Celebrating 50 years of “YES,” this is a bit hard to grasp, meaning the English progressive rock band YES was formed in 1968, that makes me seven years old at the time, albums were maybe four to six songs and two-sided. Then becoming a part of my music listening during the 70’s to early 80’s.
Here we are in 2018, a full house Celebrating 50 years of “YES” under the stars on a beautiful night at The John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California on June 19, 2018. Over the years there have been member changes, members leaving and rejoining, also two versions, “YES” one with original singer Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman, and the “YES” version we are celebrating with tonight, that guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Alan White kept together after founding bassist Chris Squire passed in 2015.
Tonight it’s all YES, no opening act. As the clock strikes 7:30 an introduction tape of The Firebird Suite an Igor Stravinsky song begins to play, lighting up the massive LED screens that are across the back of the stage, projecting a wide array of colors, figures and videos that correspond with the songs. Guitarist Steve Howe (since 1970), bassist Billy Sherwood (since the early 90’s), touring drummer Jay Schellen (since 2016), keyboardist Geoff Downes (since 1980), and frontman Jon Davison (since 2011) hit the stage opening with Close To The Edge from the song titled album (1972), followed by Nine Voices (Longwalker) from the album The Ladder (1990) rounding out the first three songs with Parallels from Going For the One (1971). The fans approved with a brief standing ovation after each of the eight songs in this portion.
After an intermission, the energy is a bit higher, while the sun had set bringing a new, as the LED screens, illuminate the trees that surround the scene, creating its own beautiful atmosphere. Opening with Perpetual Change from The YES Album (1971), following with Does It Really Matter from Drama (1980) and Soon from the album 9012 Live: The Solos (1985). Before this portion ends, Jay Schellen steps out from behind the drums to play percussion, while Steve Howe welcome’s Alan White to take the throne behind the drums for the remainder of the evening starting with Awaken from Going for The One (1977) to a roaring ovation, to end part two.
I had the honor of sitting in my seat enjoying the two parts of this show; now it was time for me to take my place to photograph the first song of the encore. Re-entering the stage, Howe, White, Sherwood, Schellen, and Davison, announcing another special guest, the only original founding member Tony Kaye on the keyboard, that had been mysteriously empty for first part of the show. The Ford theatre is rocking as all the fans are on their feet for Yours is No Disgrace from the album The Yes Album (1971), Roundabout which everybody knows no matter how much of a YES fan you are, from Fragile (1971), ending a night “Celebrating 50 years of YES”, Starship Trooper, from The Yes Album.
Stroll down memory lane of the 70’s Celebrating 50 years of YES coming to a city near you till the end of July. Connect with YES on all social media for the latest tour news and updates.
Setlist:
Close To The Edge
Nine Voices
Parallels
Mood for a Day
Leaves of Green
Fly From Here Part 1 – We Can Fly
Sweet Dreams
Heart of The Sunrise
Perpetual Change
Does it Really Happen?
Soon
Awake
Yours Is No Disgrace
Roundabout
Starship Trooper
All photos by Tammy Greene
©2018. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
