Has YES inspired any Songwriters here?

[Earl Grey]

I meet many musicians who have been influenced mightily by YES, but has YES inspired you to write your own songs/lyrics, and if so, in what ways can you trail your creative roots to YES specifically? I know I've been inspired by Jon's E.E.Cummings-like lyrics, The tunes are infectuous (even when played in the most abtuse Yesish-time signatures: "It's got a nice beat, and a DERVISH can dance to it...).
Would love to hear your views!!!

[haroldthebarrel]

Go to my band's station and check out our songs "The Cosmic" and "Pondering upon a rock near a pond" I have been told that we sound Yes-influenced alot. I agree too, for these songs were written in an early stage of my musical abilities, and I happened to be listening to a ****load of Yes at that time.

they are at:

www.mp3.com/whitespace

Check it out!

Joe

[Earl Grey]

Hey Joe, checked out your stuff:definate YES influence there, but nicely, not derivitive..... You've taken it in your own tangent (Yeah!).
Did you do the Lead-guitar work? tasty solos: The "Pondering" song had the Howe-like volume control work, nice arpeggiated work... I really liked the last cut...
Well, I'm working on a project now, when it's finished, am going to do the MP-3 thing, but for now it's still in the pro-tools stage...
Does anyone paint, or write poetry/prose, or work in other areas of the arts, where you've been inspired by YES? Come on, don't be shy!

[haroldthebarrel]

Thanks for listening! I did all the lead work, most of the keys, percussion (not the drums), and all the vocal tracks too. I also wrote all the music. I don't think it even compares to Yes, and I have since gained new members and am trying to write more well-composed songs with them. I will post when the new stuff is at mp3.com. But thanks again, and let me know when your music is out there!

Joe

[dbdonlon]

My head is spinning from what I heard by Whitespace. That is way cool.

I can't boast anything that expansive, but I did just put up a prog song on my soundclick site. It's called "humanity." Have a listen.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/davidbdonlon_music.htm

[haroldthebarrel]

Hey!
Your music is great! Humanity has a definitely unique sound to it! I listened twice and hear alot of original things there! Thanks for checkin gout whitespace! Keep this list updated about your other music!

joe

[dbdonlon]

Thanks Joe, I sure will keep you guys updated.

[Earl Grey]

Just a quick one...
If you live in So California, I'll be playing an acoustic show tomorrow night (August 9th) in the Studio City Area!
I'll be sharing the show with Lauren Adams, who has Albert Lee playing lead guit. on her CD (Steve Howe's Fave).
They say my guitar work is a bit like Howe's, but your guess as to the gist of the effect!
The address is: LULU's Beehive: 13203 Ventura Blvd. Studio City. Phone info: (818) 986-2233. Admission:FREE! (The right price). Come say hi if you're there. Oh, show is from7:30 to 10:00 pm. :yesbird:

[raiched]

Hi Earl and Joe,

First, Earl
Are you going to record your show? Maybe Mp3 that.

Grew up down in Ventura out in Saratoga hills/ Thousand Oaks.
Played Bass in probably a hundred bands down there as a kid growing up on Led Zeplin, Black Sabath, UFO, Judus priest and of course the bands that made my life worth living, YES, Pink Floyd, Kansas, Rush ect. In answer to your question Earl, YES is the reason I persued a Career in electronics mostly because I wanted to give something back to the band that helped me stay a good guy and kept my heart from hardening into a stone in the crazyness of LA. Chris Squire was my mentor as far as bass playing with Geddy Lee second. I spent the rest of my years trying to find musicians that even wanted to play music like that and wound up farly fustraited and just doing my own stuff.
I can send you a copy of my first CD effort if you like but better yet how about some of my jam stuff that I could use guitar on?
That would give me an excuess to get it all on on CD.
So all in all YES has been the best part of my spiritual life just below Jesus Christ and the scriptures. I have prayed for that band more then any other and I feel that in most cases my prars were answered. When I die I have made it a point to let everyone know that GFTO is my favorite album, YES is my favorite band and that I would like Awaken played at my funeral.
I still find much spiritual solstece in YES music and for some reason my life is wonderful when I'm activly listening.
What more can I say,
I picked up guitar because of Steve howe and continued singing because of Jon Andersons example of uplifting emotional lyrics.
Gee I think they have been more apart of my past life then my family. My wife is activly trying to change that. LOL
So what clubs are you playing these days?

Hey Joe were's that Whitespace CD? Can't hold my breath much longer.;)

Cheers,

Daniel Raiche
:band:

[haroldthebarrel]

Actually, I will be sending it within a week or so, I finally just said "Screw it" and made my own makeshift album covers for now. I will send you a copy as soon as I get it all put together

[Matthew]

Hey all,

Im a bit new here.....although about as big a Yeshead as we come. I have a band in the Albuquerque area which does mostly my originals. My stuff is varied and not, for any particular reason, mostly prog, but the influence is very much there. I have one song that people actually tell me reminds them of Yes.

We havent been together very long and, unfortunately, we havent got a demo together yet or anything im ready to share with "strangers." I am happy to have found this thread, tho, and do keep me informed if any of you make it out this way or are looking to add a songwriter--and really cool guy--to your list or whatever.

Namaste,
Matthew

[Earl Grey]

...I've been way too busy, sorry it took so long to post here...
I don't 'currently' have anything on MP3, or elsewhat, to download... The future is bright, though.
I do have a CD that I recorded 6 years ago (pretty 'cool' too, if I may be so "whatever"), but only a few copies left (I had a house-fire 2 years ago that took most EVERYTHING, including my CDs, but for a 'few' copies. I usually only sell them at shows now-a-days).
Will have something 'New' in the forseeable future (Early next year).
If anyone REALLY wants to hear the 1st CD, I'll trade for YES 'boots', or other 'interesting' Yes-stuff (Sounds like a homeless person's sign: "Will trade for Yes"), or sell one of the few copies left for $15.oo bucks...
Guess that's all...
Guess I'll finish my 'Guinness', and wait for my 16 year old to return from her (!) date. Ouch. Such is fate.

[raiched]

Earl,
Sounds cool. Would you like a copy of the new YES Vancouver boot? Send me a mailing address and I will put it in the mail for you. It's three disks. Or we could swap original CD's.
My last project "seed" did pretty well in the stores.
Cheers,
Daniel Raiche

[canadarago]

Definitely inspired me.

Go here:

http://music.download.com/worldwithoutend/3600-8627-100078580.html?tag=quickurl (http://music.download.com/worldwithoutend)

and tell me what you think.

[altaeria]

I've actually been composing music that I think kinda stylistically resembles
YES: DRAMA meets UK: DANGER MONEY meets TEARS FOR FEARS: BIG CHAIR.

In fact, I've been thinking about trying to put together an original prog band here in Philly... but it's difficult.

[sunburstbasser]

I've got some Yes influence on some original music. Not a lot, however. I'd love to write a song like Yes, but it takes SO much talent on so many instruments to get that sound, and I'm only capable on bass.

I do have a song I'm writing that sounds like a poor Tool imitation, though!

I have a Soundclick account, and had a little thing in there that was an attempt at something Yesish, but the reviews were very negative towards it.