----------------------------------------------------- AUGUST 22, 2003 ----------------------------------------------------- Source: King County Journal http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/141027 Puget Sounds: Yes man contributes to free concert - Alan White with Spencer Davis & Friends and Pa-Te By Claude Flowers 6:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S., Issaquah. 425-837-3300. Free. All ages. For several years now, the Issaquah Community Center has hosted concerts by local and national musicians. Free of charge and open to families, the shows have been a treat for listeners and entertainers alike. Redmond resident Alan White, who plays drums in the veteran rock group Yes, is an annual headliner. Speaking by telephone after a round of golf, the cheerful percussionist said, "The nights down at Issaquah are great because a lot of friends turn up. We make it into a night out, yet at the same time, I'm working. But it's fun work.'' As he's done in years past, White will collaborate with vocalist/guitarist Spencer ("Gimme Some Lovin','' "I'm a Man'') Davis. White said, "Spencer's a great guy, and I've (performed with him) quite a few times before. He's really open to anything. We just have fun. It's a good night out. "I've known Spencer for a long time, being in the (music) business. I've only played with him in the last few years, basically. Before that, we'd shake hands and go, `Hi, how are you doing?' at concerts. Actually, when I was 15 years old, I went to see Spencer playing with Stevie Winwood. I was just blown away with the band. It's a great privilege to play with somebody like Spencer who's made a lot of great music.'' Unsurprisingly, the shows allow White to recapture the youthful thrill he got from Davis' music. "'Gimme Some Lovin' brings that back to me, because that's a great song that probably everybody in the world knows. I used to be kinda close to that song and listened to it a lot when I was a kid. I always played along with the record.'' White and Davis' Washington state shows are their only current opportunities to work together on stage. Their busy schedules prevent them from collaborating for extended periods, or making an album together. White explained, "Yes takes up most of my time. I'm usually on the road with Yes, in the studio, or taking some R & R with my family. These gigs are just intimate (events), in-between touring. In fact, Yes will be leaving in about three weeks' time to play Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hawaii and Los Angeles. We were going to play Jakarta but we can't go there because Americans are strongly advised not to travel there. We were actually going to stay at the Marriott Hotel (which was bombed on Aug. 5). If the band holds some kind of gig over there, it will be some kind of magnet (for terrorists), too.'' Local fans have caught the troupe under happier conditions. In July of last year, a few hundred lucky Washingtonians attended a dress rehearsal for Yes' "Classic Tour 2002'' at the Experience Music Project. White, vocalist Jon Anderson, lead guitarist Steve Howe, bassist Chris Squire, and keyboardist Rick Wakeman plowed through renditions of "America,'' "Deeper,'' the first public performance of "South Side of the Sky,'' "Siberian Khatru,'' and the best-seller "Roundabout.'' Although a planned encore of "Purple Haze'' was abandoned, the show itself was a delight. The musicians often exchanged grins and laughs. Howe particularly cut loose, leaving spectators to shake their heads in awe. Asked about that show, White recalled, "We were kind of paying back (museum owner) Paul Allen because he loaned us his studio to rehearse for the tour, which was very nice of him. We said, `For doing that, we'll come and play at the EMP for all of your staff and whatever fans want to come.' "It's good seeing the band in that close environment. It really doesn't matter to me (where Yes performs) because once I get onstage with the band, the music is so intricate and so great to play, we kind of fold inside ourselves. We could be playing anywhere. We just get under those lights and perform (for) each other. That's the satisfying thing about it.'' That said, White did praise King County on an artistic level. "It seems to be a haven for great music. There's always something to go to, whatever interests you or captures your imagination. There's always something new to go see here. I just got back from Europe three weeks ago, so I've been looking through the papers, seeing different bands playing, and it's fantastic. You've got a lot of choice, depending on what your flavor is that night. "I just love it. I love the Northwest, I love Seattle. I've lived here for quite a long time, because my wife's a native (Washingtonian). It's good to come back here after touring so many places. I play locally with MerKaBa sometimes, which is more of an ethnic kind of band. I just like sitting in for fun, to keep my chops up. By the time I get back on the road, I'm ready to go again.'' At next week's show, White and Davis will be joined onstage by guitarist Roger Fisher (formerly with Heart), bassist Jim Cliff (formerly with Richard Marx), keyboardist Janet Foos, and percussionist Reek Havok. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, problems, corrections, or additions, contact YesinthePress@aol.com