Steve Howe: Yes Bristol 2011 mini review

A nice Burrito before the show to get you warmed up... highly recommended. Unlike the Colston Hall seating which remains an issue for me.The seats exacerbate my sciatica and you are forced to sit down.... ouch my leg hurts...

We saw the show last year and were really looking forward to it booking the tickets early. We were somewhat dismayed to see that Oliver Wakeman was being replaced by the rather lack luster Geoff Downes ... but this is Yes so surely the songs will carry them through. Steve Howe to mind just gets better and better. I've been constantly amazed at this guys ability, versatility and originality with the stringed instruments. Tonight is no exception and we're also treated to an acoustic set, which the audience adores. The singer... whose name escapes me in this dark hour, is not on form... much better last time around... One hopes that it was just a glitch. Chris Squire is his usual towering ebullient self, great bass and backup vocals. He brings a Vigier Baritone bass on for one song that looks impressive... but is is shorter than Allan Holdsworth's Gonan. The new material is played, first track is OK, but the second just goes on forever... but not in a nice way... we all agree after the show... this could be cut in half or dropped all together in favour of other Yes classics (yes... that's right no owner of a lonely heart tonight). The shows crescendo is Starship Trooper, Rick Wakeman's tour De Force, but we're subjected to a pub keyboard player fawning in a red cape, holding a Miami Vice style portable keyboard... the fight in front of the stage between husband and wife is much more interesting and has far more improvisation... but I digress.

OK over all Steve Howe, Allan White and Chris Squire get A*,A and A respectively, while the singer and keyboard player get to take some resits... ummm... as Michel Roux Junior might say... "I would not serve that in my kitchen!!!" ... However, I should point out that Shred Medium liked it and there standing ovations at the end of the show... So I guess a score of 7 out of 10 this time compared to 9 out of 10 last time.

The Colston Hall, we'd hate you to enjoy the show security are out in force tonight... so I resort to poor old camera on phone.



Need more space in the t-shirt draw... but it has to be done!  Upside down as a mark of respect to the missing Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman.

Comments