YES is one of those bands I listened to a lot back in the early 1970s. Their progressive rock style appealed to me and many of my friends, and I even saw them once then. Fast forward to 2017 and there are two versions of YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman which tour. I was fortunate to see this version at the lovely Kravis Center for the Performing Arts.

YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

I am most familiar with the band’s earliest albums and while I knew the band in its various iterations continued to record new music, I do not truly ‘know it’. That did not spoil the show for me in the least, mainly because the style is mostly the progressive rock I love.

YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

The band (other than Jon Anderson) took the stage and began the intro; as soon as Anderson walked out from the wings, the sold-out crowd jumped to their feet for a sustained ovation. They immediately launched into ‘Perpetual Change’, one of their most beloved songs.

YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

One thing was clear from the very first notes – these men love playing together. They sported wide grins most of the night, and at the end of the two-hour set, gave one another big bear hugs! Their enjoyment of their craft was evident to the audience; they were tight yet fluid. Most of the songs had extended solos and jams.

Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman

This iteration of the band consists of Jon Anderson on vocals, guitar and tambourine; Rick Wakeman on keyboards and synthesizers; Trevor Rabin on guitar; Lee Pomeroy on bass; and Louis Molino III on drums.

Jon Anderson

Rick Wakeman

Trevor Rabin

Lee Pomeroy and Jon Anderson

Louis Molino III and Trevor Rabin

Seeing Rick Wakeman – wearing a flowing black (velvet?) cape – at the controls of at least eight keyboards/synthesizers reminded me of someone at the helm of the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek! He also had a keytar which he broke out toward the end of the show. During that number, Wakeman and Rabin did a walkabout through the orchestra and played a lengthy duet from the back of the house!

Rick Wakeman

Jon Anderson’s singing voice has not suffered with the years. To my ears, at least, he sounded the same as he always has – wonderful! His voice truly suits the music. I saw him a couple of times at solo shows about five years ago, and loved him as much with YES as I loved him solo.

Jon Anderson

After the main set ended, they were brought back for an encore which was their (arguably) best-known song, ‘Roundabout’. I think everyone left the auditorium as happy as the band seemed.

YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman

This was my first show at the Kravis Center and I was  extremely impressed. Visually, it is a smaller version of Carnegie Hall with excellent acoustics. The lighting (to this photographer’s eyes) is good and the seats are comfortable. Sight lines seemed good no matter where in the auditorium one sits. And it’s only 15 minutes from home with free parking! I will return!

Ticket courtesy of YES featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, Rick Wakeman; all opinions are my own.