Who saw Yes live in their heyday? WARNING: Prog Thread
Posted by: Whizzkid on 23 May 2010
Now being a very handsome young & virile whippersnapper I did not get to see this AMAZING band live but many of you mature, wise & extremely wealthy granddads might have. SO what were they like live? and while we are at it what were the other Prog Rock behemoths like live as well meaning PG Genesis, Pink Floyd, ELP, Rush, Jethro Tull, Marilion was it all flamboyant showing off or did you come out moved to tears like a big fluffy pink coloured girls blouse? So tell me your memories of these events.
Mucho rose tinted reminiscence of days of beautiful girls, naked dancing, real beer, Camberwell carrots and fun allowed.
Dean..
Mucho rose tinted reminiscence of days of beautiful girls, naked dancing, real beer, Camberwell carrots and fun allowed.
Dean..
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by JamieL_v2
When I die, I want to come back as you Steve.
The couple of recordings of Bowie I have heard from the 'Station to Station' tour are incredible, such a pity the two official live albums are from the less exciting tours before and after. He was back on form in the mid 90's though.
I saw my first gig at 14, Thin Lizzy in 1980, and although I have seen a lot of amazing gigs, I also had to endure a decade of music that I largely detest in the 80's. The only real plus of those days being I gave up on rock for a while and saw the end of some fantastic jazz careers, Blakey, Miles, Adderley.
I also remember the utter relief of the early 90's when grunge and techno broke through, guitars, energy, fun and innovation.
Still VDGG in 2005 was very special, someone in to row ahead of me got up and danced with sheer joy during 'Wondering', not great dancing, and it isn't a track to really dance to, but an honest physical expression of the joy of that show. So perhaps enduring all those years made the wait worthwhile for that night.
The couple of recordings of Bowie I have heard from the 'Station to Station' tour are incredible, such a pity the two official live albums are from the less exciting tours before and after. He was back on form in the mid 90's though.
I saw my first gig at 14, Thin Lizzy in 1980, and although I have seen a lot of amazing gigs, I also had to endure a decade of music that I largely detest in the 80's. The only real plus of those days being I gave up on rock for a while and saw the end of some fantastic jazz careers, Blakey, Miles, Adderley.
I also remember the utter relief of the early 90's when grunge and techno broke through, guitars, energy, fun and innovation.
Still VDGG in 2005 was very special, someone in to row ahead of me got up and danced with sheer joy during 'Wondering', not great dancing, and it isn't a track to really dance to, but an honest physical expression of the joy of that show. So perhaps enduring all those years made the wait worthwhile for that night.
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by Lontano
I have to agree with Jamie, there are times when I would have liked to be a few years older. Steve, great line up of gigs there. Very nice. I started gigging in 1980.
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by Whizzkid
Thanks guys,
Some interesting memories and views expressed, now I wonder if my generation of Clubbers & Ravers will be asked to tell of our days driving around the M25 looking for signs to where the illegal Raves were happening or dancing at 3am on the Charing Cross rd outside the Astoria theatre shouting Acciiiieeedd wearing smiley face t-shirts and bandannas.
Its always great to hear about the times when new musical scenes are blossoming into the eventual massive phenomena that some have become. I was at the start of 2, Hip Hop/Electro Funk & House/Techno Music and these music styles will always be the cornerstone of my collection, but now I am interested in looking into all of the great musical styles and see what they have to offer and I've been surprised and excited by what I have found.
Next Krautrock & Disco.
Dean..
Some interesting memories and views expressed, now I wonder if my generation of Clubbers & Ravers will be asked to tell of our days driving around the M25 looking for signs to where the illegal Raves were happening or dancing at 3am on the Charing Cross rd outside the Astoria theatre shouting Acciiiieeedd wearing smiley face t-shirts and bandannas.
Its always great to hear about the times when new musical scenes are blossoming into the eventual massive phenomena that some have become. I was at the start of 2, Hip Hop/Electro Funk & House/Techno Music and these music styles will always be the cornerstone of my collection, but now I am interested in looking into all of the great musical styles and see what they have to offer and I've been surprised and excited by what I have found.
Next Krautrock & Disco.
Dean..
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by JamieL_v2
I had one progish moment in 1999 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, seeing Orbital perform 'Middle of Nowhere' live.
The 20 minute opening section of 'Way Out - Spare Parts Express', together with the brilliant projections felt very like seeing one of the prog rock epics being performed in their heyday.
Orbital have sometimes been called 'progressive house'. Musically I find quite a lot of similarity between Orbital and prog, extended instrumental sections, developing variations on themes, and even a hint of classical reference. To a lesser degree I find the same with Underworld.
I also found the friendliness and attentiveness of the crowd rather live a prog crowd, none of the aggression I have felt at some rock gigs.
It was also special as I knew I was seeing a band at the height of their creativity. It was part of the Peel Sessions live, and the great man himself was there too, so that had a link back to the many bands he had championed over the years mentioned in this thread.
Strangely I now feel that techno has become 'old mans music' and feels not dissimilar to a prog gig, although with more dancing, but still a niche music from a decade before.
Has that been your experience too Dean?
The 20 minute opening section of 'Way Out - Spare Parts Express', together with the brilliant projections felt very like seeing one of the prog rock epics being performed in their heyday.
Orbital have sometimes been called 'progressive house'. Musically I find quite a lot of similarity between Orbital and prog, extended instrumental sections, developing variations on themes, and even a hint of classical reference. To a lesser degree I find the same with Underworld.
I also found the friendliness and attentiveness of the crowd rather live a prog crowd, none of the aggression I have felt at some rock gigs.
It was also special as I knew I was seeing a band at the height of their creativity. It was part of the Peel Sessions live, and the great man himself was there too, so that had a link back to the many bands he had championed over the years mentioned in this thread.
Strangely I now feel that techno has become 'old mans music' and feels not dissimilar to a prog gig, although with more dancing, but still a niche music from a decade before.
Has that been your experience too Dean?
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by Chris Kelly
I saw Yes at Guildford Civic Hall in about February 1971. They were touring the Yes album and it was one of the best gigs I have seen to this day. Tony Kaye was on keyboards and Bill Bruford on drums, with Howe, Squire and Anderson.
I was relatively new to live gigs then (my first was in mid 1970 I think.)
I have seen one helluva lot of live music since then but that Yes gig is still a highlight - and the Yes album still gets regular time on my Orbe.
I saw them again in September or October 1977, at the Aladdin in Las Vegas where my then wife and I happened to be staying for a few nights. Ticketmaster had a few seats left in the gods and we went along. What a change. The sound was awful and far too loud, even for my taste, and the whole thing seemed to have been taken over by Rick Wakeman. We left early, which I have rarely done at a concert.
I was relatively new to live gigs then (my first was in mid 1970 I think.)
I have seen one helluva lot of live music since then but that Yes gig is still a highlight - and the Yes album still gets regular time on my Orbe.
I saw them again in September or October 1977, at the Aladdin in Las Vegas where my then wife and I happened to be staying for a few nights. Ticketmaster had a few seats left in the gods and we went along. What a change. The sound was awful and far too loud, even for my taste, and the whole thing seemed to have been taken over by Rick Wakeman. We left early, which I have rarely done at a concert.
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by Steve2
Cheers Jamie and Lontano. You make an old man feel young again! Moving swiftly on....Curved Air were good as was Ian Dury in Kilburn and the Highroads at Goldsmiths College. Tony McPhee and Groundhogs at Brunel University was also a memorable concert as they split up shortly afterwards. I do not think it had anything to do with me though, more musical differences I think. I saw Andy Fairweather Low and his band at Goldsmiths as well but I cannot remember much about the concert now. Viv Stanshall was brilliant and agreed to do the Big Shot especially for me. He turned to Dick Parry who played sax on DSOTM and was playing in his band rattled off some chords and Dick said "got that" and played it brillantly. Grimms were also blindingly funny and entertaining as was Bob Kerrs Whoopie Band with the remnants of the Bonzos. There were others as well but they ca wait until another day.....
SteveT
SteveT
Posted on: 25 May 2010 by ewemon
quote:Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
When I die, I want to come back as you Steve.
The couple of recordings of Bowie I have heard from the 'Station to Station' tour are incredible, such a pity the two official live albums are from the less exciting tours before and after. He was back on form in the mid 90's though.
I saw my first gig at 14, Thin Lizzy in 1980, and although I have seen a lot of amazing gigs, I also had to endure a decade of music that I largely detest in the 80's. The only real plus of those days being I gave up on rock for a while and saw the end of some fantastic jazz careers, Blakey, Miles, Adderley.
I also remember the utter relief of the early 90's when grunge and techno broke through, guitars, energy, fun and innovation.
Still VDGG in 2005 was very special, someone in to row ahead of me got up and danced with sheer joy during 'Wondering', not great dancing, and it isn't a track to really dance to, but an honest physical expression of the joy of that show. So perhaps enduring all those years made the wait worthwhile for that night.
I saw Bowie on a Ziggy tour and then on the Station to Station tour. I blame him for nearly bloody blinding me with those instanteneous strip lights he used in the background on the Station tour. Nice guy when I got talking to him about the lights at the after bash piss up.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by dav301
I saw yes on the Going for the One tour, the Tormato tour and the Drama tour. The best show by far was the Going for the One show at the Bingley Hall in Stafford.
I saw Pink Floyd on the Animals tour, The wall show at Earls Court, and the Division Bell show at Earls Court. Each show was superb.
I have also seen Genesis a number of times. The most memorable being on the Lamb Lies Down tour at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, the Trick of the Tail tour show was also very good.
I saw Pink Floyd on the Animals tour, The wall show at Earls Court, and the Division Bell show at Earls Court. Each show was superb.
I have also seen Genesis a number of times. The most memorable being on the Lamb Lies Down tour at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, the Trick of the Tail tour show was also very good.
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Salmon Dave
I saw them on the Yes Album tour in March 1971, surely their best moment and LP - Tony Kaye was still at the keyboard and pomp-rock was some way off. Howe was on top form and Anderson played his mini-moog - Bruford of course the best. By August they had replaced Kaye with Wakeman and on the Fragile tour in October I thought it was 50% show and 50% music - so I lost interest. Both at the Colesnall in Brizzle.
BTW I also saw Derek and the Dominos at the same venue. Not a lot of people did!
BTW I also saw Derek and the Dominos at the same venue. Not a lot of people did!
Posted on: 27 May 2010 by Whizzkid
quote:Originally posted by JamieL_v2:
I had one progish moment in 1999 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, seeing Orbital perform 'Middle of Nowhere' live.
The 20 minute opening section of 'Way Out - Spare Parts Express', together with the brilliant projections felt very like seeing one of the prog rock epics being performed in their heyday.
Orbital have sometimes been called 'progressive house'. Musically I find quite a lot of similarity between Orbital and prog, extended instrumental sections, developing variations on themes, and even a hint of classical reference. To a lesser degree I find the same with Underworld.
I also found the friendliness and attentiveness of the crowd rather live a prog crowd, none of the aggression I have felt at some rock gigs.
It was also special as I knew I was seeing a band at the height of their creativity. It was part of the Peel Sessions live, and the great man himself was there too, so that had a link back to the many bands he had championed over the years mentioned in this thread.
Strangely I now feel that techno has become 'old mans music' and feels not dissimilar to a prog gig, although with more dancing, but still a niche music from a decade before.
Has that been your experience too Dean?
Hi Jamie,
I myself haven't been to many gigs in my life being from a DJ fuelled music background starting with Hip Hop Jams in the early 80's through to clubbing for about 10 years. The only gigs I went to are just before Orbital's mainstream success where the ORB in 1993 and Primal Screams Screamadelica tour and in the period before I grew an aversion to Orbital because when Chime came out it was played to death at all the clubs and raves I went to and I never liked the track at the time. As for Techno being old mans music with Prog I don't see it that way I see it as it has had its heyday and commercial interest and now is back where it belongs back in the underground scenes whence it came and being someone who has drawn most of my music collection from is great in my eyes. Also just like Prog Techno has loads of offspring styles that give it a fresh slant and makes is still appealing to me.
Dean..