Yes (Budapest - Sportarena - 18.06.03)
Written by: Aleš Podbrežnik

Where to start? I had nine days up my sleeve. I was calculating a lot and checking for most suitable date to visit this band live on their current European tour. First interesting date was Stuttgart, but lately location has been changed and through map sites on internet I couldn't get sure confirmation where the hell is Messehalle, the other interesting and Ljubljana's closest thing was Munich (the only problem was that date was pushed in the middle of the week), then Savona (Italy) on 12. 7. 2003, very far but with date put on Saturday, so why not? Then my vision became clear. I thought to myself: "Why not Hungary? Man you are free, you have a plenty of time, go there, and take it easy!" And so it happened. As soon as it was officially confirmed that Rick rejoined the band I said to myself: "I'll be damned if I miss this opportunity!" My head was still full of tunes that came out of freshly reissued "Fragile". Peter was also ready to take some action and joined me in this serious travelling adventure.

We were crossing the border one day earlier, we wanted to camp somewhere near Lake of Balaton, but as we were driving by, we became cold blooded as we got the opportunity to see degraded lake's shore, nature was physically changed by man into his own safe artificial "garden". So we hit directly to Budapest, where we spent the rest of that day in searching for Youth Hostel that would be open. We were dying for a bed. I didn't care much about were to leave my car and about parking payment. Cops do neither and we were lucky about that through all three days. So, first thing in the morning on 18th of June was to find the best CD-store around. Peter got precious information about store's location where a lot of heavy metal stuff can be found. After that we filled our stomachs in Pizza Hut and time was closing in. Luckily we had a car and we could move in any square of Budapest we wanted with having in our minds Jon's advice "Don't surround yourself with yourself, move on back two squares!" Strange, but in three days of our journey we didn't find a single car with having a non-Hungarian car registration. Why are people still so afraid to visit former SSSR satellites? We felt so comfortable there. Food is delicious, people are nice, except - oh what a tragedy, that guy who didn't give Peter at least 10% discount on large amount of money he spent for his CD's, ridiculous but our lives are so puzzled with music.

Sportarena at 18,00. A huge hall that receives 13.000 people is really something that citizens of Budapest can be proud off. After we bought tickets (25€/person) and went out of Hungarian money, we took a metro drive back to centre of Budapest to change Euros. The only reason to take that action was because we usually expect a presence of band's official merchandise, but unfortunately this time there was none. So our metro drive was useless. But funny, things that happen are never useless. It was funny to see the two of us moving toward the hall, we looked like two lost sheep. One with Blind Guardian T-shirt and the other in Savatage sweeter mixed among the families that came to see the show. Are we really lost? Crowd was mainly consisted from older people, with the exception of a tall blond chick (she surely "lost" herself while searching the way to rave party) who was sneaking around Peter.

I was shocked. It was 19,30 and the hall was still almost empty (the gig should start at 20,00) but at 20,00 partier was fully crowded. Yes, gig really seamed as a family event. It was cosy filling and Sportarena, a safe place that convinced us that we would be able to focus strictly on music and to fully enjoy ourselves.

That, That Is, Igor Stravinksy's The Firebird Suite! An intro that raised the crowd up their feet! Siberian Khatru and here they are. Director Jon dressed as a tennis coach with distinctly his own Yoga gestures. Next to him stood a mountain man, dressed like musketeer who wave his Rickenbacker high in the air. Eternal fighter, this guy is strong spiritual soul that keeps fighting and resisting in ordinary world. Chris Squire! On Chris's left another tall, straight, long and nature blond hair guy fully surrounded with large stacks of keys, dressed in dark sparkling cape was standing maestro Rick. As soon as Rick is in the band, Yes begins to radiate amazingly strong self-confidence and unbreakable belief. Just think about composition like Mind Drive is. It was composed in mid-nineties, yet sounds like lost track from band's mid-seventies era. Welcome home Rick! Alan in knickerbockers completely colliding with music from first beat he punched. I was watching the impression on his face - as if he would find his sacred home ground. Powerful! This guy hits his kit with whole body movement. And of course, I must not forget Yogi Steve Howe, wearing glasses that perfectly suited his image. I see Steve as the most important media in Yes music. A real wizard, band's purest spirit and soul. Steve changed three different instruments (including his steel guitar) very quickly during the performance of Siberian Khatru. Rebirth of "Keys To Ascension" in front of me, I was still dreaming.

Band also promoted their last album "Magnification" and therefore continued with the self-titled title track. I was interested how Rick will replace the whole orchestra and I was amazed! How and from where he assembled that grand orchestra tunes?! How I dare to even think that Rick is not capable of that. He was simply spinning around his key-sets, yet looking very seriously all the time. He entered his home world and felt secure and very comfortable yet constantly focused on what the rest four guys were doing on stage. Steve took mandolin in his hand while Jon was breaking through opening verses of that song. These strong lyrics that are magnified through the power of these cosmic Yestunes are so convincible, so sincere and once you get the point what Jon tries to translate to the masses, it can help you find your own way as it is destined to be since your soul entered physical body. When you realize this, everything is love. It is all about love! Nothing can harm you, 'cause there is no fear left inside of you. You are free. This is a true magnification! Sorry, but this self-awareness of revelation is so strong.

Let us stick back to the point. Set list was a real surprise. It was really refreshing. First shock was rocking piece Don't Kill The Whale, a mini hit from "Tormato" album (1978) which I really didn't expect. I recently read one of Rick's interviews where he explained why he isn't happy with aforementioned record's sound. Band developed completely different climax when they continued with In The Presence Of. Opening intro theme was done extremely precise and this Yes ability to read each others mind's they've experienced allowed the five piece to perfectly collide together in that gentle floating rhythm theme which followed. This was rebirth of irreplaceable on-stage chemistry. Energy wasn't radiated only out of tunes they were letting to flow freely, but also from the physical media (stage performers). This strong energy was freely spreading from the stage and enlightened the whole hall. Crowd felt it and collided as one by entering those divine wings of Yesworld. After band finished mini epic, Jon replied to the crowd: "The power of your listening is so great!" And I truly understood him why.

"I wrote this song, well about thirty years ago and it goes like this!" recalled Jon. It was obvious that band really enjoys in performing such experimental pieces as We Have Heaven. Steve and Chris helped Jon in doing all that original vocal line samples. Someone might thought very seriously that Yes are fooling around if We Have Heaven wasn't followed by first highlight of that evening, South Side Of The Sky. In fact, at one moment when We Have Heaven was over, they stopped. Jon interrupted short lasting pause with: "A song speaks about climbing the mountains!" and that was it. As if Yes would knew, which Yes album I most respect. This was one of the highest peaks that very special evening that was floating far beyond the horizon!

The next "Close To The Edge" song was to follow. Another mini epic lesson And You And I. "We wrote this song thirty years ago!" continued Jon, "If you ask me which times were better for living, I'd chose presence. Thirty years ago we weren't allowed to play in Hungary!" were some of Jon's thoughts. There is no time, no space, only a media that provides vibrations which creates, recreates, and rearranges the shape of things and this world we built as a result of "touch, hear and see" ego principles is a grand illusion. Large aural pictures were projected on the back screen during the show and helped to create magic atmosphere.

Okay, I'm back on my realistic empiric scientific ground. Steve was the only one now who remained on stage. He took his folk guitar and set closer to the public. He tabbed To Be Over ("Relayer", 1974) and figured perfect acoustical version out of it. Mood took him completely in and this is the point where certain artist shines in all his sincere glory on stage. If I point out this fact, Steve is for me the most convincible guitarist I've ever heard. The show time continued further on with The Clap. Crowd clapped with hands through entire song. Steve thanked the audience and left the stage. Unfortunately, I don't understand not even one Hungarian word, but after Steve's solo, lights in the hall turned on. Climax that was built, that magic energy float between audience and band drifted away, while roadie showered the crowd with few Steve's guitar picks. It was strange. Three roadies ran the stage and checked instruments and equipments. As if something went wrong. By the way, during And You And I, Rick winked in direction of Steve's stage position several times. Was this a sign? Was guitarist maybe to loud for Rick's ears? I don't know. It sounded good to me. Even to good cause, I don't remember so incredible precise built sound. The closest thing to compare Yes sound with might be the opera. But after all my panic and wrong presumptions, that gig was shortly interrupted or even worse, that it might be over they turned off the lights and after long time (20 minutes) of waiting we were accompanied with Merrie Melodies music and Jon returned on stage. "That's not a right song!" he greeted the audience announcing his solo piece Show Me. He took his specially designed midi guitar with viola headstock and began his performance. At the closing session Rick joined him in carrying the atmosphere even higher by assembling the great background layer to Jon's song. But that was just Rick's warming up.

What followed was Rick's keys solo explosion. He also incorporated excerpts from "Six Wives Of Henry VIII". He was flying from one to another keyboard stack, playing two of them at the same time like a weird contortionist. That thunderous organ sound was incredible and really spine-tingling experience. I never had opportunity to feel the power of organ sound on such spontaneous way.

Now the band came with Heart Of The Sunrise. Jon started in the same fashion: "This song is very old, well about some thirty years I guess (audience and Jon made some huge laughs, 'cause Jon began to repeat himself)! Those were times when record companies didn't care much what the bands are doing. So we could freely compose whatever we loved or liked!" Now Chris came to play a centre role. He was jamming and firing with his bass tunes the hall and audience began to cooperate in higher gear. Long Distance Runaround was a following shorter piece, that is sang in lower tunes and people more or less easily joined to sing along. But rather do not try to imitate Jon, because you'll become voiceless. Hot footed Chris now made cuffs on his sleeves, 'cause he was preparing to offer the audience his party time. As Steve began to flick flageolets, the whole band entered in The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus) from album "Fragile" (1972). Chris was the leader and director here. As soon as Jon, Steve and Rick left the stage, Chris and Alan changed the motive that showed to be a main theme from Tempus Fugit ("Drama", 1980) and through On The Silent Wings Of Freedom ("Tormato", 1978) they ended this medley by returning back to The Fish main theme.

Now everything was set for the band to lead us through the final gates of delirium, but not with the same titled piece. Harp on stage could mean only one thing. The performance of Awaken ("Going For The One", 1976). Rick gently opens this track with his piano intro. After minute and a half, climax changes completely. Jon and Steve (with building great background sounds) are joining in. Now rhythm section enters. Fat bass licks, Alan high on his cymbals, now Steve begins with main theme and opens the gates for Jon to join in with his verses. Climax reaches its boiling point. Actually, this song is always something special. It is assembled on a way that provides plenty of room for each musician to explore inside his own space and freely chase tunes he wants. It captures amazing feel of eternal freedom. Obscured mid-section was surrounded by deep blue light. Artists seemed like black silhouettes on stage. Now Rick dictates the atmosphere. He dashes some Bach fashioned organ tunes, while the rest of the band built amazing rhythm background. I was shivering down my spine. At one point I thought that everything would die in hypnotic silence, than Jon interrupted it with his harp. Rick's key melody brought new light into song that came back to life. So many diverse moods are captured here. This song was an absolute highlight of the evening for me. And to see Yesguys how they love to play this song!

Yes returned on stage and blaze out The Roundabout ("Fragile", 1972). This "Yesgreen" really fired audience to began singing and twisting along with the band that was magnificently chasing sounds and tunes. Everybody in the hall were jamming on their feet and clapping hands. Where are songs from "The Yes Album" (1971)? For a great finale Starship Trooper was chosen to close the gig. Würm lasted real long and instead of its freezing nature it turned to be heavy rocking part of song. First Rick raised the climax once again, but on a higher level by adding a great keyboard solo that was followed by Steve's part too. But that was only the beginning. Both guys delivered amazing experience between guitar and keys cross fire on stage. We got a real extended portion of Würm, full of improvisation. And this was the end.

It was first time that I saw Yes live. And I just can't find enough words to express all my feelings that are still running through me. So precise and well-tuned, members are reading each other's minds, yet everything felt out to be so spontaneous. Teachers and gurus are forming perfect organism and musical body, unrepeatable in all senses of the word. These five sons of the Earth seem still so young. No "bad vibes" were allowed this time. I have in mind their trendy metalized-poppy era that was stretched mainly over eighties (don't get me wrong, I also like Rabin's era). This line up is the strongest formation for performing their self-composed material from seventies (or nineties where they found a way to recharge, reactivate and re-launch again). Set list was adapted to it. And that's what the meaning of name "Full Circle" (as their current tour is entitled), is all about. Let us hope that this is a new beginning for Rick and the rest of company, and that this line up will deliver another continuum of their fascinating tale.

Yes set list (18. 6. 2003, Budapest, Sportarena):

1. The Firebird Suite (intro)
2. Siberian Khatru
3. Magnification
4. Don't Kill The Whale
5. In The Presence Of
a. Deeper
b. Death Of Ego
c. True Beginner
6. We Have Heaven
7. South Side Of The Sky
8. And You And I
a. Cord Of Life
b. Eclipse
c. The Preacher The Teacher
d. Apocalypse
9. Steve Howe solo: To Be Over
The Clap
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 min. break
10. Jon Anderson solo: Show Me
11. Rick Wakeman solo
12. Heart Of The Sunrise
13. Long Distance Runaround
14. Chris Squire and Alan White solo: The Fish (Schindleria Praematurus)
Tempus Fugit
On The Silent Wings Of Freedom
15. Awaken
______________________________________________________ encore
16. The Roundabout
17. Starship Trooper
a. Life Seeker
b. Disilussion
c. Würm
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