“There’s a time and the time is now and it’s right for me, It’s right for me, and the time is now, There’s a word and the word is love and it’s right for me, It’s right for me, and the word is love “ (Yes, 1970).
Last time that I saw Yes was only a couple of years ago and I was just recovering from Covid. It seems an age ago now. I was terrified at the time that I might not survive, having been classed as vulnerable, but I was actually okay. I reckon I caught it going to see the Rolling Stones at Murrayfield. If I did then it was worth it.
Now they say that one forms allegiances to the bands that you see when you are young. This has certainly been the case with me. I first saw Yes in 1969 when I was all of 12 years old and they were supporting the Bonzo Dog Band (who had just been in the chart with “I’m an Urban Space Man”). The music was loud, exciting, bright and like nothing else I had ever experienced before. I went on my own and I was in the front row a few feet away from the band who, in those days was Jon Anderson (vocals), Peter Banks (guitar), Chris Squire (bass guitar), Tony Kaye (keyboards) and Bill Bruford (drums). Completely different from the lineup I saw the other night.
From that night on I have been a lifelong Yes fan and must have seen them many, many times over the years since. The lineup has changed along a winding, meandering road with Steve Howe replacing Peter Banks on guitar in 1970 and Rick Wakeman and Alan White joining on keyboards and drums respectively, shortly afterwards. Then came many lineup changes, lots of classic albums, and mega prog stardom. Along the way Jon Anderson left, as did Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe left and then rejoined the fold. Chris Squire and Alan White both sadly passed away; local hero Alan White very recently (he hailed from Chester le Street). But the true story of Yes is much, much more complicated than that!
The current members of Yes remain the same as last time I saw them and are: Steve Howe – guitars (first joined in 1970); Geoff Downes – keyboards (first joined in 1980 for the Drama album in a strange incarnation of the band where he and Buggles compatriot Trevor Horn joined for a short period); Billy Sherwood – bass guitar (since 2015); Jon Davison – lead vocals (since 2012); Jay Schellen – drums (has been playing drums with the band since 2017, sometimes deputising for Alan White who sadly passed away in May 2022).
As I entered the Glasshouse I was greeted by a lovely surprise. Roger Dean, the designer of all those lovely album covers was in the foyer talking people through a great layout of his signed prints. Some of them were exceptionally large, and quite expensive, but nonetheless exquisite. I invested in a small, signed print of the Yes logo (it is away getting framed at the moment, image to follow). Fantastic. I bought a massive, again rather expensive, signed programme which takes you through the entire history of the band and their classic songs. Well spent up for the evening I entered the hall ready for part 1 of the show.
The first set included a short selection of Yes classics. Within this were some of my favourite songs: “Going for the One”, “I’ve Seen All Good People” and their epic cover of Simon and Garfunkel’s “America” ……. “Kathy”, I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh, Michigan seems like a dream to me now”… “She said the man in the gabardine suit was a spy, I said “Be careful, his bowtie is really a camera””. (Simon and Garfunkel, 1968). I actually heard the Yes version before the original. Classic. It brings tears to my eyes. Then came a welcome surprise back to the Time and a Word album and the title track. I remember seeing the original band play this in 1970, before any of the current members were part of the Yes family. Perfect it takes me back to when I was 13.
Time for a Guinness and a double Jack Daniels to settle me down after all that excitement!
The second set comprised a mini selection of tracks from Tales of Topographic Oceans. I really enjoyed the shortened version.
The encores take us back to the early days and “Roundabout” followed by closing song “Starship Trooper”. Memories of Yes headlining the Reading festival in 1975 come flooding back. The finale was a short section of the Beatles’ “I Feel Fine” at the end of “Starship Trooper”. Another excellent evening of Yes music. Last time I said that I hoped that I could experience many more such evenings. Only a couple of years later and here I was again. Let’s hope these regular visits of the band continue. They never fail to deliver.
Many thanks to Jan for the photographs and to Chris for navigating the site.
Setlist: Set 1: Machine Messiah; It Will Be a Good Day (The River); Going for the One; I’ve Seen All Good People; America; Time and a Word; Don’t Kill the Whale; Turn of the Century.
Set 2: South Side of the Sky; Cut from the Stars; The Revealing Science of God (Dance of the Dawn) / The Remembering (High the Memory) / The Ancient (Giants Under the Sun) / Ritual (Nous sommes du soleil).
Encore: Roundabout; Starship Trooper; ‘I Feel Fine’.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by TerriersFan on July 28, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Usual, quality review, Peter. Thank you.
I’m not keen on the Howe only band (although I suppose that Downes now qualifies as an almost “regular”).
It’s time that Howe, Anderson and Wakeman buried the hatchet and did the recent thing; now THAT I would buy tickets for in a heartbeat.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on July 28, 2024 at 3:30 pm
Thanks Roger. It takes me ages to do each review. At least a couple of hours. That’s why I am still way behind with my blog entries. I am trying to do one a day but it is hard because I am also still doing some work and I have marking to do at the moment. Happy days. Peter
Posted by vintagerock on July 28, 2024 at 3:37 pm
And yes, I remain a dedicated Yes fan and will go and see whatever lineup I can. But you are right, Jon Anderson, Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman would be class. It may yet happen. I always thought that Chris Squire was the sticking point, don’t get me wrong I loved the guy, but it may be Jon Anderson’s pride that stops him ever returning. I saw him solo once in Manchester and he was superb. Any Yes is great for me my friend. Long live the entire Yes family Peter
Posted by TerriersFan on July 28, 2024 at 3:34 pm
I don’t care how long they take you to write, Peter; keep ’em coming. I love to read of the great bands that you continue to catch on tour.
I wish that I had managed to see even half of the superb musicians that you have seen.
Roger 🤘👍
Posted by vintagerock on July 28, 2024 at 3:38 pm
Thanks Roger Peter
Posted by ciarant1step on August 5, 2024 at 8:53 pm
Absolutely agree!
Super review – I loved it, and I’m delighted you enjoyed a fantastic gig. How good that they played ‘Time and a Word’, which is a great song, I think.
Posted by vintagerock on August 6, 2024 at 11:57 am
Yes are one of my favourite bands