------------------------------------------------------- MAY 3, 2004 ------------------------------------------------------- Source: Tampa Tribune http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGAFFAA3STD.html Patience Yields A Positive After Yes Finds Its Footing By Curtis Ross Yes' celestial rock took some time to get off the ground Sunday night before a St. Pete Times Forum crowd of 5,044. The quintet began with "Going for the One,'' keyboardist Rick Wakeman vamping as Steve Howe laced the tune with steel guitar lines. But the performance was stiff, and Jon Anderson's vocal sounded pinched and strained.  "Sweet Dreams'' suffered much the same fate, as did "I've Seen All Good People,'' although the vocal interplay of Anderson, Howe and bassist Chris Squire was a highlight. A more recent - mid-'90s - number, "Mind Drive,'' began the band's ascension. The multipart epic drew an impassioned performance from Anderson and the song's shifting textures and tempos seemed to energize the band. "South Side of the Sky'' plodded early on, but the song soared when Howe and Wakeman began trading solo lines. From there the band seemed to find its wings. A lovely "Turn of the Century'' was next, followed by a commanding "Yours Is No Disgrace,'' the band finally surrendering a bit of precision in favor of passion. Anderson (on percussion), Squire and drummer Alan White generated real rhythmic power, over which guitarist Howe -- brilliant all night -- soloed magnificently. An acoustic set followed the intermission, featuring stripped-down readings of "Long Distance Runaround'' and "Wondrous Stories,'' as well as a reworked "Roundabout,'' which was transformed into an (almost) bluesy shuffle. "Rhythm of Love'' proved the band can play pop, but Yes sounded far more, well, Yes-like on the lengthy, dramatic and fanciful "Ritual - Nous Sommes du Soleil.'' The encore included a real treat - The Beatles' "Every Little Thing,'' which Yes recorded for its eponymous 1969 debut album. Close Window YesInThePress.com For site comments, inquiries, corrections, or additions, contact yitp@yesservices.com