respiritory issues with the audience of "a certain age".

This time around there was to be two sets, split with a 30 minute interval.  No support.

Both sets were based around YES "classics", seasoned with "newer" stuff (post 1980). 
Whatever your prejudices band or material wise, this is a class act. 
Jon's just "high on life" - a happier, hippier person you'll struggle to find, and it's infectious. He IS the voice of YES.

Rick, an imposing figure, repleat with glittery cloak and tongue firmly in cheek to match - a MASTER in curmudgeonly keyboard playing.  Wonderful, wonderful musician, and great to hear the old-school, analogue MOOGs getting an outing.

Whilst Trevor adds a different seasoning to the older YES numbers, they still sound like..YES.  Doesn't pick up an acoustic instruments throughout, but...whilst everyone has their favourite YES guitarist, there were no detractors judging by the smiles and general good vibes that prevailed even beyond the show's conclusion.

I read a comment many years ago on another YES torrent along the lines of "not only is Awaken the best piece of music by YES, but it's the best piece of music - period".  If tonight's anything to go by, even if I don't agree then I can see where he's coming from.  It's huge - bewildering, meandering, captivating...an experience.

Anyway, sit yourself down in a darkened room, put on your headphones and you be the judge.

Everyone there enjoyed the following:

S101 Intro
S102 Cinema
S103 Hold On
S104 South Side Of The Sky
S105 I've Seen All Good People
S106 And You And I
S107 Changes
S108 Rhythm Of Love

I N T E R V A L

S201 I Am Waiting
S202 Heart Of The Sunrise
S203 Awaken
S204 Owner Of A Lonely Heart
S205 Encore Break
S206 Roundabout

The Band:

Jon Anderson - vocals, guitar, harp, percussion
Rick Wakeman - keyboards, keytar
Trevor Rabin - guitar, vocals, percussion
Iain Hornal - bass, backing vocals
Louis Molino III - drums, backing vocals

None of us are getting any younger, including the band.  See them while you can & say "thank you" by buying their music in order to top up their pension funds...



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