Setlists and Tour Reviews
| Rio Setlist Further Rio Comments Yes Meeting in Sao Paulo Review of Rio Concert Amazing Night of Yes Music Brazil Show Amazing Night of Yes Music -Part II Another Great Review |
This was the set list for the RIO show
here it goes:
Yours Is No Disgrace
New Language
Nine Voices
Perpetual Change
Lightning Strikes
Home World
It Will Be A Good Day
Hearts
Owner Of A Lonely Heart
If Only You Knew
Awaken
Roundabout
To Feel Alive
All Good People
Long Distance Runaround
no solos...we already know they can play their instruments
To follow, further details of the Yes show in Rio de Janeiro
No Firebird Suite opening
No solos
Steve looked inspired, concentrated, and the happiest man on earth - even talkative!
In a couple of moments between songs, Jon sang parts of Time and a Word and Soon along with the audience, without the band!
Jon also recited (yes, recited, not sang) for the audience some parts of CTTE.
It seems the second encore was not planned, but as the audience didn't move from the place, the guys came back to play LDR.
We'll keep posting,
Guillermo
We (brazilian fans) are going to the hotel to wait for Yes, they are coming to Sao Paulo right now... we're planning a Yesmeeting with the guys of the band. I told you later.
Regards,
Jon
South American Khatru
www.sak.com.br
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The Meeting with Yes
From: Jon Affonson - Sept. 8
[Guillermo wrote: "According to our Brazilian friends' report, the opener was the 'Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra', same as ABWH tour."]
The person that said to me it was Young Person's is Alan =
White :-))) Alan was very very kind yesterday, chating for about 2 hours... he told us everything we asked him... very very kind... Billy too... Igor too... Jane was beside Jon all the time, so he was breve, but kind, signed for everybody, kissed my baby, gentleman... Steve signed all T-shirts and Covers that appeared in front of him, and when the pictures began, Steve ranaway... smiling all the time... Chris was not good, I think... didn't come to the restaurant... he didn't speak to us...
This other e-mail title could be " Stop saying all that crap about the band", because I just see that a lot of people here
dislike their new set list, and I have one thing to say: I was at the show today and before the start of it, I saw the roadie put the set list on the floor, and I had just one person between me and the stage. I asked the guy to see Squire's list -you have an idea how close I was!!!! - He said to me: " I don't want to
know, I prefer the surprise." I realized right there he was was right. The first thing to say about the show is that this band is really a winner team. The Open Your Eyes album was the beginning of it, and now they are the 21stCentury Yes. A band every fan should be really PROUD of. One sugestion to you: Go to the concert.
SETLIST:
Yours Is No Disgrace
New song
New song . Both Great! Don't know the name
Perpetual Change
.....don't remember the right order from now on............
Homeworld - Beautiful
Nine Voices.......i'm not sure about the name of this song from the new album, but is a short vocal oriented piece where Squire played only his "in the chest" bass pedal. That one he pulls of his lower bass frequencies. In this he is only playing the pedals and singing, with no bass guitar at hands.
Owner Of A Lonely Heart
Roundabout
Awaken - the best one to me,
Hearts - Wonderful
I've Seen All Good People
Long Distance Runaround - this is burning!!!!!
Lightining Strikes
.......and they played one or two other new songs, I don't remember, since I don't know them......but I remember it had really beautiful vocal parts from Jon.
I think this is their best world tour since the Union....and what I can say is that they were really very happy to be there
playing live again.
Everyone in the band had a smiling face, and that said, the magic is there. Even Steve, who in the last year show in Rio, didn't
seemed very happy, was having fun, and was giving us his famous jumps and other strange-but-cool body movements we know.....
The band and the audience really helped each other out today. The band passed their geat performance, then the audience returned with entusiasm and love for the band - as brazilians do, and in
response they were getting more and more excited that you could see the joy in everyone's face! Between the songs Jon sang little parts of songs like Time and a Word, Soon, Hearts and others, and the audience sometimes joined him singing, and
I say sometimes, because he sang some of these little parts very diferent than the original.( Close to the edge sounded like a
Rap). Very cool. Even a Rap feel - wich I think is poor - gets exciting done by the genius of Jon. But these parts were just little pieces -like 20 or 30 sec.- to Jon interact with the audience. And it seemed to work very well. Kudos to Jon!
Billy really is the surprise. The new songs have him working very well and now he's interplaying with the others and not just a
simple base. Actually, there's a new song were he is does the
leadguitar work. Which again I think will again upset these rebels without a cause fans! I really liked this part. Very good work, and tasteful, as Yes should be. Can't wait to listen that on the new CD!
I loved Igor in the Awaken slow movement - the part Jon plays the harp - very tasteful sounds and phrases.
Chris was superb. The best in Stage Perfomance. It's incredible to see him singing playing the bass and the pedals all at the
same time. His playing is so clever that amazes any musician in
the world. breathtaking stage performance + Genius playing =
Chris Squire
Jon particulary shine when he sings the quiet parts, where the volume is low and the sweetness of his voice is increased. Like
the voice of an angel.
......and then Alan White. This Guy Rules. He's the king of solid playing. When we talk about solid playing, people associate
this with "playing without creative" And that's because Alan is great. He have tons of it. I just ca'n believe the power of the grooves: Awaken is stronger than ever. Lighting Strikes have a very simple patern, almost like a dance, but Alan Make it Rock. All the new songs have all the qualities we could expect from
Alan great parts and the greatests fills. Alan was great. And I would sugest him to play forever on stage with that Slver Tissue Shirt!! What is it made of. I want one for me too!!!!!!
Yes, they didn't do solos. I wanted it? Of Course. Especially Alan, but it was a blessed night for everybody, and I'll get upset because they did or didn't play this or that? Of course not! I just loved what I saw - and heard !
A little curious thing:
........ in the end of the show, when the roadies were tearing down everything, and almost everybody has gone, Igor and Billy apeared on the edge of the stage to give autographs and talk to
people. I was really impressed at the kind person Billy is. I already have had a great impression of him in the show, and he surprises me as a gentle person too. When I was waiting for my autograph, a stupid guy give a sheet of paper to Billy, and when he was going to write in it, the guy said: - No, no, I want Chris to autograph!!! Billy simply put the paper down and smiling
attended another fan, like it didn't hapen.....
Congratulations again Billy.
That's it. now I'm really tired, and I'm going to sleep. I just wanted to pass my feelings today 'cause they are fresh. It
seemed that the band realised that they would be playing to the same people just one year after so they made a complete change in their set list. And I loved it! Maybe tomorrow I write more about that.
Say what you think!!!
Bruno Cepas
ps- I have to wait until Wednesday to see the 48 pictures I took at the show, because Today is the Brasilian Independence day,
and there's nothing opened!!
I arrived right now from the hotel... I finally found Chris at best mood...Alan, Igor and Billy very kind again... Jon with Jane, no way for chat... Howe did like Beatles, said Hello, Goodbye... Amazing Show... they played America!!!
Awaken was a really daydream...
I'll try a setlist, but some mistakes may occur...
Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
Yours Is No Disgrace - Very very good... Steve very happy...
America - Steve again...
New Language
Lightning Strikes - Better live...
Perpetual Change - Brilliant - Steve's night...
Homeworld - PERFECT, this came the venue down...
It Will Be A Good Day - a little cold...
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Howe did the same solo of last year...
Hearts - Howe left and came several times for playing little solos in the Fender Steel...
Awaken - Oh! Jesus, the highest point of the night...
Nine Voices - not so beatiful as Your Move, but OK...
Roundabout - Everybody sang along...
Encore:
To Feel Alive - EVERYBODY SINGING ALONG, FOR JON'S SURPRISE...
I've Seen All Good People... very good... Howe danced a lot...
Jon sang alone very little excerpts of Yesmusics from time to time... I remember of Sweet Dreams, CTTE, AYAI, TaaW, Ritual and maybe something more...
At the both sides of the stage there was one big illuminated stick within the six The Ladder's Cover Symbols... at the center of stage, on Jon's back, there was a little one with the same symbols... Alan and Billy told me :-) that those symbols referred to the Game Homeworld, and there is one symbol for each Yesman.
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From Guillermo
Buenos Aires - Argentina
Yesterday [Steve] didn't leave the stage on Owner of... He started the music, Billy made the basis and middle solo, and Steve finished it, like on OYE Tour... When Owner finished, Steve left the stage (maybe for a rest... remember, no solos, no rest), the band started playing Hearts, but at "One Heart's for love..." part on, Steve cameback a few times and made solos on Steel
Guitar... he seemed not pleased playing this, but one time he danced beside the stage hearing Hearts... I think that is very normal Steve not to like these, and I think he is the most opened guy, because Jon and Chris problably never will play songs much better than Owner, IMHO, like Machine Messiah or Order of the Universe...
Steve left for a while during Hearts, but remained on a side of the stage, balancing his head to the rhythm and following the lyrics with his lips. Then he came in again and made a couple of solos with steel guitar. According to the reports, Billy has a noticeable participation in the new songs. Not just backing. Some of the new songs have arrangements for two guitars and Billy has some solos. Steve takes the lead, and Billy intertwines his solos with Steve's.
Since not too many on SS speak Portuguese or subscribe to the South American Yes list, I'm going to do a real quick translation of one of the accounts of the Rio show that are being posted on the South American Yes-list, in case people want a more detailed account of the show than simply the set list. If you don't want to hear about the show, this is your SPOILER WARNING. Stop
reading now....
From: Sergio Valladao Ferraz [svferraz@receita.fazenda.gov.br]
Only now am I in front of a computer to express a bit of the YESEXPERIENCE in Canecao [the show's venue] on the 6th of Sept.
I got to Canecao at 6PM and to my surprise there were already three people in line. Soon we heard the drums inside. It was the sound check! My brother thought he heard Parallels. Excitation!! But I clearly heard Awaken! Then, a new song.... The sound check only ended near 9PM. A guy with a tie on came to tell the line, which had gotten long, that customs had only freed up the instruments at 5PM. If only *I* worked in the airport... For sure this was the fault of the Brasilian producers -- they must have neglected to take care of some official requirement.
Everybody was saying that Canecao didn't have decent publicity. That afternoon, in a great record store, a huge fan found out from me that there was a Yes show that very day. At 7PM there he was at Canecao! Anyway, what a weak venue, this Canecao. That was THE ONLY negative point about the show. Small, with an ugly stage, and bad sound. Bogus. You could barely hear the keys. Like last year, Howe had some problems with his equipment (but only at
the beginning of the show). Bottom line: it would have been a perfect show if it had been in the Metropolitan [another venue].
At 9PM, when they opened the doors, I ran in like a little kid and grabbed a spot on the railing right in front of Jon's mike. Igor and Billy were still on the stage and, to my great surprise, I see Jon! He turns around and, the next second, says the most friendly "hello" in the world, and then returns to his instruments....
The opening music was "A Young Person's Guide...." Chris then came on stage in a kind of grunge shirt with his biceps on display. Really nice, he was too "cool." The others looked the same as usual. And they started playing YIND. Total delirium in the audience!!! It's one of YES's best and over the years it was my favorite! It was a dream to hear this music live for the
first time. The heaviness of the bass and the light-speed perfection of Steve. He played a green guitar, Les Paul, with an incredible tone, which left no one longing for the 175. And the crowd sang along with Jon, "If the summer change to winter...."
They then played a new one, very lovely. I'll give an impression of the new songs, since I had not heard any of them before and don't know the names of all of them (I don't have a sound card). Howeworld is destined to be a great classic, something like Mind Drive but half as long. A mixture of grace and beauty with strength and "claws." It's Yes with one foot straight into the
next millennium! (We can agree that OYE was a nightmare!) It's strange to comment on the new songs, having only heard them once. But Nine Voices is pretty! To Feel Alive is somewhat influenced by reggae, I think. The audience was able to pick up a chorus which they hadn't even heard before. I think they tried to compose something similar (and not recherche like the majority of YESSOUND), popular and simple, but maintaining quality. But I
will only have a conclusive answer about the new songs after a number of listens, once the CD is out. In general, my impression of the new songs was very good.
In between almost all the songs, Jon would kind of sing bits of songs without the rest of the band, but with the audience as his chorus. First Survival. I thought they were going to play the whole song, before I picked up that it was just a "snatch" that he was doing as a fill-in. Then, Time and a Word. During the show, he sang bits of Nous Sommes, CTTE, and others, between complete songs with the band. It was PURE EMOTION! Incredible to
hear and sing in unison parts of these songs. Jon was emitting angelic energy, magic, and total tranquillity. In the 70s, he was very concentrated, serious, he was determined to be perfect. He produced THE great classics of world music, IMHO. And he said back then: We won't tender our song clearer, till we sail, and I will be there!!! In the 70s, he worked hard, he made a huge effort. They were workaholics. Now, his singing is more laid-back, clearer. He doesn't need as much work and effort. Earthmotherearth: Now that I know!!! NOW THAT I KNOW!!! Now, he's living in a more sublime and subtle world. I love JA!!!!
Then Perpetual Change!!!! Simply incredible! Perfect. The only thing missing was Bill. But it's an honor for me to be able to hear this song live for the first time in 28 years. Suddenly, they began Hearts. It was a cold bath! In 1998, as Ed said, they played some songs that wouldn't kill anybody with their power. This tour, the new songs play that role. OK, I adore Hearts.
But it was TOTALLY DISPENSIBLE. Ed pointed out that this song is Rabin's, not Howe's. And indeed, when the song began, the Skull [this is the South Amer fans' mostly affectionate nickname for Howe] left the stage and only returned after four minutes, and only played a very little bit, at the end.
Jon began to sing OOALH without the band and I said, happily: They won't play the whole thing!!! Pure illusion on my part.... We had to hear it, one more time. Yes, I adore that song, like Hearts. I simply feel that in playing those two songs they leave no space for TGOD, TBO, CTTE, SSOTS, ToC, Parallels, and many many many others. But the setlist, if you look at it rationally, was excellent, except Hearts. Beacuse it takes Yes into their
new repertoire. The only problem is that we haven't heard the record yet. They should have released the CD in Brasil before touring! But this doesn't erase the happiness we felt that they were here!!! For sure, they will play even better in Sao Paulo. I'll be at the show on Thursday.
Awaken... I simply felt like an Indian praying to the moon! An energy that was very ancestral, primitive, basic!!! A dream of the Earth! The world is marvelous! It was perfect! The band was really in gear!!!!!! Howe with the happiness and enthusiasm he always had, which have permeated his whole career and which, unfortunately, we didn't see when they toured here last
year. For sure, he had some kind of problem last year... This time, he kicked ass!!!! He got down!!! HE EVEN GOT CLOSE TO CHRIS!!!!! He hugged Anderson! And he didn't get in a bad mood even when his equipment failed or when some trashy guy threw a glass that smashed in pieces right in front of him. He smiled a lot, made a skull face, and even yelled THANK YOU at the end of the show!!!
Chris is the same "holy monster" as ever. Listening to his records, anyone can see he is the greatest bassist of all time. But when they see him live, EVERYBODY KNOWS FOR SURE THAT HE'S THE GREATEST!!! Stage presence that would please even YES's worst critic.
Alan, at his age, has lost a good deal of his strength and agility, without gaining any additional creativity. I really like him, but at his age he has lost of lot of his ability from the 70s, which began to disappear with 90125. Even so, he really beats the drums and doesn't run out of breath.
Roundabout and ISAGP, even though they always get played, should ALWAYS get played. These versions are the GREATEST. Howe shines!!! Instead of Hearts, they should have done AYAI which, like Roundabout and ISAGP, should ALWAYS be played. When the show seemed like it was over, and the crew were already unplugging equipment, NOBODY WOULD LEAVE!!! NOBODY WOULD LEAVE!!! The energy was incredible!!! I'll never forget this show for the rest of my life, but THIS was the high point. Down came the tears, when JON came back and grabbed the mike. The look on his face mirrored the looks on ours!!! All it took was "Long Distance" and Canecao sang the whole song.... Jon was in the clouds... with us!
They did some Soon too, which we sang almost all of. This moment was the NIRVANA, BECAUSE SOON IS THE MOST IMMACULATE MOMENT OF JON'S CAREER. IT'S PURE ENERGY, TANTRIC, AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE!!!!! The tears rolled.... Jon whispered something to Chris, who said K. They started LDR. THIS ENCORE WAS SIMPLY THE MOST INCREDIBLE MOMENT OF ALL MY EXPERIENCE WITH YES!!!! And for sure no one has the ability to express in words what I felt.
In a general way, maybe the 1998 show was better -- better sound, better setlist, a real gift. But the encore to the new show puts all of that in the shade!! Mr. Billy Niceguy is dispensable in the music and on stage, but he's a nice enough guy. IGOR is a master of the keys!! I hope to be able to hear him better at the Sao Paulo show.
Again I arrived right now from the hotel... Chris very king again... Alan, Igor and Billy too, as always... Jon with Jane, no way for chat again... Howe? I didn't see him ... What a great Show!!! The best of two...
The setlist...
Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra
Yours Is No Disgrace
America
Lightning Strikes
New Language - What a introduction!!!
Perpetual Change
Homeworld
THE CLAP - Wow... Howe was very happy, and did a little spanish piece in the middle of Clap... people didn't stop the "claping" one second... he finally said something, he actually screamed something: "Thank you very much"...
Jon introduced him as "an incredible guitar player"...
It Will Be A Good Day - it seemed better today... a good Howe solo at the end...
Owner of a Lonely Heart - Billy did it very good today... Howe was superb at the end...
Hearts - Wow... who said something about two guitars? Howe left the stage at the end of Owner, but cameback in Hearts since "One heart's for love..." to the end... he did an incredible slide solo!!! VERY VERY GOOD!!!
Nine Voices - It is so much similar to Your Move... but beautiful...
Awaken - I always though that Awaken would be great alive, but it is too much!!! When Jon hangs up the harp... wow!!!
Roundabout
Encore:
To Feel Alive - EVERYBODY SINGING THE "YE-YE" PART BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF THE MUSIC...
I've Seen All Good People - in the two days a different intro, with Jon singing and Chris playing like in the middle of the music, and then Howe's Vachalia...
Jon sang alone again some little excerpts of Yesmusics... I
remember of CTTE, TaaW and Ritual... he also sang a few times "So Paulo, TeAmo" what means "So Paulo, I Love You"... and some traditional So Paulo's songs... ah! yesterday he sang in America: "So Paulo seems like a dream to me now"... he said that was a pleasure begin tour in Brazil, that they were very pleased for us to sing in the new songs that we never heard before...said that tour will follow until 2000... and SAID THAT THEY WILL COMEBACK
TO BRASIL IN 2001... THANKS JON! YOU'RE THE GUY... YOU WILL ALWAYS WELCOME HERE IN BRAZIL...
This review was posted by a friend of mine in South American list...
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From: Ricardo Matsushima Teixeira [ricmt@zip.net]
Here goes my review... I think it applies for both days...
I'll try to write down my impressions on the shows and on the meetings we had with the guys that just happened here in Sao Paulo last Wednesday and Thursday. It all began on the Tuesday, when we was told by the Yes tour management in Brazil that they'd be arriving here in the afternoon and would be hosted at The Maksoud Plaza (http://www.maksoud.com.br) Hotel. We rapidly got the information spread and planned a reunion just in the Maksoud
Hotel's Bar. The guys arrived, we let them check in comfortably and just told them that we were in the bar outside the lobby and we'd like very much to talk to them.
Moments later, we were dinking beer with Richard (Chris' technician for years), Ron Matthews (Steve's technician), Igor (got a few extra pounds from OYE tour, didn't you, Igor?!?), Billy (lost a few pounds from OYE tour, didn't Billy?!?) and Alan. All the guys were very receptive and we talked to them for hours about Yes, World Trade, Bootlegs, Brazil, Comics, Seattle,
Boston, Sao Paulo, Games, Microsoft, Penthouse Videos, etc., etc. Lots of photos and signing sessions. We even met Steve that didn't want to take pictures, but was very friendly and kind, talking to us and signing tons of covers and tees. Jon was quite tired and, along with Jane (true soulmate, and true beauty!) got quickly to the apartment, after a few autographs.
The setlists for the shows have already been provided, so I'm just telling you the way I felt attending those two concerts here in Sao Paulo.
Steve howe is very happy this year, playing with joy, dancing and jumping on the stage! Didn't bring his favourite Gibson ES175D, he used a Les Paul instead when needed.
Jon Anderson is singing beautifully, as ever. His voice is still clean and he's still performing flawlessly. The new material has powerful vocal parts, noticeably using all backing vocals capabilities from Billy, Chris, Steve and Igor.
Chris is always a star on the stage. Walking around, looking the audience in-the-eye, playing at his best. Brought his Rickenbackers, his Tobias, his Green 'CS' Meridien bass (used on Homeworld and Lightning Strikes) and many other basses. Of course, the triple-neck bass for Awaken is included!! It's
astonishing Chris' concentration and focusing when he's playing Awaken...He stops all the joking and playing with the audience to play that piece!!
Igor, who came to the stage on pajamas on the Wednesday (his clothes really looked like pajamas to us!) increased the number of keybs onstage from four on the OYE tour to _nine_ this tour! The Yamaha ANX-1 is still there and I think the Nord Lead was there also... He did great playing, missed some parts of Awaken on the first day (maybe he was a little drowsy because of the pajamas) but he did a great job on the whole. He was perfect on the Thursday, wearing a loose blue shirt and a pair of stretched black pants.
Alan did a good job, his playing is still very precise and he also played some assorted percussion on Awaken and Nine Voices.
Billy is gaining his own space on the band... Did a great job on the new songs, that all seem to have arrangements for two guitars. Replaced Trevor Rabin on vocals and guitars quite well on Owner and Hearts. Played a lot of different guitars (all Carvins!! How many Carvin guitars do you have, Billy?!?! heheh...) some of them 12-string.
Overall, Thursday performance's been better because of the better sound adjustment and less technical problems (no feedbacks on Thursday) and of course, there was "The Clap" on Thursday! Coincidence or not, the day before, one of our guys, Darcio, gifted Steve with a t-shirt with a beautiful picture printed on it, named "The Clap"... Magical days...-- Ricardo.
South American Khatru Webmaster http://www.sak.com.br