----------------------------------------------------- SEPTEMBER 30, 1978 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: Tulsa World Yes 'Awesome' in Tulsa Concert By Vern Stefanic Yes, they were awesome. They started hot, opening the show with hard-driving music, and as the concert progressed their performance picked up power like a runaway locomotive. Yes, an English quintet which excels with both simple but solid rock music as well as complex, classically influenced melodies, performed in Tulsa Friday night to a crowd which cheered their every move. This wasn't your typical, stand-up-and-boogie concert applause, either -- it was usualy reserved for the end of songs. But the cheering din was deafening, and Friday night, Yes deserved the accolades. An estimated 9,000 persons attended the Civic Center concert. It was "An Evening with Yes," which meant Yes was the only act. The usual warm-up band was not included and not missed. Also, Yes performed on a revolving circular stage in the middle of the arena, something that took some time getting used to for most viewers. In theory, the circular stage is a fine idea, but there were several times when large parts of the audience suffered through several minutes of watching some Yesman's behind. Soundwise, the revolving stage caused no problems. Speakers were hung above the stage, and the sound was loud enough and clear enough throughout the entire arena. As the two-hour, 20-minute concert progressed -- and once everyone became accustomed to the revolving stage -- the set design actually provided for some dramatic light work. The harder driving the song, the faster the stage seemed to revolve and the lights changed. The effect was that of a carnival midway -- very colorful, very exciting. Of course, all the effective staging in the world won't help a show if the talent is bad, and the star of this show was definitely not the set. It was the band. Yes have been together 10 years, and their concert included songs from their entire career. The traditional concert-starting "Firebird Suite" was scratched in favor of the fugue section from Britton's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra." Yes can be funky but they don't forsake their classical roots. Their show included "Siberian Khatru" and "Heart of the Sunshine," [sic] plus five songs from their new album. It also included an excellent 30-minute section of continuous music which featured selections from several albums, such as "Time and a Word," "The Fish," "Perpetual Change" and "Soon." But Yes were overwhelming on "Starship Trooper," a 10-minute tune with shifting moods and a powerful finish, and on "Roundabout," the Yes theme song. Lead vocalist Jon Anderson's choirboy vocals were clear and sharp, and drummer Alan White pushed a steady beat. All of the musicians had strong solo moments -- Steve Howe on guitar, Rick Wakeman on keyboards, and Chris Squire on bass. Squire's performance solidified his claim as perhaps the finest and most innovative bassist in rock music. Together, the Yesmen were tight and impressive. After 10 years, they are still one of rock music's best and perhaps worthy of the Messianic praise their fans throw their way. The fans, however, may have been too excited Friday night. A planned second eoncore was apparently scrubbed, possibly because several over-zealous fans were being thrown off the stage by security men during the first encore, "Roundabout." Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com