YES recently kicked off its 2016 U.S. summer tour, billed as “The Album Series: Drama + Topographic 1 & 4.” The “Evening With Yes” shows begin with the 1980 album DRAMA performed in its entirety followed by sides one and four of 1973’s double album TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS as well as selections of the band’s greatest hits throughout. In a glowing review of last night’s Lynn, MA show, the Boston Globe’s Steve Smith said, “Where those album recitals proved the present Yes equal to mighty acts of reanimation, the band’s approach to canonical hits was equally commanding. ‘I’ve Seen All Good People’ and ‘Siberian Khatru’ closed the first set, ‘And You and I’ opened the second, and inevitably ‘Roundabout’ and ‘Starship Trooper’ arrived in the encore; this vital, hungry combo–not least a visibly animated [Steve] Howe–played it all with infectious gusto. Finding enduring fire even in thrice-familiar fare: it’s this, more than which players turn up or what songs they pick, that will ensure Yes’s staying power” (8/5/16).

Of the DRAMA set performed 7/28 in Northfield, OH, Greg Drugan from Neo Music Scene noted, “[The band] didn’t take a pause until the entire thirty-six minute album was flawlessly played.” (7/30/16). Tim Darbyshire from Progressive Music Review added, “After a rousing double encore of ‘Roundabout’ and ‘Starship Trooper’ the enthusiastic crowd left happy, knowing that once again YES had undoubtedly delivered” (8/4/16). See below for the tour’s set list.

Visually, YES has stepped up the production on this summer’s outing courtesy of video designer Andy Clark and lighting designer Don Weeks with multiple video feeds featuring Roger Dean imagery, from waterfalls and floating islands to topographic landscapes, bioluminescence, deep sea creatures, jellyfish, and marine life. The visual experience–which Michael Hujsa from The Valley Ledger described as “a stunning 20′ tall digital light display that illuminated the center to a cheerful crowd (8/1/16)–is capped by pyrotechnics at the climax to the “Ritual” crescendo.

The band’s annual summer tour continues through September 4 in San Diego. Tonight (8/5), YES stops in Wallingford, CT before making its way throughout New York and New Jersey next week hitting Westbury, NY (8/6), Staten Island, NY (8/9), Englewood, NJ (8/10), Port Chester, NY (8/12), Morristown, NJ (8/13) and Albany, NY (8/14). Throughout the remainder of the 28-date tour, YES will also stop in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, Saratoga, Reno and Paso Robles, with their Los Angeles date set for 8/30 at the Orpheum Theater downtown. See below for full list of summer tour dates and go to www.yesworld.com for ticketing information.

Guitarist Steve Howe recently spoke with Music Aficionado about the making of the band’s highly regarded album, Close To The Edge, featuring songs performed on this summer’s outing such as “And You And I” and “Siberian Khatru;” read it HERE.

In other related news, an expanded version of TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS featuring Steven Wilson Remixes will be released October 7 via 1 BluRay & 3 CDs or 2 DVDs & 2 CDs (each set is available now for pre-preorder at Amazon.com). The fifth in a series of expended YES editions includes 5.1 surround mixes, new stereo mixes and high-resolution stereo mixes of the original music as well as extra material. Both editions feature restored artwork overseen and approved by Roger Dean, with an expanded booklet containing new sleeve-notes, photos and archive material.

Set 1:
Machine Messiah
White Car
Does It Really Happen
Into the Lens
Run To The Light
Tempus Fugit
All Good People
Siberian Khatru

Set 2:
And You And I
The Revealing
Leaves Of Green
Ritual
Roundabout
Starship Trooper

 

 

Spend an evening with YES this summer in the following cities:
Fri 8/12 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theater
Sat 8/13 – Morristown, NJ – Mayo Performing Arts Center
Sun 8/14 – Albany, NY – The Egg
Tue 8/16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
Wed 8/17 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Fri 8/19 – Sterling Heights, MI – Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
Sat 8/20 – Chicago, IL -Copernicus Center
Sun 8/21 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
Wed 8/24 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Fri 8/26 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
Sat 8/27 – Las Vegas, NV -Downtown Las Vegas Events Center
Sun 8/28 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
Tue 8/30 – Los Angeles, CA -Orpheum Theater
Wed 8/31 – Saratoga, CA – The Mountain Winery
Fri 9/2 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
Sat 9/3 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Amphitheatre
Sun 9/4 – San Diego, CA – Humphreys Concerts By the Bay