Anderson, Bruford Wakeman & Ho

I have every live video of this band - no bragging, just perspective. Most of what I own is on laserdisc (remember laserdiscs?). This concert is the best live Yes video ever produced.

For a start, the performances are nothing short of inspired. Everyone is at the top of his game; Howe has never played better (rivals Yesshows). Wakeman is superhuman, but very tasty. Bruford is a joy to watch - his fluidity is hypnotic. And Anderson dances all over the stage like an elf (why doesn't he do that anymore?). The support musicians are also excellent (Jeff Berlin replaces an ill Tony Levin for this show).

Everyone is having so much fun, and the fun is really infectious.

This is a FULL LENGTH SHOW, not a "highlights" show like the Philadelphia disc. You get everything, including Anderson's vapid pre-show pay-per-view babbling (very amusing).

"Close To The Edge" crackles with an energy rarely seen. "And You And I" is most moving. Even the ABWH tracks sparkle and shine like diamonds.

All Yes concerts should be this good. Heck, all bands should be this good. Show it to your musician friends - if they aren't fans when you're done, there's no hope for them!

I have seen this VHS, and (like everyone else) am furious at the fact that the studios are no longer producing it. I own the CD and am still impressed with the mastery of all three instrumental solos at the beginning. This is the greatest concert I have ever seen - I honestly barely even noticed Squire's absence. If this DVD ever becomes available again, sign me up!

I also had this on VHS a decade or so ago and loved it so much the tape eventually wore out. I was devastated. It was my first chance to see the ABWH stuff live and although I love the album, seeing the creation of such complex music happen spontaneously in the moment was truly awe inspiring. No chance for overdubs, do-overs, or (God forbid) lip-synching. No second chances. No safety net. I don't think any other band could pull such a feat off so flawlessly or majestically. Themes, Order, Jon's medley, Birthright, Close, Steve's solo, Rick's solo... I sure wish I could buy it on DVD (or even VHS if I had to). I have the CD, but seeing it live gives an entirely deeper appreciation of the magnitude and precision of the event. The compositions are so complex and played so cleanly that it's always astounding to me that ANY group of musicians (magicians?) can manage to stay in tune, in time and in synch with each other in the midst of all that chaotically disguised structure and musical architecture.
It seems to be the general consensus of anyone who cares to share their opinion that this is one of (if not the) best live performances ever captured of this band (maybe any band) - in any era. I wonder why the mega-corporations that churn these DVDs out don't recognize this and give us what we all so desperately want? They deluge the market with drive-by artists that no one will remember or respect five years from now. Most are hard to respect now as their images and public personas are molded and shaped by high level executives who spend millions of dollars on target demographic studies to find out "what the kids want" and then mold their Britanys and Chingys to fit them. They also regurgitate new "live" videos of many of the same tired old bands that had one or two big hits back when, but have been stuck in the same rut, playing the same set lists and song renditions for decades without ever changing a note or trying out a new chord progression or growing musically in any other direction, but they won't recognize a band that has constantly evolved for over 30 yrs. and still continues to do so.
Enough with my rant. Also, enough with "documentaries" like Yesspeak (no disrespect), but give us some more live epic uncut footage (or spontaneous magic, if you prefer). PLEASE! Look at what Zeppelin did w/ their new double DVD. The audio remix sounds better than it probably did fifth row center and the re-mastered video looks cleaner, sharper, and better shot than most of the crap the music industry feeds us today. Let's recognize true genius and give it it's due.

I'll now discontinue my dramatic diatribe and hand the symbolic feather over to any of you who are still reading and have something to say. Thanks for listening.

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Ken
tenacken@yahoo.com

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