HOUSE OF YES: LIVE FROM HOUSE OF BLUES

I saw this tour in February 2000 in Brussels. This was my first YesConcert since 1977 (in Antwerp during their "Going For The One" tour). I had completely disconnected from Yes for about twenty years when I reconstructed my YesCatalogue. Since then, I saw them three times and discovered their in-between albums (and I could figure out that I did not miss too much - to say the least). This was the supporting tour from "The Ladder" which was a good surprise. This double CD was recorded on the Halloween night in Las Vegas, 1999.

By the time of release (September 2000), Sherwood had left the band. Five tracks from the tour come out of this record, which indicates that the band understood that they had produced some good studio work and that they were willing to stand for it during their live representations. Most of them sound really good and are well chosen (although "Lightning Strikes" is not really the type of track you expect from Yes since like Jon says while he introduced the song " It is samba oriented") !

As usual the concert started with "Firebird" which is not represented here. Instead we get immediately "Yours" : this version is a solid and rocking rendition (more than the original). Steve is absolutely fantastic in his rageous and devastating guitar solo : a great moment and a bloody good opener for a concert. There are also two excerpts for "Time and A Word" and "Ritual" : less than one minute. During the concert, I did not quite understand this and I still don't while I listen to this CD. What's the use of this ?

"Homeworld" sounds great and is on par with most of the "old" songs represented here (except "Awaken" of course). I was quite happy to listen to "Perpetual Change" : this track has not been played live that much and has always been one of my fave. This version is closer to the original than on YesSongs (no drum solo, slower tempo). Steve is really great in this track. I am less positive for the version of "&Y&I" which sounds a bit heavier and slower than usual (during some parts, but faster for others which is quite annoying - at least for me). Less emotions as well.

"It Will Be A Good Day" is another pleasant song from "The Ladder". More rythm and harder attack from the band (drums & guitar) than in studio. Good live version, really. "Face To Face" was another good song from "The Ladder" (IMO, they shouldn't have skipped "New Language" which is my second fave from the album).

The highlight of disc two is of course "Awaken" from GFTO. Khoroshev's ability to render a true YesClassic is impressive. He was a YesFan before he joined the band and the period he preferred was Rick's one); so the influence is obvious. He is really gifted but less pompous and demonstrative than Rick (specially during live shows). In one word : sobriety and simplicity. This version is almost perfect and I remember that there was a lot of emotion during the concert (since it will be the only epic during this tour). Great time.

The "I've Seen" part of the dual song with "Your Move" has never been my cup of tea but it was a nice and strong closing number. The encores start with two songs from "90125" : the strong (but short) "Cinema", their mega hit "Owner" and as for most of their shows since a very long time, it ends with "Roudabout". What else can an old fan request ? Not much, I guess. The end of the song for this particular concert will end with a bluesy section dedicated to "The House Of Blues".

A quite rocking end for this concert, to leave the fans rather satisfied I remember. "Hearts" will be played almost throughout the tour but is not available here. There will also be "Mood For A Day", and / or "Clap" played during the European tour. The sound of this live album is not as good as on "Keys" (their greatest live album all time IMO) but still quite decent. Four stars.