Which show should I go to???

[Original_Shifty]

Okay, here's my dilemna.

I live in Vancouver, but I am moving across the country to Ottawa at the begining of September after the tour.

I can only attend one show and one show only.

Do I go to the Seattle show on July 17th and blow a days work and my nightschool course (third last class). I just need to drive down so only cost is gas and possible overnight stay.

OR

Do I quit my job one week earlier than planned (mid-august) and take the train down to see the band Aug 23rd at Univeral Amphitheatre.

I need your help, and if you can't trust yesfans to steer you right, who can you trust.

Please vote and tell me your thoughts, quickly before tickets go on sale at either of these venues.

[therifferoo]

O.S. (funny, in medical terms, O.S. is the abbreviation for left eye!)

I think you should go to L.A.

Rather a week less of work than miss a night class...

And, every time I've taken a long train trip, I had a blast!! Always meet lots of fun people. Besides, I read conversations between you and Earl Grey...if ya go to the California show, the two of you could hook up, and I know you'd have a great time.

Also, I know you've recently listened to all your Led Zeppelin collection....perhaps one song was "prophetic"??...Goin' To California??!!

Just my opinion!

Have fun wherever you end up!
~Riffer.

[gt76yesman]

The Paramount is a beautiful theater in Seattle and very intimate. The Universal Amp is huge and the likely hood of a good seat there is small. Plus you have to go to LA in August (cough, cough, choke, choke).

Still, if you go to LA, let us know cause there are some nice beaches to visit!

[Original_Shifty]

Actually, another option would be to take the Greyhound bus. It's actually just as quick and less than half the price of the train.

Is the Universal Amphitheatre actually in LA or a neighbouring city?

[Devotee]

I've been to both, and though the Paramount is beautiful, it is uncomfortable. Intimate, Yes, but if you don't have a good seat it's quite cramped. Last time they were there the sound was great on the floor but not so in the rest of the theatre. Universal Amphitheatre is big, but there's not a bad seat in the house. Also since it's the last show of the tour there's likely to be some good parties....I'm doing both! See ya there!

[gt76yesman]

Still, I don't like dealing with LA and am thinking I would rather fly to Austin. What a great party town that is!

Glendo

[PaulH]

Another way to look at it may be.....
The first shows of the tour sometimes contain songs that are dropped after that night for whatever reasons, so you may get some gems that you would not otherwise.
On the other hand...although YES always puts on a great show,
They will be good and warmed up by the time they get to L.A.
Sometimes those first couple of shows they are still working out the bugs of a few tunes.
I remember the OYE tour...it hit Boston early (2nd night I think)
and it was great...especially my first RSOG, but when I saw
them in Poughkepsee (sp?) or as Jon mis-spoke Poughkepski :)
I noticed that the show was really polished and they didn't miss a beat or note.

Good points, PaulH. I remembered seeing Masterworks as add on dates that they had to make up because Jon had been ill. I was worried that as these dates were tacked on after the tour had ended that they would be out of steam. No Way! One of the very best shows of my life.

Early ones also nice--for those songs they won't do later. So, tough choice. Best guess? Go to both.

[nightliner]

Since your planning on quitting your job anyways, if you can afford to quit a week early and go to LA, that is what I would do. The band will be well rehearsed by then, and have the show down pat. I have also noticed in the past that they improve their light show as the tour goes on. Of course Yes always puts on a good show, but a later show can be a better show.

It was mentioned that LA could be the last show of the tour. Don't take that into consideration though as I have heard they might extend the tour into September...but don't quote me on that.

There is another thing that might be a factor. I'm not sure as to when the tickets to the two shows go onsale, but you might want to see which show you can get the better seats for.

[ANTIOCH]

The sound alone should bring you to Los Angeles !
The Universal is a wonderful place to witness 'live' music, and YES will ROCK !!
I'm coming from Texas and will be unable to attend a 2nd show, but would love to see a show with my soul-mate (you know who you are) should the tour extend beyond the 23rd.

[Original_Shifty]

Well it's coming down to crunch time. According to Yesworld most of the the venue's will be doing presales this Thursday.

I think the fact that I will have some time off as well as the Universal show seems to be where the larger gathering of Yesheads will be leads me to want to go to this show.

Thanks everyone for your input. It really helped.

PS. Did anyone see this disclaimer on Yesworld
"Note: According to Yes' management they instruct the promoters to make 50% of the house available for Internet presales. They either split the venue in half or sell every other row."