Yes @ RAH
It was sometime last year that my brother, Neill, asked if I wanted to go and see Yes at the Royal Albert Hall.
I of course said YES!
As it was a Tuesday evening I knew Claire wouldn't want to accompany me, and Neill's significant other wasn't fussed, so it was just two middle aged prog-ists that joined the audience.
And we were far from the oldest rockers in the room. But not far from the youngest! There were a few young 'uns.
Neill and I are pre-Buggles Yes fans and spa concert playing two albums in full plus "hits" was going to be challenging.
A couple of pints of 1730 Pale Ale and a pulled pork baguette in the Hoop and Toy pub (http://www.taylor-walker.co.uk/pub/hoop-and-toy-kensington/c3067/menu/) beforehand helped.
The support act was a Swedish prog rock band. Mere boys but excellent singers. In true prog style the twiddled seemingly without an end for a while...
Moon Safari - http://www.moonsafari.se/
They ended with an acapella version of a Chris Squire number. Very well sung.
Then followed a short tribute to Chris. A solo artist but the bass player for Yes for over 35 years, who died last year.
Then Yes took to the stage.
The current line-up features Steve Howe on lead guitar and Alan White on drums ably supported by ex-Buggles keyboardist Geoff Downes, with Jon Davison picking up Jon Anderson's vocals and lastly, Billy Sherwood on bass.
Drama. A post Buggles album that I never bought and couldn't recognise anything from. Not bad but the audience liked it; some rather overly I thought.
The last track they were joined by Trevor Horn. Big ovation and still wearing "Video killed the Radio Star" specs.
For me the best was the second half "Real" Yes from the 70's. Fragile and "hits" from Topographic Oceans and earlier stuff from Time and a Word.
Excellent stuff.
Ending with Starship Trooper. Proper Yes.
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