Yes, at Westbury, New York, July 14th, 2012

"Franchise", I like that, just about sums it up.

Yeah, that's why I think it would be nice if Oliver were to come back to Yes... as far as I understand he is a composer himself, as well as Davison, so they both could take the reins. Otherwise, they should get someone new, young and with great promise, specially on the composing department. Most of the artists have done their best work in their 20's, so I would think that's what they must look for.

The road to excess led to..........more excess

DiamondDog wrote: perhaps I'm one of the queasies; any change in a band lineup means it virtually becomes a different band, but arguably with the same project and goal if the changes are minimal

You should have followed Uriah heep in the 70s & 80s

Then just enjoy the part of the band's catalog that you enjoy - try to always listen to new releases on their own merits. The vast majority of Yes fans find their 2nd, 3rd and 4th lineups the creative highlight of their career, with only 2 out of five original members by the time they did Topographic Oceans, Relayer, GFTO...I don't think I've ever heard anyone longing for the original lineup. So, with Yes, it's never a question of how much of the original lineup is intact, but whether you connect with the music they're doing at any given point...I can honestly say that the new material they played at Westbury sounded much more like "classic" Yes than anything I've heard since GFTO, but it depends on what you expect.

Another thought - Something I've learned as I age into my 40's. The enjoyment of many things,  including music, depends very, very heavily on how much you want to enjoy it.

Yes was never a band for those queasy about lineup changes. There were people who thought Yes was over when Tony Kaye and Peter Banks left. And again when Bruford left. And again when Wakeman left. And when Jon left the first time. And then when Howe left. And then when Kaye returned. Blah blah blah blah....it's just a band, it's just music.

cstack3 wrote: Oh, sorry!!  Does this make it better?   Good, I thought so!   Glass Hammer posted this to Facebook, I think it is increasingly clear that Jon "Juano" Davison will be the new front-man, vocalist and possibly composer for Yes!!  Check this out: http://somethingelsereviews.com/2012/09/02/im-not-just-this-tribute-singer-long-time-fan-jon-davison-thrilled-to-put-his-stamp-on-yes/ Plus, he is quite talented on bass guitar, so Yes gets a two-fer in case Squire cannot tour!  Maybe the retirement of Squire would open a door for Jon Anderson to return?  That seems to be the only way it could happen, as Squire seems to be the fly in the Yes ointment.  Good hearing from you, DM!

In case Squire can't tour???   WTF????   Who is the most arrogant, rude bass player you'll ever meet?   CS.
Who is the greatest bass player in the world?    CS.    YES is "NO" without CS.   Though I know he and Johnnie-Boy
are feuding at the moment and you are not even trying to hide the side that "you" chose. 

Jon Davison on bass? Hmm, all that does is bring back memories of the evil Billy S. on bass.  Talk about RUINING Yes!

BTW...  I saw YES with Jon Davison last month, they were fantastic, even Downes seems to  have taken piano lessons in the last year.  They played Awaken, Downes was no Wakey-mon but he did OK, the song was done well.

Go see them dude!   Don't be afraid.

We'll see Jon Anderson back in YES within 2 years, for their last tour together.  You heard it here first.

dennismoore wrote: cstack3 wrote: I think the chances of Jon Anderson patching it up with Yes are nil, none, nada, sayonara baby!  This is based upon what Jon said when I saw him in concert ("Voice of Yes") and various printed reviews.  If Yes got the nod for the R&R HOF, I think they would patch it up for a night.  Otherwise, not so much.   From all indications, Jon Davison will be Anderson's permanent replacement in Yes, while sharing vocal duties with Glass Hammer.  GH, like Steely Dan, are primarily a studio band who rarely play out & don't tour for a variety of reasons.  I posted a GH interview on PA, search under cstack3 to find it (my last topic started).  One by one, the elders shall pass from Middle Earth, leaving behind the young and strong to carry on.  I hope this is what happens to Yes, that they gradually bring in new talent to replace the geezers.  I doubt that Ollie Wakeman will come back, as he's happy with his new family and band.  However, there are many fine young emerging talents who can replace the original lineup and keep the flame going.  BTW, your description of Squire is spot on!!  The guy is a big, gruff, knows-everything sort, I think that decades of hearing that he's "the best bassist in prog" have sunk in!!  Hey, he's the Gov and captain of the Good Ship Yes, so he'd know!!   Nice to hear from you, DM! Dude,   I gave you multiple cutsie-faces in my post to you.  You didn't give me a single one in return. Whassup with that???     Seriously, mark my words.  Jon Anderson will rejoin Squire & Howe for one final tour before YES morphs into someting younger like you say...   Jon Davison filled a need which was to promote Fly From Here, which is what you do after you release an album. Jon Davison has no real connection to YES, so no reason to think he remains in long term plans(as long as the lads can hang in there...)   Once the Fly From Here cycle ends, the agents will all fight it out and JA will be back in the fold. Singer's temper tantrums only last for so long.   Stay positive buddy!     Oh, yeah... Glass Hammer Rocks!!!!  I love IF, but not so much Cor Cor-whatever-its-called...   Looking forward to the new GH record!

dennismoore wrote: cstack3 wrote: I don't think I'd hold out high hopes of a Jon Anderson/Yes reunion, based upon my read of his comments made during his "Music of Yes" solo performance in Chicagoland some months back.  He did laugh and tell quite a few funny stories that included Chris Squire, but when he tuned up his acoustic and an audience member yelled "Steve Howe!" in jest, Jon's face went....dark.   I've never seen such a look on Jon's face before...maybe Howe is the "fly in the Yes ointment," not Squire, as many have surmised over the years.  Anyway, I think Jon is quite happy to maintain his low-key schedule and recording work with Wakeman.  He is supposed to have some surprises up his sleeve in terms of new material, we'll just have to wait.     W - T - F Chuck????   Wassup Chicago Chucky????           How ya been?   I think based on Jon's comments... that "guarantees" we will see him in YES in a year or so. If Artists are one thing it is that they are tempermental, say all kinds of "When Hell Freezes Over" stuff then they change their tune 180 degrees without even a "by your leave mate".  So I say JA will be back w/YES sooner than later.  Further evidence:   I met and talked with YES after the SLO show in 1996.  All were quite happy to see the classic lineup back together, first time since 1979...  I was speaking with Chris Squire and then I asked him will there be more than these three SLO shows?  He looked me straight and the eye, frowned dissapprovingly at me, waved his arms across his body like a baseball umpire making a "safe at home base" call, (which outside of baseball, means NO WAY!!!), and he barked at me. "No.  Absolutely not.  No way."  Well those YES guys toured for like the next 8 years, doing hundreds of shows around Planet Earth.  So..I learned never to listen to what comes out of an artist's mouth, only the music he plays.

Absolutely superb review - well thought out, objective & entertainingly written.

Nice work