Yes: 50th Anniversary Tour
Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL, USA, June 6, 2018
by Jake Warkel
Here at wonderful downtown St Charles IL Arcada Theatre for the Yes show tonight. The fans are buzzing with excitement ready for the Prog Rock legendary music to begin.
Tonight there is no headliner thank god and there will be an intermission in the performance tonight. Fans are extremely happy that they will get to hear so many classics this evening.
The bands’ history, the line-up has been no stranger to regular changes and members leaving and rejoining, sometimes several times.
Tonight’s line consists of Steve Howe guitarist, Jay Schellen drums, Geoff Downes keyboards, Billy Sherwood bassist, guitarist and keyboardist, Jon Davison lead vocalist. Joining them for the entire tour for the encore portion of the tour is the founding member and keyboardist Tony Kaye and Alan White drummer.
The crowd reception as a Yes walked out on stage was chilling, the fans are in full form to see a Rock show. Close to the Edge is a great opening song with the ambient noise of nature and a world at peace before this mood is quickly demolished by a piercing, psychedelic guitar lead by Steve Howe. Steve Howe as he showed no signs of age hampering is Guitar ability, with clean well playing proving you can never be too old to kick ass. Steve displayed magnificently with a solo interlude on a classical guitar. All night Steve just killed on guitar with perfection.
Bassist Billy Sherwood is a solid player who can get up and down the neck no problem keeping the groove and drive going alongside drummer Jay Schellen who just is a solid timekeeper.
The audience is loving the show, Jon Davison sounded great but for me, he has no power to his vocals. As a vocalist, he’s no Jon Anderson. He gives a great attempt to give these classic Yes songs justice.
As a whole the band sounded great, total class and perfection musically. The Encore was a treat for these Yes fans as Tony Kaye and Alan White came out to perform for this more than a happy group of fans. The feeling and energy tonight were uplifting and wonderful to see. All and all if you have a chance to see Yes live it’s totally worth it.
Standing ovation tonight from this night and I’m sure from all crowds moving forward.
Set 1: Close to the Edge Nine Voices (Longwalker) Parallels Mood for a Day (Steve Howe solo acoustic) Leaves of Green (Steve Howe solo acoustic) Fly From Here, Part I: We Can Fly
Sweet Dreams Heart of the Sunrise Set 2
Does It Really Happen? Soon Believe Again Awaken Encore: Yours Is No Disgrace Roundabout Starship Trooper
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Photo Gallery from the night
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