HOUSE OF YES: LIVE FROM THE HOUSE OF BLUES (DVD)

Whilst starting the concert off with a competent version of 'Yours Is No Disgrace' I had high hopes for this show. Staged during the 2000 Tour at various House of Blues venues across the US for their recent 1999 album "The Ladder" this show had a lot of potential. I soon however came to my senses.

If I could describe this YES performance in a single word, it would be "rusty". YES appear bored, sound sometimes painful, and always seem 'past their prime'. Just check out Chris SQUIRE's antics, attire and triple-necked bass guitar in this concert, and try NOT to ridicule him. He is the epitome of 'uncool'.

Steve HOWE for all his guitar virtuosity, and consumate professionalism seems extremely detached from the crowd during his performances. Unsurprisingly, the small (1500+ person) crowd are made up primarily of middle-aged men, so maybe Steve just felt nervous. He appears to be singing on many tracks, yet can not actually be heard. For those wondering, yes Steve is just as homely as ever, but man can he play that guitar! :-)

Jon ANDERSON vocally is his normally proficient, and angelic self, but spends the whole time blessing the crowd with niceties all the while having his hands in a prayer stance; "this is beautiful", "life is wonderful", "we are all blessed"...blech...

Both Billy Sherwood and Igor Khoreshev look, and play, like the studio musicians that they are. Sherwood goofily, and Khoreshev cold and clinical on the keys. Where's WAKEMAN when you need him? For all his pomposity and capes at least he brought some life to the show! (And I'm not talking about a 250+ pound Chris SQUIRE lumbering around the stage).

As for the music itself, it's not entirely unmoving. There are a few (if only mildly inspiring versions of) classic gems here, namely 'Yours Is No Disgrace', 'And You and I', 'Your Move/I've Seen All Good People', 'Roundabout' and 'Awaken'. Add 'Cinema' and 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' if you consider "90125" to be "classic" YES.

For the most part YES 'plays it safe', performing mostly newer material (of which 'Homeworld' is actually the most intriguing, being the soundtrack for the video game of the same name), and only their most notable "hits" from the past (and very few at that). Both 'Time and a Word' and 'Ritual-Nous Sommes Du Soleil' get abbreviated to a short 15 second a capella version. YES do not challenge the crowd or the viewer though. We won't be seeing any 'Close To The Edge', "TFTO", 'Gates of Delirium' or 'Soundchaser' tonight my dearies...

For what it's worth Alan WHITE's performance is upbeat, for a 60 year old man that is. Sadly, there's no 'magic' here, only an old band going through the motions, trying to shake off the rust and seemingly stuck in a slow gear that they just can't shift out of.

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