Yes Ohio (8/15/15) and Michigan (8/15/15)

My husband and I saw Yes in two shows this week, Ohio (8/14) and Michigan (8/15).

Overall impression: 

Both shows were very good, solidly played, had an interesting set list and high level of musicianship, and appeared to be enjoyed very much by the vast majority of the crowd.  The OH show was more inspired, but the sound was better at the MI show, so I enjoyed both about equally. 

The band:

Steve Howe: sweet merciful jesus, but that man can sure play the guitar. He was great.

Alan White: I was a bit concerned because, although on last year’s tour (saw two shows), he was great, in the DVD from last year’s concert in Bristol (Like It Is), the songs were dragging somewhat,* and I thought the version of CTTE on the Mesa concert was a bit tentative as well. Not so in OH – he played at just the right tempo, and in MI, only slowed a little on two songs, the second halves of Seen All Good People and GFTO.  Otherwise, he was spot on, and the pace on Siberian Khatru was pretty blistering.

*In White’s defense, the audience in Bristol had apparently been dug up from a local cemetery, and I can’t imagine anyone who could have played an upbeat show in response to their complete lack of interest in the proceedings.

Billy Sherwood: well, considering the show started with the audience applauding Chris Squire’s bass, the man had a whole lot to live up to, but he did a very credible job, particularly during the second half of the show.

Geoff Downes: not sure where the keyboards were for the first two-thirds of the show, but once they started coming through (on SK, SAGP, Roundabout and Starship Trooper), he sounded good.

Jon Davidson: I must confess I’m not a big fan, and found him way too shrill on the first night, but part of that may have been the sound being a bit off.  He sounded much better in MI. Still not a big fan - his voice just isn't very expressive.

High points:

Steve Howe on SK and ST.  Both nights. Awesome.

Siberian Khatru.  Both nights. Worth the price of admission and the long drive from KY alone.

The opening tribute to Squire, which I am sure everyone has seen on youtube by now.  If not, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Vq1LmRa8o. Incredibly well done without being mawkish, which was pretty tough to pull off. 

The band’s interplay: one thing I notice from watching early 2000 DVDs (Symphonic Live, Live at Montreux, etc.) was how each band member (which the occasional exception of Squire) would stand in his own area and not even look at the others, as if they were all playing in completely separate locations, which does make me wonder about what on earth was going on between all of them. This iteration of Yes actually seem to like each other and like playing together. I enjoyed watching that.

Really fun versions of Roundabout and I’ve Seen All Good People.

Low points:

Nothing personal, but America is one of my favorite Paul Simon songs, and I love the simplicity of the original.  I just don’t enjoy seeing it reworked so elaborately, but I did prefer the version this weekend to the one on Keys to Ascension.

I don’t like Owner of a Lonely Heart. I have never liked Owner of a Lonely Heart. I probably never will  like Owner of a Lonely Heart.  Just a song to which I have to resign myself.

Downes’ keyboards cut out a few times on the second night.  Not anyone’s fault, I assume, but it was a part of the show where he was actually supposed to be heard, so bummer for both him and us.

Incredibly low point:

About two or three songs in (it was so awful I’ve tried to forget it), Davidson asked everyone in the audience to say in unison “Chris, we love you and we will never forget you.” In contrast to the beautiful simplicity of the opening tribute, it was cheap and embarrassing and my husband and I both ducked our heads and cringed. It was appalling, and he really needs to stop doing this.

Extra observations:

My husband thought they should have started with GFTO and played Don’t Kill the Whale further down in the set list, but I thought it worked well as an opening number, and I think that after the Squire tribute, a song that had a more serious message was necessary.

Tempus Fugit was fun.

Time and a Word could have used a lot more keyboards.

On the first night (OH), Howe clearly came on determined to make sure the audience enjoyed themselves. He was very animated, and more relaxed with the audience than I have seen him in the past (live and on DVD). He even made a joke, and what’s more, it was amusing. He was a bit less outgoing in MI, which is why I think the concert was less inspired. 

I don’t know what it is with American audiences and beating the traffic.   A lot of people – even though they were clearly en masse enjoying the show – left before the encore.  Who misses out on the encore of a concert they are enjoying? Especially when a little on line research would have let you know the encore was Starship Trooper? What is wrong with these people?

Sherwood needs to wash his hair more often, or buy a more effective brand of shampoo.

My husband, who plays the drums, noted that White had simplified his parts in a few places. In the context of a concert, I didn’t notice (that’s what I have him for) but he found it a bit disappointing.

There were tshirts with the Yes logo and a Roger Dean-designed fish for sale. I bought one. Very nice tribute.

There were four very drunk guys in front of me at the MI show who were obviously dedicated Yes fans and who had a hell of a great time.  I didn’t mind because they were boisterously happy without being obnoxious about it, and although I don’t usually like public drunks, it would have been churlish to begrudge them their fun.

I got to meet Rushfan4 in between the acts in MI.  Hi, Rushfan4!

Toto: