Rockezine.com concert review for Yes on Nov 21, 2001 in the Heineken Music Hall/Amsterdam Zuidoost

Nov 21, 2001

One week Transatlantic, YES in the next...life sometimes can`t get any better. As part of the `Yessymphonic Tour` this 33 year old Rock institute moved in at the Heineken Music Hall for two days with the second date being recorded for a future DVD release.

With the beautiful album called `Magnification` added recently to their huge and impressive catalogue, YES took on the challenge and decided to feature an orchestra as well on the tour. For the last 6 weeks the honour fell to the European Festival Orchestra from Poland with Wilhelm Keitel conducting. The EFO is a young but eager group, the enjoyment of playing with Yes was very well noticeable by the look on their faces, their clapping, singing and even dancing on stage during the encore `Roundabout` at the second night. Extra nice was the fact that a group (about20) of 20 year old girls is also very nice to look at, ahum.

So what about the music? Die hard fans were sayng that it was the best show (2nd) they ever saw and I think I agree with that. During the first night the orchestra parts were a bit low in volume but the 2nd night totally made up for that. After the orchestral opening drummer Alan White counts the band in to `Close To The Edge` one of many Yes epics.

With Jon Anderson on his percussion and little keyboard island, Steve Howe concentrated to the max, `amazing bassman` Chris Squire rumbling and session keyboardplayer Tom Brislin the band was on fire from scratch and the fire never ceased! Jon Anderson`s voice, 57 years old, is out of this world, un-be-liev-able...

Especially the songs that everybody were waiting for: `Gates Of Delirium` and `Ritual (Nous Sommes Du Soleil)` were performed in such manner that it was pure magic, I`m getting goosebumps while I`m writing these words, talk about an aftermath! But also the more regular songs in the set like `And You And I`, `Your Move (All Good People)` and ` Long Distance Runaround` were amazing.

The three new songs `Don`t Go`, `In The Presence Of` and the recently added `Magnification` made it clear that the songwriting spirit and skill of Yes is still very strong and that is actually making them the best Progressive band ever in my opinion.

On the second night even `Owner Of A Lonely Heart` got played, a rare thing these days as Steve Howe doesn`t like playing it, a fact that was very much noticable on the first night; when the band returned for an encore Chris Squire thought they were going to `Owner...` as well but Steve Howe started `Roundabout` instead...the song started but Chris stopped yelling "No, NO!!" As Steve didn`t react he took off his `Owner` bass, walked to the side to get his `Roundabout` guitar and gave in...

during the keyboard solo Squire walked up to Tom Brislin and when he was near Howe he yelled "Wanker!" at him. Funny moment, they ARE musicians and things like this can still happen in a band, no matter if you are Yes or Funky Granny from down the street at the youth center.

So in conclusion the one conclusion: Yes rules...it`s simple...yes.

(Review & Pics: Winston Arntz)