503


Okay, one thing again - straight away... This here is YES, without doubts. And if someone has any complains, because up there, there are only 3 original members, next to 2 new guys, - I can asure you, that these circumstances has no effect on the usual quality standard. Yeah well, if you take it really seriously, then not even guitarist Steve How is an orginal, because he first came into the band, after the 2 albums 'YES' 1969 and 'Time And A Word' 1970 had been released. - But it was eventually longplayer no. 3 - 'The Yes Album' which helped the band for their international Break Through.

Well and since then many years and many more albums including some line up changes have past.
Anyway, last time, I've seen YES live on stage was in 2004 at the Tollwood Festival here in Munich (here again for a reminder) And it was the classic line up feat. Git. Steve Howe, Singer Ion Anderson, Bassist Chris Squire, Alan White on drums and Rick Wakeman on keyboards. It was ab brilliant gig and I remember it very well. But within 4 years also many things can happen. And first of all, it's Anderson and Wakeman who are nowadays missing, apparently due to illness. But noone really wants to believe this. 
However . with Wakeman it stayed at least within his family as we now got his son Oliver here on stage on keyboard. 

And he's obviously as superb as his daddy from what I can see or better hear here tonight. The vocals are handled by canadian singer Benoit David, who originally comes from the YES Coverband 'Closer To The Edge'. And if you leave out the visual aspect and close your eyes, you could easily believe, it's still Jon Anderson doing the singing, as the voices sound almost identically. 

Long talk, sort sense - good for you, if you're not prejusticed and have come along to check out YES again, despite the different line up. Because as I mentioned before, tonight's performance is as brilliant as the one from 2004. Once again you get to hear Steve Howe's great guitar playing. Benoit David is the singer, but the actual frontman rather seems to be bassist Chris Squite. And Oli Wakeman proves, that there is no daddy needed, as he does the same good job. 

The event is happening in our posh Philharmonie at Munich's cultural center no. 1 the Gasteig. And like usually, photographers ain't allowed to shoot their pics directly front of stage, but rather from behind. That's why a good zoom is required. As you can see on the images showing the whole band, it is pretty far away. One song is given for the photocall. But no problem, as that one lasts for about 20 minutes, and the light conditions are great as well.So there is enough space and time to get  your pics. And the rest of the show you can enjoy the music only which is performed perfectly and great. There are some improvisations, but not too long, mixed with some brilliant solos and many wellknown melodies. Singer Benoit David trys his german skills, whereby he's got a note fixed to the monitorbox, just to make sure, that nothing goes wrong. 

And of course the biggest, commercial hit of these artrockers mustn'd be missing, - yeah well guess what? - Of course - 'Owner Of A Lonely Heart'. And everybody in here of all 1.500 people - old rockers and friends of advanced rockmusic sing along with it.  No we can't complain. Everything is just perfect and right. And although the show lasts for more than  2 ½  hours (without supportact)  not a single minute is boring.I for my part can't find much difference between the 2004 show and tonight's gig apart from  different guys on stage. Yeah well, maybe Steve Howe has got even less hair now, but this one again doesn't matter, does it... as less as the fact, that Anderson and Wakeman sen. is missing. Eyes closed and the illusion is perfect. - 
'Round About' closes the set, followed by one encore 'Starship Trooper'. And the past 150 minutes have been absolutely brilliant on a very high musical level, one you don't find very often anymore . Let's wait and see what's next and 'till next time....

http://www.yesworld.com/