I wrote the following Yes concert review in April 2012. Only half the article made it on to FY at the time, so here is the complete piece...

43 years, 8 months, and 1 day since their debut gig, YES finally played their first ever concert in New Zealand! Way back in 1973, they had been pencilled in to perform here on the 'Close to the Edge' tour, but it never eventuated -- although Australia did get included that time (and again in 2003 -- check out Brian Draper's 'YES in Australia' book for much more great reading about that). Since the 70s, many albums and tours followed, dozens of line-up changes occurred, capes and beards came and went, hair receded or turned grey... but still Kiwi YES fans had not been honoured with a visit by the band to our shores. The die-hards resorted to travelling the world to catch YES live wherever they could. When a concert date in Auckland was announced for 1st of April 2012, many thought it was some kind of elaborate April Fool's joke. Thankfully, the NZ YES show announcement turned out to be true!

Rock historians sharpened their quills in anticipation -- not only due to it being the debut appearance of YES in "The Land of the Long White Cloud", but it would also be their first performance with new singer, Jon Davison. The history of this band is almost as complex as their music, with many twists and turns, highs and lows, resignations and firings... but stalwart founding member, bassist / vocalist Chris Squire has remained "keeper of the flame". A few years ago when original singer Jon Anderson drifted away from the group (due to serious health issues and resistance to touring), it was either get someone else in, or call it a day. The latter was not really an option for Squire or hard-working Steve Howe (somebody give him a "greatest guitarist on the planet" award) so the group controversially drafted in Benoit David, from a tribute band spotted on YouTube. Benoit's time with YES was notable for his contribution to their excellent Trevor Horn produced 'Fly From Here' album, which broke their ten year studio release drought. He sang well with them for two tours as well, but alas, by the end of their 2011 jaunt, his voice had cracked with the strain of trying to replicate Anderson's alto-tenor. Quick action resulted in the recruitment of another "tribute" vocalist found on YouTube; Jon Davison (of Glass Hammer) so the band knuckled down for a few rehearsals with him before the already scheduled dates in 2012. The conveniently named singer also forced the "No Jon, No Yes" brigade to bite their tongues. As is usually the case with YES, the change did the band some good -- which brings us to the Auckland concert...

The audience of roundabout 1,200 patiently waited. Not only had the original 7:30 start time been knocked back to 8 p.m. but daylight saving had changed over, making it seem that everything was one hour behind. (Although this did ensure that the perpetually late Squire got to the venue on time). At last there was music to the ears -- strains of Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" grew in volume as the auditorium lights dimmed. What followed was quite astonishing.

The 13-minute, yet timeless "Yours is No Disgrace" from 'The Yes Album' set the very high standard for the evening, with signature, adventurous arrangements and incredible guitar histrionics from Steve Howe, who was already being worshipped by many in the front rows... "Steeeeeve!" The punchy, concise "Tempus Fugit" followed, full of jaw-dropping bass runs, super-tight structure and rhythm. Squire, Howe, White, and Downes are all on 'Drama', the 1980 album it is taken from -- it would have been awesome if they played "Machine Messiah" too! "Your Move / All Good People" was next, winning the crowd over completely, as it has done at every YES concert since 1970! A favourite from the 'Fly From Here' album, "Life on a Film Set" was delivered with perfect precision, and then it was time for Mr. Howe to display his consummate skills on acoustic, with "Solitaire" and his brilliant showpiece "Clap". The only ingredient noticeably missing from "And You and I" was Rick Wakeman's unique keyboard flourishes, but it was still a great rendition. Being such a grand, trademark YES piece, it is one that most would be expecting to hear. Geoff Downes has a different style, but has remarkable expertise on the keys. He really shone on the new material, especially the epic "Fly From Here" suite which started the second set. Being over 20 minutes long and containing multiple weird time signatures (such as the squiggly "Bumpy Ride" section) it may have tested the attention span of some of the crowd. Come on newbies, pull your prog socks up -- UK audiences in December 1973 were left to sink or swim when YES played the entire 'Tales From Topographic Oceans' double LP live -- before it was even released!

Big ups to YES for performing most of the new album and not resting on their laurels like some nostalgia act. "Into the Storm" also had a whole new dimension to the studio version, with amazing instrumental interplay fleshing out the extended ending. "Wonderous Stories" was a real highlight, capturing the spirit of the original classic from 'Going for the One'. It was probably when "Heart of the Sunrise" kicked in that many realised just how mega powerful YES still are as a rock band. Squire's resounding Rickenbacker set the scene and YES magic ensued -- startling stuff! Alan White may not have all of the youthful energy and precision that he did on the 'Relayer' tour, but for a 63-year-old jet-lagged musician playing a very demanding 150 minute live set, his effort was phenomenal enough. (All you drummers out there -- just try playing "Heart of the Sunrise" once). The hit single from Trevor Rabin 80s era YES, "Owner of a Lonely Heart" seemed surplus to requirements, but Howe graciously delivered his interpretation on guitar, and the band rocked out for the ending. He saved his best playing for the "Wurm" section of "Starship Trooper", which was met with ecstatic response. Downes delivered a spectacular solo on his portable "keytar", Howe took the level up a few more notches on his Gibson ES175D and all four of the front line presented their "axes" in unison -- an ultimate prog moment! Rapturous applause greeted the band most of the evening but now the Auckland crowd was wildly enthusiastic, demanding an encore or ten. Yes responded with their 1971 chestnut "Roundabout" from 'Fragile'. At first there were no bass sounds emanating, so Howe led a loose jam while Chris Squire sorted out the problem. After a couple of minutes, Squire discovered it was simply a foot-switch had not been engaged and they powered back to start the song again.

If this first concert is anything to go by, Jon Davison has a very happy, exciting future with YES. He impressed everybody with his beautiful singing, hitting every note with ease, while exuding confidence and stage presence. The band played as a super-charged unit, full of energy and enthusiasm, clearly having a great time. Thanks for making the extra effort to get to New Zealand this time guys. Come back next tour? YES!

My 6th Yesshow.

I first became a fan of the band in 1975 (at the age of 16) and by this show I'd previously only seen the band in 1994 (Greek Theater, LA), 2000 (Universal Amphitheater LA and Glen Helen Blockbuster Pavillion, Devore) and 2003 (Melbourne and Sydney, Australia). These were all great shows but for my 6th show the band would be playing in my hometown Auckland, New Zealand, for the first in their long, convoluted and illustrious career.
Who'd have thought that would ever happen?
When we bought tickets Benoit was still in the band and we watched nervously as his ill health plagued the later part of the European tour that year. Hopefully he would be ok? Would our show be cancelled?
Then it was announced that Glass Hammer vocalist Jon Davison would be taking Benoits place for the shows in our part of the world and we would be seeing Yes with a vocalist singing his first show with the band.
Cut to April 1st 2012.
The show was exceptional from the get-go. Jon Davison was excellent. The band played brilliantly and we got the full European setlist inc. FFH suite and a few other tracks from the (at that time) new album. YIND, Hots, Wondrous Stories, Starship Trooper (with a killer keytar solo by Downes and blistering solo by Howe) were all highlights ... and finally Roundabout.
The crowd (aprox 1200 in a cutdown 12K arena) went nuts.
Then, once it was over I took 10 friends backstage (thanks to Tour Manager Paul Silveira and Yesworlder Paul Secord for the passes) and, along with maybe 20 other folks, we got to meet all of the band.
Jon D came out first to a huge round of applause to meet everyone in a specially prepared backstage lounge. He was gracious, humble and glowing from the show. Then Alan White, Geoff Downes, Steve Howe and Chris Squire all joined us. All of them signed things, chatted and shared stories for quite some time. We got to meet Mumu (Jons wife) and Scotty (Chris' wife) and I even managed to thank Paul Silveira before we were ushered away into the Auckland night.
In the brief moment I had to speak one on one with Chris backstage, he admitted to me he was looking forward to working on new material with the new singer, Jon Davison.
And here we are a little over two years later with Heaven and Earth to be released on the 8th july 2014.

"Concert review: Yes, Vector Arena"

Review by: Scott Kara

There are nine keyboards stacked three storeys high in a control centre configuration.

The trippy-meets-touchie feelie visuals on the big screen transport you back to a bygone era when flares were still in vogue and people walked around seeing double.

And the first song stretches out over 20-or-so spectacular minutes.

This is 70s prog-rock Yes-style, people.

And that first song, Yours Is No Disgrace, off 1971's The Yes Album, sets the tone for the show with sprawling, multi-layered songs that come in an array of parts and grand, epic endings.

Though the 70s survivors only play an intimate-sized Vector Arena set-up tonight, more than 40 years, 20 studio albums, and many of the longest songs ever to grace a hi-fi system later, they still have a devout following.

There's everyone from a dancing and flailing hippy, who doesn't stop moving for almost two and a half hours, to the bloke sitting next to me who brought his favourite Yes vinyl along in a hope of getting it signed.

And why not, because it is also the first time the band have played in New Zealand.

Apart from the six-part, 25-minute long title track off latest Fly From Here, which is a little out of kilter and torturous, it's thrilling and over the top.

The hammer and tongs proto-prog-metal of Heart of the Sunrise is relentless, as it spasms between heaviness and beautiful balladry, new singer Jon Davison (on his debut with the band tonight) is a powerful tranquillity on I've Seen All Good People (which featured in the film Almost Famous), and though 80s anthem Owner of a Lonely Heart sounds a little out of place it's great to hear that riff.

Though it's Davison's first show with the band, he does original singer Jon Anderson proud. And while he is a little tentative at times, the man who used to be in a Yes tribute band hardly misses a note, which is impressive considering these are hard and high songs to sing.

But it's Yes' old guard who drive the songs along. Keyboardist Geoff Downes is like an octopus as he reaches out around his control centre, drummer Alan White is a solid antidote to the pomp, founder and bass player Chris Squire is a typically propulsive presence, and the star of the show is guitarist Steve Howe who plays four different guitars, and a mandolin, sometimes all within one song.

Yes, this is impressive stuff, indeed.

43 years, 8 months, and 1 day since their debut gig, YES finally played their first ever concert in New Zealand! Way back in 1973, they had been penciled in to perform here on the 'Close to the Edge' tour, but it never eventuated -- although Australia did get included that time (and again in 2003 -- check out Brian Draper's 'YES in Australia' book for much more great reading about that). Since the 70s, many albums and tours followed, dozens of line-up changes occurred, capes and beards came and went, hair receded or turned grey... but still Kiwi YES fans had not been honoured with a visit by the band to our shores. The die-hards resorted to traveling the world to catch YES live wherever they could. When a concert date in Auckland was announced for 1st of April this year, many thought it was some kind of elaborate April Fool's joke. Thankfully, the NZ YES show announcement turned out to be true!

Rock historians sharpened their quills in anticipation -- not only due to it being the debut appearance of YES in "The Land of the Long White Cloud", but it would also be their first performance with new singer, Jon Davison. The history of this band is almost as complex as their music, with many twists and turns, highs and lows, resignations and firings... but stalwart founding member, bassist / vocalist Chris Squire has remained "keeper of the flame". A few years ago when original singer Jon Anderson drifted away from the group (due to serious health issues and resistance to touring), it was either get someone else in, or call it a day. The latter was not really an option for Squire or hard-working Steve Howe (somebody give him a "greatest guitarist on the planet" award) so the group controversially drafted in Benoit David, from a tribute band spotted on YouTube. Benoit's time with YES was notable for his contribution to their excellent Trevor Horn produced 'Fly From Here' album, which broke their ten year studio release drought. He sang well with them for two tours as well, but alas, by the end of their 2011 jaunt, his voice had cracked with the strain of trying to replicate Anderson's alto-tenor. Quick action resulted in the recruitment of another "tribute" vocalist found on YouTube; Jon Davison (of Glass Hammer) so the band knuckled down for a few rehearsals with him before the already scheduled dates in 2012. The conveniently named singer also forced the "No Jon, No Yes" brigade to bite their tongues. As is usually the case with YES, the change did the band some good -- which brings us to the Auckland concert...

The audience of roundabout 1,200 patiently waited. Not only had the original 7:30 start time been knocked back to 8 p.m. but daylight saving had changed over, making it seem that everything was one hour behind. (Although this did ensure that the perpetually late Squire got to the venue on time). At last there was music to the ears -- strains of Benjamin Britten's "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" grew in volume as the auditorium lights dimmed. What followed was quite astonishing.

The 13-minute, yet timeless "Yours is No Disgrace" from 'The Yes Album' set the very high standard for the evening, with signature, adventurous arrangements and incredible guitar histrionics from Steve Howe, who was already being worshipped by many in the front rows... "Steeeeeve!" The punchy, concise "Tempus Fugit" followed, full of jaw-dropping bass runs, super-tight structure and rhythm. Squire, Howe, White, and Downes are all on 'Drama', the 1980 album it is taken from -- it would have been awesome if they played "Machine Messiah" too! "Your Move / All Good People" was next, winning the crowd over completely, as it has done at every YES concert since 1970! A favourite from the 'Fly From Here' album, "Life on a Film Set" was delivered with perfect precision, and then it was time for Mr. Howe to dis