Yes!? NO! - The all purpose Yes arguing and complaining thread

Probably. But it wouldn't be a huge night-and-day difference. And that doesn't invalidate any lineup with a different singer.

They wouldn't sell out or even play major stadiums. 70s prog rock is a niche market.

 

Agreed. All you have to do is go to the Forgotten Yesterdays website and see plenty of comments about half empty amphitheaters for the last several tours with JA. The show I saw in 2004 was in a venue that held 7,000 and it wasn't anywhere near sold out. This was the show on the Songs from Tsongas DVD.

 

I haven't followed the thread but here's a contrarian position: I have never warmed up to GOING FOR THE ONE. Heaven knows I've tried over the years, even bought the AF hoping better sound would help. I like the title track and "Wonderful Stories" but the rest just bores the crap out of me.

I worship at the feet of TALES, RELAYER, TYA, CTTE and FRAGILE. I even think TORMATO is a fun ride and one of the most unfairly maligned records by anyone, let alone by Yes. But GFTO just sits there.

 

I like this album, but I'm with ya! IMO, it NEEDS a re-mix........and I'm not convinced Steven Wilson is the right person for the job. But, beggars can't be choosers as they say.

 

Just one more chunk of evidence to support the fact that most Yes fans accept all incarnations of the band as Yes. If people thought it was a bogus Yes they simply would not have supported the album.

 

The "cornerstone" of Yes is not any individual member. It is the way the music is written, arranged , and produced. Which is the common bond that Chris Squier uses to hold the band together and to keep it cohesive and consistent.
How the vocals are recorded and mixed is a huge part of the Yes sound. It isn't just the singer that is making those vocals, it is the engineer and various producers as well. Yes has always had a very distinctive vocal sound no matter who was singing.

 

Agree on GFTO. IMO that's when their music started to become less interesting and they started to lose their mojo a bit - although it returned to a certain extent for Drama and 90125.

 

I disliked it for a number of years too. But then - one shiny sunny day - I realized how genius it was. And earlier, I couldn't get past "Turn of the Century". It was very sudden that I realized its heart wrenching beauty.

 

Anderson is still the most prominent element, which, imho, rises above beautiful vocal textures that are one of the trademarks of Yes sound. )))

 

Here is the set list from last night's opening show of the US tour. Any thoughts? Nothing at all from H&E, although it may be an abbreviated set due to being a casino show:

Siberian Khatru
And You And I
Roundabout
Cans And Brahms
We Have Heaven
Southside Of The Sky
Five Percent For Nothing
Long Distance Runaround>
The Fish(Schindleria praematurus)
Mood For A Day
Heart Of The Sunrise
I've Seen All Good People

Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Starship Trooper

 

Where's Close to the Edge?

 

It wasn't performed.

 

Interesting that they did not perform it since that is what they are advertising. So it was all of Fragile and Half of Close to the Edge and the additional songs. Still a pretty cool set list al be it very safe. Aside from the Fragile in it's entirety.

 

not sure what you consider "most" but to me that is the majority and clearly the majority do not. in 2014 album sales are not what they once were and most important ticket sales are certainly not what they once were which is most telling.......they once were in stadiums and were able to play outdoor amphitheaters....today do they even sell 2000 seats? "most" fans do not support the band they way they once did....that isn't opinion it is fact, I am sure there is an excuse coming but facts are facts, the support has dwindled unlike the band Rush who still fill 10000 seats a night with new material, both classic rock acts from the 70's so it is a fair comparison

 

this I don't disagree but give credit where credit is do.......who is responsible for that music? the music he relys on? because he isn't relying on the new music to make a living, they barely even play any of it on tour.......the credit for the music you call the "cornerstone" goes to Howe, Squire, and Anderson without them there is no YES music

 

I remember reading an interview with Steve Howe many years ago in which he expressed the very same sentiment. I guess he doesn't feel that way anymore.

 

that is a joke....oh my goodness.....doesn't this speak volumes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! they have a new album out and didn't play a freakin thing from it? has this ever been done before? they are telling you themselves what they think of the new music and what kind of band they are!!!!! I no longer need to say it because they are telling you themselves they are a COVER BAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! where is fly from here? this great record they did? holy crap

cans and brahms? nobody on that stage had anything to do with this
we have heaven? JON ANDERSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
five percent? nobody on that stage had anything to do with this music
lonely heart? what a joke to reduce steve howe to play this

what a joke this is.....just like the great Bill Bruford called them "a cover band playing carnivals"

 

I don't think they have ever not played something from a new album before on a concurrent tour.

 

I do find it odd that Yes didn't throw in at least one song from H&E.

 

Damn you! Now I have to listen to it again!

 

Going to see them tonight, it is advertised as them playing Fragile and Close to The Edge and some hits, I hope it is true after seeing last nights setlist.

 

The dwindling attendance figures (from even during JA's tenure) are probably due to the fact that they don't make many new fans, and don't draw (enough) old ones to see them every time they come to town. Since the original reunions in the late 80's they must have crisscrossed the US dozens of times and concerts aren't cheap these days. I'm no expert but it seems to me that half their set has been unchanged for decades, and other than a few special outings probably 90% of it - which isn't going to help bring in repeat customers. Many years ago I saw Steve Howe solo and even in that context he felt obliged to play Owner of a Lonely Heart, so seeing it here shouldn't surprise me, but I guess it seems a bit pointless. Anyway, for me, Jon Anderson brought a certain something to the table that another singer will never capture. I suppose one could say the same about Howe or Squire. I do fear they will be playing my local carnival soon.

 

Hey, finally there's a reason to go to the carnival.

 

You can hardly compare the current music situation to that of the rock era and its' huge prosperity for musicians.
Music in general no longer sells like it did then, and concerts seldom do.
Aside from the fact rock acts are all old now, and certainly not hitting the center of mainstream society.
Very few bands can fill a stadium and stadium shows are rare. And they are prohibitively expensive now, when I was young anyone with some chump change laying around could buy a seat.
It is a different music climate, and you are comparing yesterdays apples to todays oranges.
They likely wouldn't do arena or stadium tours even if THE (insert your opinion of classic lineup here) was to do the tour.