Yes with Geddy Lee on bass at Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, on April 7, 2017.
Tag: Yes
Cygnus X1 on Geddy Lee and YES tonight
Amazing moment in rock history. From Cygnus X1:
Ever since it was announced that the progressive rock band YES was to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, rumors abound regarding a possible involvement with the members of Rush, who are all self-proclaimed YES fans.
In January, the news many fans were waiting for arrived – both Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson would induct YES into the Hall. However as of that writing, there was no indication as to whether or not Geddy and/or Alex would actually perform during the evening’s festivities. Fast-forward a few weeks, and a huge story coming out of Billboard was published which all but confirmed that Geddy Lee would, in fact, be performing with YES. Less than a few hours after the story broke, Billboard posted a retraction indicating that Geddy Lee would NOT be performing.
To read the full article at CYGNUS, go here: http://news.cygnus-x1.net/2017/04/geddy-lee-alex-lifeson-set-to-induct.html
Thanks to John at Cygnus and Brian Sullivan!
Traveller: Agent of the Imperium (Book and RPG)
Yes, I know this is a site dedicated to the beauty of music in all its forms. But, I also know that, like most music fans, I’m interested in a whole variety of things, especially if they’re done with excellence. My love of prog has always coincided with my love of science fiction. After all, whatever Ray Bradbury wrote, Roger Dean drew. Well, not exactly, but close enough.
How many hours did I stare at the world imagined on the gatefold of YESSONGS or ELO’s OUT OF THE BLUE? Too many to count.
Anyway, I’m guessing there are a number of other sci-fi/prog fans out there as well.
Back in 1980, I first got involved (obsessed would be more accurate) in RPGs. I started (and continued) with Dungeons and Dragons, but I also really got into Traveller. I still proudly have my Traveller GDW 301 Box, complete with the original booklets 1-5 as well as two adventures. All purchased before 90125 ever came out! Recently, I upgraded to Traveller 5–now, for better or worse, on CD-ROM. Not as attractive, perhaps, but still very nice.
The point of this post, however, is this. If you like sci-fi at all, make sure you pick up a copy of AGENT OF THE IMPERIUM, a novel by the founder of Traveller, Marc Miller. I found it not only engaging, but I also found it one of the most inventive science-fiction novels I’ve read in a long time. I have no idea if Miller is a progger, but, as I thoroughly enjoyed his novel, I couldn’t help but think of “Starship Trooper” and a number of other prog classics.
Celebrate YES: Finally Inducted
In this world, the gods have lost their way.
A huge, ginormous progarchy congratulations to YES for *finally* making into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!
Over our five years of existence, we’ve been huge YES fans. Here are just a few selections of the many thousands of words we’ve written on YES over nearly half a decade.
What I Liked This Year
I wasn’t too adventurous in my listening this year – maybe because artists I’m already familiar with released so much good music that they kept me busy!
Here’s what I liked in 2016 in the world of prog:
10. Yes: Tales From Topographic Oceans (Blu-ray ed.)
Technically not a 2016 release, but with Steven Wilson’s 5.1 mix, this is a new album to my ears. This has everything a Yes fan could ask for – versions of TFTO that include the original mix, a radio promo, a “needle-drop” vinyl transfer, an instrumental version, in addition to Wilson’s new mixes – literally hours of music. A sometimes maligned work gets its proper release, and it really shines.
9. The Mute Gods: Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
I love Nick Beggs’ blend of 70s – era FM rock with snappy songwriting. Turns out he’s much more than one of the best bassists ever.
Concert Review: Anderson, Rabin & Wakeman (ARW) Saturday, November 12, 2016 at the Majestic Theater, San Antonio, Texas.
With the first step into the Majestic Theater in San Antonio one crosses the threshold into a magical space, like entering a ride at a theme park. The original 1920s tiled floors direct your paces into the main theater with beautifully sculpted dark wood lining the walls, railings, ceilings, and staircases. Ornate chandeliers illuminate the space and the main theater is adorned in its entirety with an elaborate stucco relief which includes birds and vases and spiraling banisters. It’s a sight to behold. My fondest concert memories are from this incredible place.
Something about the Majestic’s dramatic architectural collage made it the perfect setting for the music of Yes performed nearly fifty years after the band’s creation. That it would be performed by the band’s founding member—arguably the soul of Yes—Jon Anderson, along with his concertmaster, ringmaster, and erstwhile musical genius Rick Wakeman, and guitarist/composer extraordinaire Trevor Rabin, made it a concert for the ages.
Opening with the track that began the joining of Rabin to Yes, the band rolled in with the rocking instrumental “Cinema” from 90125: Rabin in a slim-fit coat and slacks looking like he might have stepped off of the photo shoot from the Beatle’s Sergeant Pepper’s album, and Wakeman dramatically strolling onto the stage in his iconic cape and tennis shoes and settling in behind his mission control deck of nine keyboards. This served as the band’s intro, much in the same way that Stravisky’s Firebird Suite had in past concerts. The stage is set, the band are playing…
A Fish Out of Water That Swims On
I have been meaning to write in praise of Chris Squire’s solo album Fish Out of Water for some time now. In fact, I wanted to publish a review after his sudden passing last June, but I feared I would not do his album justice (or something to that effect). I suppose now would be as good a time as any to call attention to this somewhat obscure gem of an album. As I write this, I am listening to “Silently Falling”, a hauntingly beautiful, eleven minute masterpiece featuring dramatic and complex keyboards, a driving bass guitar, and the melodic vocals of Mr. Squire, whose voice lies somewhere between Jon Anderson’s and Peter Gabriel’s. The album also features the talents of Yes alums Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz, King Crimson‘s Mel Collins, and a small orchestra conducted by Squire’s friend Andrew Jackman.
If you are not already familiar with this album, I suggest you give it a listen. Here are brief notes on each song:
“Hold Out Your Hand” – The album opener is driven by Moraz’s organ and Squire’s melodic Rickenbacker bass. It’s a relatively fast-paced tune, but it transitions smoothly to the softer…
“You by My Side” – A well-orchestrated piece that features a beautiful flute solo. The next song,
“Silently Falling” – I have already discussed, but I’ll mention the name again in case you forgot it! Squire then switches gears to the jazzier…
“Lucky Seven” – A tune which features the talented Mel Collins on alto sax. Squire shifts gears one more time before the grand finale…
“Safe (Canon Song)” – A majestic fifteen minute piece that deserves a spot among some of prog’s better epics.
Fish Out of Water is without question the finest solo album by a Yes member, and I would go so far to say it is one of the best prog albums of the early 1970s. Unlike the solo albums of other Yes members (Anderson and Howe, in particular), Fish Out of Water has a distinctive sound, and it has aged well. If you do not yet believe me, watch the promo video below:
MAGNIFICATION: Anderson’s Final Yes Album, 2001
Yes, MAGNIFICATION (Beyond, 2001).
I was only age 33 when Magnification first came into the world. Now, fifteen years later, as I approach age 49, I find myself marveling that this was the last Yes album released with Jon Anderson’s vocals. I’m by no means a Yes purist, but I certainly think of Anderson as synonymous with Yes. Regardless. . . how well has this album held up?
One of the great problems with mixing rock and classical music is the actual choice of traditionally classical instruments employed. When it comes to the staples of rock—bass, drums, and guitar—certain classical instruments work extremely well in accompaniment. Others, not at all, or rarely so. Generally—at least to my untrained ear—deep strings and woodwinds work best with the traditional instruments of rock.
Continue reading “MAGNIFICATION: Anderson’s Final Yes Album, 2001”
Bassworks: My Top 10 Chris Squire Bass Performances
Bass legend Chris Squire may be gone, but he is most definitely not forgotten. During the time we were lucky enough to have him in this life, Squire produced some of the most innovative and interesting bass work of any genre of music. Not content to simply keep time along with the drums, Squire put the bass guitar square in the center of the melodic discourse of Yes music, with a unique picked sound that was thick yet trebly.
Compiling a list like this is no easy task when you are dealing with the level of talent that Squire possessed. While there are a few in the list that I knew would be on here, paring it down to just ten was a difficult task. Of course, any list like this is going to be subjective and your mileage may vary. These, however, are my 10 favorite Squire performances.
Continue reading “Bassworks: My Top 10 Chris Squire Bass Performances”
Sympathy for The Syn
I totally love all the tracks on the cool new album from The Syn (some more than others), all of them, that is, except for the title track: “Trustworks.”
Well, I guess I have good instincts. As it turns out, apparently not much “trust” has been in the “works” among The Syn’s band members. Go read about their recent history over at The Progressive Aspect, which is quite comprehensive in the historical review that it offers preceding its album review. I guess I rightly sensed “baloney” ever since I first rolled at my eyes at the song.
Progarchy 