Written by: Bryan Farley

2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Yes played The Warfield in San Francisco this past weekend (Sept 1) and they were nothing short of spectacular.

Comprised of guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White, keyboardist Geoff Downes, singer Jon Davison, bassist Billy Sherwood and joined by Howe’s son Dylan also on drums, the legendary outfit who are currently in the midst of their 31-date North American Yestival tour, were in fine form.

Howe remains a deft player who possesses preternatural finesse; Downes is a true wonder and Davison hit the high notes with ease.

As with the entire Yestival tour, the band played one song from each on their first ten studio albums chronologically beginning with Yes (1969) and ending with Drama (1980).

“Survival” was cascading epic; “Yours Is No Disgrace” was full of fire and punch and “Machine Messiah” was sheer prog rock bliss.

The stage show was a swirling kaleidoscope of technicolor landscapes whose dizzying pyrotechnics matched the groove of the music perfectly.

“This year Roger Dean has again formed the foundation of our new stage show, which this year reintroduces lasers,” Downes said a few months ago in a press release heralding the tour. He went on to say: “Lasers and Yes are very happy bedfellows.”

Although the band has gone through lineup changes and the death of co-founding member Chris Squire, they remain a vital force and their back catalog serves as a reminder of their enduring legacy.

Set List:

Survival

Time And A Word

Yours Is No Disgrace

South Side Of The Sky

And You And I

Leaves Of Green

Soon

Going For The One

Don’t Kill The Whale

Machine Messiah

Madrigal

Roundabout

Drama