----------------------------------------------------- NOVEMBER 1, 2002 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: University Park Daily Collegian http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2002/11/11-01-02tdc/11-01-02darts-07.asp Yes entertains older crowd at BJC By Nicholas Norcia Was the Bryce Jordan Center crowd excited and enthusiastic about the show? Yes. Did the opening act have a surprisingly unique, intense sound to offer? Yes. Did the featured band play the same brand of meticulous, innovative music it has been engaging listeners with for more than 30 years? Yes. Were there at least a fair amount of Penn State students there to appreciate this great moment in classic rock? No. The sparse crowd at the BJC last night was overwhelmingly dominated by an older, mid-40s to early 50s crowd. They were excited enough to see the famed British rock band Yes -- as this tour marking the first time in years most of the original members have performed together. But with the lack of student patronage, the place was anything but jumping. That certainly did not get in the way of an evening of great music, however. Taking the stage a half hour before the scheduled 8 p.m. showtime, the opening band Porcupine Tree blasted off with its vast, experimental repertoire ranging from the hard and heavy to the mellow and jazzy. The big screens behind the stage provided the appropriate backdrop for the music, alternating between placid nature shots and psychedelic purple spirals. Yes eventually took the stage at 8:50 p.m., opening with vintage favorites like "Siberian Khatru" and "Magnification" before lead vocalist Jon Anderson took the opportunity to wax poetic as he introduced the transcendental piece "In the Presence of": "This song relates to everything that surrounds us -- the divine creation that we can only sometimes tap into, but it's always there." Anderson played off the crowd all night, often remarking about the inspiration for songs or the superior talent of some of his fellow band members. At one point, he even jovially sung "Happy Anniversary" to a couple in the audience. One of the greatest benefits of seeing a band like Yes in concert is that you get so much more than the standard guitar/bass/drums show. The band serenaded the arena with everything from Rick Wakeman's unparalleled keyboarding and Steve Howe's mastery of the sitar to wind chimes and even a harpsichord. Each of the band members thankfully got a moment to shine. It would be hard to pick a favorite between Wakeman's fantastic intro to "And You and I" or bassist Chris Squire's outstanding 10-minute instrumental solo or Howe's beautifully ruminative strumming of the acoustic guitar. Yes ended the night, much to the crowd's roaring approval, with a rousing rendition of "Roundabout" as an encore to put a nice finish on a solid set list of some of its patented 10-minute songs. The highlight of the evening had to be witnessing the astounding energy the band put into playing fan favorite "Close to the Edge." After they finished the fast-paced, high-charged, touching song, an older fan turned to one of the few college students in the crowd and said, "Your dad would have liked that one." He was probably right. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com