Yes tore into Close to the Edge by playing it in reverse order, with the slashing opening riffs of “Siberian Khatru” kicking things off July 30, 2014, at Symphony Hall in Atlanta.
Syd Arthur – Magill, his brother Joel (bass, vocals), Raven Bush (violin, keyboards, mandolin), and Fred Rother (drums) – emerged out of Kent. Their post-millennial revision of classic British psychedelic music lead MOJO to proclaim them “Canterbury’s dazzling new sons.”
Howe hunched over his hollow-body Gibson like a mad wizard, conjuring fluid tones as his fingers ran rampant over the frets and strings. The band didn’t cheat with an abridged version of the title track, either. After a gorgeous reading of the tender “And You and I,” with Howe playing a slide guitar for the opening lines before retreating to the guitar slung over his shoulder, Yes made its way into the first major opus of the evening.
Below are the evening’s highlights:
The lights and video screens tease the excited audience.
Yes takes the stage and the crowd goes wild.
Geoff Downes looks onward and waits for his cue as Steve Howe plays.
The light show mesmerizes the sold-out crowd.
Jon Davison taps a tambourine as Yes veterans Alan White and Chris Squire keep the beat.
Bassist Chris Squire high-steps the low notes.
Yes awes the audience.
Jon Davison and Alan White feel the moment.
Steve Howe multitasks as Geoff Downes controls the keys.
Alan White does not skip a beat as Jon Davison engages the crowd.
Jon Davison’s vocals master classic Yes!
An epic ending …
Syd Arthur – Magill, his brother Joel (bass, vocals), Raven Bush (violin, keyboards, mandolin), and Fred Rother (drums) – emerged out of Kent. Their post-millennial revision of classic British psychedelic music lead MOJO to proclaim them “Canterbury’s dazzling new sons.”