----------------------------------------------------- JULY 26, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: St. Louis Post Dispatch http://www.stltoday.com/ (abbreviated link text) Yes By Brian Q. Newcomb Progressive rockers Yes offered up virtuoso performances for a reverent and attentive crowd that took up only about a third of the UMB Bank Pavilion on Thursday night. Featuring the band's strongest and most loved lineup -- Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Alan White and Rick Wakeman -- Yes could have played the hits and rested on its laurels. Yes has proved to be the most durable of the '70s and '80s so-called art-rock bands and, from Howe's opening guitar salvo on "Siberian Khatru," we were reminded that virtuoso musicianship and an adventurous spirit has kept this band fresh 33 years after its self-titled debut. The band's cover of the Paul Simon classic "America" and a new song, "Deeper," paved the way for "South Side of the Sky," a song from the band's breakthrough album, "Fragile." The song, recorded in 1972, gave Wakeman a chance to shine on piano, but Anderson said that was a time when it was nearly impossible to perform live. Today's improved technology allowed a near-perfect re-creation of the studio wonder, with Howe and Wakeman trading lightning-fast solos. If that weren't enough, the band dove into the 20-minute-plus "Revealing the Science of God - Dance of the Dawn," which took up the first side of "Tales From Topographic Oceans" LP (back when music was packaged on vinyl). A lush, heady piece, it revealed in the band's penchant for symphonic arrangements and dynamic rock sounds imprinted with the complexity of classical music and the creative flair of jazz. The first set concluded with Steve Howe alone on acoustic guitar, playing his signature piece,  "The Clap." After a brief break, Wakeman backed Anderson on a children's song before demonstrating his considerable skills on a half-dozen keyboards within his reach. "Heart of the Sunrise" from "Fragile" brought the full band back. "Magnification," the title track of the band's latest release, and "Don't Kill the Whale" from "Tormato," revealed that this band would rather make a positive statement of ecological concern than play it safe. Bassist Squire demonstrated his mastery of the instrument, supported by drummer White on  "The Fish." The band ended the second set with the lengthy "Awaken," from "Going for the One." Impeccably played, Yes' diverse choice of sounds, from Anderson's string harp to Wakeman's churchy pipe organ, offered a majestic soundscape that engaged the intellect with elegant musical choices. Two rockin' favorites served as encores - "Roundabout" and "Yours Is No Disgrace" -- a telling title for a band for which survival remains the best revenge against naysayers who failed to see how you could play all that different music at once and make it work. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com