Yes They Still Can!

[Tip]

The second Yesshow at CC Lemon Hall in Shibuya, Tokyo was excellent overall. Playing for about two hours to a near sell-out crowd, Yes came through with an inspired set. YouTube postings actually do a disservice to the band because the quality of the sound live is far superior and the light and laser show is quite good. These new Yesmen put on a solid performance last night, in tune, in harmony and with tight renditions of all the numbers selected off Drama, The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Fly From Here with "Owner" being the only song none of them seemed to want to play and BTW, why do they play it as few of the 40-, 50- and 60-something crowd actually got into it? Davison's vocals are adequate and although he puts in his own new touches here and there, he does hit 98% of Anderson's original notes without straining it. The rest of the band was tight as well and perhaps the only disappointment of the night was the lack of interaction and rapport with the quiet crowd (answer: no Jon Anderson). Nevertheless, people finally got on their feet for the last two numbers, but there was one slight mishap when Davison fell into the audience while shaking hands during Wurm, only to be pushed immediately back up onto the stage unhurt. The classic three may be looking a bit old (not Downes), but they all played sharply and the $110 ticket (reasonable by Tokyo standards) was worth it. Odd note: no programs or Tees were on sale for this gig, only old DVDs and CDs - a strange oversight - maybe they aren't in it for the money anymore after all. On to Osaka gentlemen!

[Laddr]

Thanks , Tip, for the concise, balanced and honest review. assuming same setlist as before with HOTS.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Great read TIP. Thank you for sharing your experience. *and I love Youtube if for the fact it gives us a 'tease' as to what we are missing, but the feel that, if only for a few minutes, we are there.

[MikeYESfan]

Thanks for the review. No tee shirts? What gives Geoff?

[True Believer]

Jon fell into the audience? Wow! Bet that gave him a bit of a fright!

[Geoff D]

Jon fell into the audience? Wow! Bet that gave him a bit of a fright!

I think he must've been listening to CTTE lyrics "I get up, I get down" !! Thankfully he's OK though - could've been much worse...

[luvyesmusic]

I think he must've been listening to CTTE lyrics "I get up, I get down" !!

http://youtu.be/7yl3UMO-TkE

[rmig68]

Yes doin' the Mosh Pit thing...wow

[Dondeh]

"The classic three may be looking a bit old (not Downes)"

There you go Geoff ...that's what we said in Glasgow

[Yes.2]

Still do what???


Bang hot groupies??? Is that what you mean?

[cappadizzy]

Yes doin' the Mosh Pit thing...wow

I saw Yes on the Union tour in Lake Placid NY- a small but spirited crowd of maybe a few thousand people(almost all the bleacher seats in the arena were empty) but the crowd was wild- even stage diving off the revolving stage. The band ended up having a pretty good time- they even played a severely under-rehearsed CTTE- almost a trainwreck. It was by far the most unusual Yesshow I've ever seen.

[electricfreedom]

Great read TIP. Thank you for sharing your experience. *and I love Youtube if for the fact it gives us a 'tease' as to what we are missing, but the feel that, if only for a few minutes, we are there.

I'll agree to a certain extent on that youtube gives people a chance to catch on what we're missing. That being said, it's still a bit of disservice that it really does compress the heck out of the original video's quality in terms of visual and sound. With that, even the best quality video of a performance can end up looking/sounding far from it. Double edged sword, youtube.

[BrianD]

There were plenty of Ts in Australia & NZ but I also thought the lack of programs to be odd.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

I'll agree to a certain extent on that youtube gives people a chance to catch on what we're missing. That being said, it's still a bit of disservice that it really does compress the heck out of the original video's quality in terms of visual and sound. With that, even the best quality video of a performance can end up looking/sounding far from it. Double edged sword, youtube.

Less about perfection of Youtube, more about what IS there. Heard enough of a tease from the Perth shows, through the lens and banter in the background, one can still see that Jon D. has nailed it, Steve still shines, this band is so tight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3S5LR...feature=relmfu

[Bluegrunt]

http://www.yesfans.com/showthread.ph...=1#post2331244

[Reflections]

Here's another download link
http://musictravellerstwo.blogspot.c...ido-tokyo.html

Don't miss this one. So far the best recording to come out with Melbourne ranking second.
Also you can really hear Geoff's keyboards in this recording

[soundchaser]

Here's another download link
http://musictravellerstwo.blogspot.c...ido-tokyo.html

Don't miss this one. So far the best recording to come out with Melbourne ranking second.
Also you can really hear Geoff's keyboards in this recording

I agree that the sound quality of this show is great but the band was very loose and sloppy compared to the previous gigs. I listened to this show twice today and was kind of bummed. Sorry to be a bummer

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Here's another download link
http://musictravellerstwo.blogspot.c...ido-tokyo.html

Don't miss this one. So far the best recording to come out with Melbourne ranking second.
Also you can really hear Geoff's keyboards in this recording

I see the jacket, is it linked to a player to give a listen? If so, I've missed it. Mind showing me the way? Would appreciate it Reflections. Thanks.

[Reflections]

I see the jacket, is it linked to a player to give a listen? If so, I've missed it. Mind showing me the way? Would appreciate it Reflections. Thanks.

I maybe misinterpreting your question. The download link is in the comments. There is no player on the site to listen to the recording.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

http://youtu.be/7yl3UMO-TkE

= DRUM HIT. hahha funny.