Yes, I had heaven

Last week I went to see Yes here in Madison at the Orpheum Theater. The band's stop here was part of their album series in which they play all of an album from their back catalogue. This time around it was Fragile's turn.

While many gripe that this isn't really Yes as neither Chris Squire nor Jon Anderson are present, I personally am enjoying this line-up. Jay Schellen has brought a new energy to the drums as Alan White was slowing down in his last days, presumably due to illness. And Billy Sherwood is reverent on the bass but not an imitator, although his sartorial taste is very Squire-esque. These guys have breathed new life into Yes.

The first set was odd. It featured three songs from Tormato and was very mellow in the middle with "Onward", "Madrigal", and "Soon" having been played in succession. I adore Tormato so it was neat to hear the trio from '78 but the mellower tunes slowed things down and the set only recovered on its last song, "Tempus Fugit".

They did play one song from their latest album, Mirror to the Sky, "Circles of Time". I think the title track is a near classic - Downes cedes too much of his role to an orchestra to reach classic status - and I love "Luminosity", but "Circles of Time" is the weak link. Not bad but it never quite gets there for me. Lastly, I'll note that, in a show filled with beautiful moments, "Wonderous Stories" was a few minutes of sheer bliss.

After the intermission the band came out and did Fragile in its entirety. I shall repeat what I said above: I am not enamored of these shows where a band plays an entire album from their glory days. Yes has so much great material that it's a shame that they limit themselves in this way rather than plunder a lengthy back catalogue and, in this case, give short shrift to some worthy new material. Still, it was fun. "Roundabout" got people moving including a couple women who abandoned their seats for the aisle and proceeded to cut a rug. "We Have Heaven" was just gorgeous and Schellen added some work on the toms to give the song a little muscle as it weaved its way to a conclusion. "South Side of the Sky" just rocked.

Finally, despite Steve Howe being seventy whatever, the man was an endless well of energy and joy. His playing was marvelous and he doesn't seem to have slowed down much. He went from electric guitar to pedal steel effortlessly and he propelled many a song onwards. (Ahem.) Long may he continue.

Not finally, I also want to say Geoff Downes continues to impress. Sometimes he's more of a utility player but, when he steps up front, it's glorious. Jon Davison has gotten better. He seems less restrained in his delivery these days, more confident. There's a lot of Jon Anderson to him but he has carved out his own niche in Yes and the band is better for it.

I hope they come around again and, seriously guys, play "Mirror to the Sky". Just as good an opener as "Siberian Khatru".