Opening Band?

[Gustavo]

If they have an opening band, who should it be?

I used to think that it was best if they had no opening act, but I can now see a value added.

Take the casual fan that has been away for a long time. He used to like YES back when there was “real” music being made, with bands like Genesis, Floyd, ELP, etc. Our friend is probably in his 40’s and will be excited to see Wakeman with YES for old times sake. He is expecting an “oldies” show since he really has not heard any YES since OOALH was on the radio and has no idea of KTA, OYE, TL, or M.

He really is not expecting much from the opening act, and considers it more of a pain since he can’t wait to hear CTTE. All of a sudden the lights dim, and Transatlantic takes the stage. Four young guys begin to make music that he can relate to. Transatlantic sounds like Genesis, ELP, Floyd, YES all put together. They really are good, particularly if you like 70’s Progressive.

Now, all of a sudden the concert is not such an “oldies” show. Now YES can take the stage and carefully mix in new songs with the classics and show our friend that they are a currently viable band. Our friend now leaves in the present, not the past.

It really will be in the best interest of YES to have a healthier young progressive scene.

[Q]

I agree that the "oldies" stereotype is a problem, but in my mind, Yes have been their own worst enemies in this regard. They haven't been willing to do a tour that was truly based on new music since Rabin left - and as long as they run around doing "classics" and "masterworks," they are just asking to be tagged a nostalgia band.

For this reason, I don't see that it makes the situation any worse to go with Kansas or APP. I saw APP with them in 1998, missed Kansas - and was sorry I did ...

Q

[YYY]

The reason YES doesn't fully embrace their post classic work is because the fans prefer their best music - which is primarily the pre 80's material. This generation isn't going to fanatically embrace the style of music that YES produces today no matter how much they play or promote it. Their music appeals to a particular audience with specific sensabilities. And part of that sensibilities comes out of a 70's mentality. Unless they make radical changes to their style, YES will always be a nostagia band. And I really don't have a problem with that along as they continue to tour.

[yesskater]

No opening act. I want three to three and one-half hours of YES music. I want solos from Squire, White and Wakeman. I want to hear "Awaken," "Ritual," "Heart of the Sunrise," "Yours is no Disgrace," Close to the Edge" and "Starship Trooper" in the same show.

Originally posted by YYY
Unless they make radical changes to their style, YES will always be a nostagia band.

YYY, what are you saying? I can't believe you said that! Nostalgia?! Not hardly! A nostalgia band is one that only plays the oldies and is unable to create new, fresh material--see The Guess Who, The 4 Tops, The Supremes...

Yes continue to be vital and important. It's just that now, everyone does not see it like they did in the 70's. I admit that they did create their best work in the early 70's but to call them a nostalgia band is just so very wrong.

[Flo]

I agree with you Yeskater, Yes don't need a support band. So far all the Yes concerts I've been to didn't have an opening. And they are the longest concerts I've ever seen. Yes are fit enough to be on stage during 3 hours, on their own.

[Alysoun]

Originally posted by Gustavo
He really is not expecting much from the opening act, and considers it more of a pain since he can’t wait to hear CTTE. All of a sudden the lights dim, and Transatlantic takes the stage. Four young guys begin to make music that he can relate to. Transatlantic sounds like Genesis, ELP, Floyd, YES all put together. They really are good, particularly if you like 70’s Progressive.


Thow some Beatles into that mixture of what goes into Transatlantic as well, Gustavo.
I'd love to see The Flower Kings get some exposure at a Yes show as well. Both bands are just
fantastic.

Allison

[Squireaholic]

First, I thought the question was confusing:" If Yes has an opening act...", followed by the choice to have no opening act?!
this is representative of how much on the fence I am on this subject with every tour. Give me hours and hours of Yes any tour. But, like Allyson, I'd like to see my fellow Yessrs get a charge out of the FK's or another 'new progessive' band. I saw Dream Theater at the Orpheum in Boston recently and they wore their Yes influence about as far out on their collective sleeve as any band I've ever seen! A Yes/DT double bill would be great!

[RobAdams]

I'd go for the cartoons on the giant screen again, but please - NO OPENING BAND. Bad enough I had to sit through KANSAS to see YES in 2000.

i-and-i, your cartoons gave me an idea. Instead of an opening band or cartoons, how about Yes videos? They could play Yes videos of songs that Yes will not be performing that night. How cool would that be?!

[Ahkin]

Transatlantic, Flower Kings etc... I just hate them. No genuine spirit in their music, only retro bull#### with no meaning at all. And they get all the new progressive fanboy appreciation. And in general, an opening band would just waste everyone's time.

Originally posted by Ahkin
And in general, an opening band would just waste everyone's time.

Once more Ahkin, we are of like minds.

[nightliner]

There are lot of good bands on that list, but if it had to be a band, I would like to see Pendragon. They are a great band that could succeed with some exposure...however, if their has to be an opening, I agree with i-and-i, give us cartoons again.

[Gustavo]

But I really don’t want them to tour with another fossil again.

IF, and only IF, they have an opening band it would be great to have a younger band. I’ve been listening to the latest Transatlantic and “Stranger in Your Soul” is a 25 minute epic that can hold its own quite nicely! I like it even more that Endless Dream.

[RobAdams]

I've always hated opening bands. Sometimes they give you a headache so you can't enjoy the band you went to see in the first place. SAGA opened for someone I saw, I forget who. They were terrible. HONEYMOON SUITE opened for TULL when I saw them on the UNDER WRAPS tour. That gave me a headache.

One weird combination I saw once was .38 SPECIAL opening for JEFFERSON STARSHIP back in 1978 at SPAC in Saratoga NY. What a weird crowd.

[mrjoy89]

Kansas opened up a few years ago - I wonder what they're up to

[mrjoy89]

I'd have to say that with Rick Wakeman back in the line-up, it would be ideal to have no opening act - just 3 hours of Yessongs - CTTE, GFTO, KTA....I'm just thrilled to be able to them again, especially with this classic line up! As far as I'm concerned, they can play whatever they like...but it would be great to hear "Mind Drive" live.

mrjoy89, you are so right!

Welcome to the site!

[RobAdams]

Let's just pretend the opening band is whoever played the night before.

And was I the only one who saw people leaving when Kansas finished their set on the Masterworks tour? Imagine leaving a concert that moments later would be rocking to the sound of CLOSE TO THE EDGE.....

(They must have only been there for Kansas)

[Tanbar]

that would be Tom Brislin's band. i would love to see tom again! and that would kill two concerts with one ticket! maybe i should suggest that to Tom...

sooner,
*tink*

[jonanderson]

The best band would be transatlantic because they are the best band up there.

[Yes_Fan_4_Life26]

How about Uriah Heep