JON ANDERSON & THE BAND GEEKS: LIVE - PERPETUAL CHANGE

Which should we prefer? The 2020s tribute band which happens to call itself 'Yes' (starring Steve Howe), or Jon Anderson's version of the same, which claims to be 'keeping the "true Yes" flag flying'? Based on this double album, and on what I've heard and seen of (fairly) recent Yes (i.e. mainly live clips on YouTube, and the LIVE FROM LYON album), I wouldn't hesitate to award the palm to J.A. and the Band Geeks. It's true that a title like LIVE - PERPETUAL CHANGE smacks of hybris; it reminds me of Tomasi Di Lampedusa's famous statement (in his novel THE LEOPARD) 'If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.' But for an old Yes fan like me it's wonderful to witness Jon's resurrection - and his current band isn't half bad either.

It's true that there are a few misses. The first ten minutes or so of 'Close to the Edge' sag surprisingly, with Jon sounding tired and hoarse in the 'I get up, I get down' section. But this comes after two truly sprightly performances (of 'Yours is no Disgrace' and 'Perpetual Change'), and during the remainder of the set Jon never lets us down - quite the contrary. Moreover, the 'Close to the Edge' climax is nicely done; having two expert keyboardists clearly helps! The opening of 'Starship Trooper' is another slight let-down. Throughout the set, the Band Geeks generally replicate the original studio versions of the tunes (not failing to add pretty little touches of their own) - but where's that prominent Hammond organ we so sorely needed?

Still, there's so much to rejoice over... I don't want to sound like a sourpuss... 'Awaken' and 'The Gates of Delirium', two of the highlights in the Yes canon, are carried off with great aplomb. In my view, lead guitarist Andy Graziano actually outshines Steve Howe here, clearly benefitting from a (relatively) youthful attack, which Howe has lacked for many a year. My 'deluxe edition' of the album came with a DVD of the gig, and it's heartening to see with how much respect and pure joy those Band Geeks tackle all the Yes material.

So do you NEED this album? Hmmm, while I cannot call it 'essential', I believe admirers of classic Yes will derive a great deal of pleasure from it. In European classical music, it's common for symphony orchestras to churn out recordings of Beethoven symphonies - and the like - long after the original composer has died, and every year, specialist periodicals will be analysing the latest recordings, pointing out where - for example - the Gothenburg Symphony anno 2025 have the edge over the Berlin Philharmonic anno 1962. Similarly, it's a great deal of fun to check out how the Band Geeks have mastered all those classic Yes compositions. And at the same time I find it uplifting to hear a 79-year old Jon Anderson (mercifully still alive!) pour his heart and soul into his lead vocals. So unless you're a J.A. hater, I definitely suggest you give PERPETUAL CHANGE a try.

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