[atlantaprog] Re: What did you think of Yes at Philips??

You know...Lately when Yes comes around the "Haven't I seen them enough 
times?" issue rears its head. With the tickets getting seemingly more costly 
with 
each tour and no killer new album for the band to promote it might be easy to 
play the "jaded" card, stay home and listen to my CDs instead. The thing is, I 
always seem to come home from these things in a warm, gushy state of cosmic 
Andersonian bliss and last night was no different.  You really do have to see 
these guys every chance you get because you never know which show might be the 
last one. "Nous sommes du soleil." indeed. 

It was a little poignant for me because, let's face it, the band won't be 
playing arenas like this ever again and it might well have been a mistake to 
book 
them for this tour. It was a half house setup and I'd still guesstimate that 
Phillips Area was only about 55% full. Come to think of it, barring a major 
resurgence this might have been my last chance to hear prog type music in an 
arena setting, period. 

As far as Yesshows go, this one was middle of the pack for me. The band was 
in decent form. Steve Howe, in particular, was burning it up. He seems to have 
become joyfully reacquaited with the "gain" knobs on his Fender Twins. It was 
great to hear some rarities performed that I've never heard live, but the set 
list seemed a bit random and hodgepodge to me.  Except for "Ritual" as the 
finale, it felt like they pulled the songs out of a hat to decide the running 
order.  The show didn't really flow or build the way Yes sets often do. 
Hopefully 
if and when they come around again they'll have the afforementioned killer 
new album under their belts and will feature it extensively.   

It was still a treat and a privillege to see them. I'm thankful for what 
they've accomplished and given over 35 years and that they're still alive, 
healthy, together and performing at a reasonable level.  Yes have done as much 
as you 
can ask of any rock and roll band plus a wee bit extra.  

CH

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