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JANUARY 13, 2004
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Source: Sea of Tranquility Reviews
http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php/?op=showcontent&id=1123
Yes: House Of Yes - Live From House Of Blues (DVD)
By Greg Cummins
As nostalgically inclined as I am towards the generally more appealing
sounds of the 70’s, it was with much anticipation that I ripped the
packaging of my newly acquired birthday present. Was I being too
presumptuous to expect the same degree of delight and totality of
entertainment as one who was privileged enough to see Yes performing live
in their hey-day? Perhaps! Perhaps not, but it stands as a testament to the
incredible ability of these musicians to still be able to deliver a
riveting suite of old favourites and some newer material with as much
enthusiasm as anyone half their age.
Following on from the immediate acceptance of their 1999 release, The
Ladder which was hailed as a true return to their former glory, Yes
embarked on a series of tours across America in 2000 that enabled them to
perform at a number of House Of Blues clubs. Taking the best tracks from
The Ladder and including many of their old classics including,
“Roundabout”, “Yours Is No Disgrace”, And You & I” and “Perpetual Change”,
this DVD is packed with 16 awesome songs that simply exude brilliance in a
112 minute concert that must have been a delight for anyone to have been in
attendance in such a small and intimate setting.
For all of the dirt that is heaped upon poor old Jon Anderson, I would
consider it nigh on impossible to find another singer of any age to match
the range, emotion, finesse and ability to perform these songs with exactly
the same degree of credibility as many of us enjoyed when they were first
recorded decades ago. As angelic a voice as Jon possesses, there can be no
denying he still hits the highest notes with little effort. Despite his
normal talking voice being very highly pitched compared to any normal
singer’s, I still stand in awe at a vocalist whose career has never been
blemished due to the deterioration over time of his only true instrument.
Like him or loathe him, no-one can hold a candle to the purity and charm of
his voice.
Steve Howe, using an assortment of guitars, sounded as good as ever,
hitting each note with convincing accuracy although I found much of his
overall sound a little low in the mix. For all of his stunning ability,
there was one particular section where Steve was seen to take a bow in a
slightly goofy manner more befitting of a young and aspiring church soprano
at his first recital. Nothing wrong here really, but it made me realize how
truly humble the man must be to take a bow in such an apparently old
fashioned manner, when in all reality; it is the people who should be
showering him with immediate and unquestioned adulation and praise for
every performance he makes. The man still remains a monster player of the
highest calibre with more talent exhibited in three minutes of playing than
most guitar Gods display in a 2 hour set.
Of all of the original members playing on the night however, it was Chris
Squire whose performance amazed me the most. His bass runs through so many
of their songs were so brilliantly executed as to make me appreciate the
instrument far more than I normally do. Having been seriously disappointed
with many other bassists work when performing live, it made a huge
difference to the overall enjoyment and has given me further reason to
obtain the CD version of his solo album, Fish Out Of Water to replace my
aging vinyl copy.
Similarly, Alan White is still a great drummer and has not lost anything
since his first appearance with the band many years ago. Despite Bill
Bruford being my favourite drummer to have ever played with Yes, Alan’s
speed, variety of fills and overall dexterity are all great qualities that
cannot be denied. If the song requires a solid but basic foundation from
which the other musicians can contribute their respective pieces, then
Allan’s timing, power and choice of fill or triplet are always delivered
with full precision and perfection. He is a great technician to watch and
although probably no longer as powerful or maniacally inclined as many half
his age, his contribution to the bands wall of sound still rings true every
time he picks up the sticks.
Billy Sherwood on guitar and keyboardist, Igor Khoroshev, both being the
more recent members to join the band also delivered solid performances with
many songs played true to the originals in every perceptible way. While not
as flashy as Rick Wakeman, Igor is a true professional and ripped through
every song with an arsenal of instruments that would make any aspiring
keyboard player highly envious.
If ever there was a band whose talents would come under scrutiny due to the
aging nature of its members, then Yes must stand proud as one amazingly and
privileged assortment of true professionals who have defied the trend. I
just hope these guys have at least another decade together before hanging
up their boots and queuing for the pension. The day that this band folds
for the last time will be a sad day for us all.
Not having seen Yes perform live before, I am so pleased to have caught a
glimpse of what capabilities these men possessed. The selection of songs,
production, duration and overall enjoyment were top shelf and reinforces
the reason they were and still remain one of my favourite bands to have
ever caressed my ears. Despite this being a 2000 performance, which may
have already been released in your country I ordered what I am lead to
believe was an Australian pre-release copy in late 2003. If, however, you
are able to track down either this or your own countries equivalent release
then this would remain my highest recommendation for 2003. A true masterpiece!
Track Listing
1. Yours Is No Disgrace 2. Time & A Word 3. Homeworld (The Ladder) 4.
Perpetual Change 5. Lightning Strikes 6. The Messenger 7. Ritual – Nous
Sommes Du Soleil 8. And You & I 9. It Will Be A Good Day Today (The River)
10. Face To Face 11. Awaken 12. Your Move / I’ve Seen All Good People 13.
Cinema 14. Owner Of A Lonely Heart 15. Roundabout.
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