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Jon Anderson of 'Yes' Reveals New Dimensions In Rare Solo Performance
Photo and story by Scott
Baker
In 35-plus years, Jon Anderson of Yes has rarely performed solo in America.
On Sunday, November 20th, it
was great reason for celebration considering the frontman of perhaps the
most-revered (or at least best known) progressive rock band,
Yes, made a solo stop in Royal Oak, MI, at the intimate Royal Oak
Music Theatre.
Mind you this was no regular show. This wasn't even a band performance. This was an individual performance, as solo as the word can be.
Fans around the world have
embraced Anderson as the positive spiritual guide and selected astute
lyricist for his tenure in Yes alone, while alas there is another
side of purity for the vocalist. He has amassed a solo output unlike
anyone, touching upon topics which have surrounded family, world
politics, cultures, religions, books and adventurous dreams. And then
there is his output with Greek new age virtuoso Vangelis.
Anderson has put out an album for anyone and everyone.
With his familiar, individual
voice and a midi-equipped guitar, Anderson floated his performance with
a mix of rare solo tunes, new tracks, popular Yes gems, and even created
ideas on the spot. With an occasional change-up to play keyboards or a
straight acoustic guitar, Anderson for the most part created sounds with
his feet stepping on midi-pedals, pre-determined to deliver flute
sounds, orchestration, outside life (wind/birds), and all types of
dreamy patterns to play in the key of the chords or notes that he would
strum. A different image would change behind him on a movie-projected
screen, such as introspective light sequences to add trippy, if not a
reality to each of the songs.
Labeled Tour Of The
Universe—SOLO Work In Progress, Anderson's set was
highlighted by select verses, ranging from songs off of Tales From
Topographic Oceans andThe Yes Album to works in progress
such as the track Richard, which Anderson said he started in 1979
while Yes was getting ready to follow up Tormato.
The solo song White Buffalo
and one of the Vangelis tracks, State Of Independence, followed
intimate versions of Nous Sommes du Soleil, Owner Of A Lonely
Heart (which Anderson played a decidedly meditative acoustic rendition
based on friends advice to try to perform it solo), and Wonderous
Stories.
The size of the venue and
personal touch created a very warm reception for Anderson as he told
stories fitting to the concepts of specific songs. With his wife Jane
sitting front and center, Anderson casually posed for photos from some
crowd members and laughed and joined in on some of the cheering banter,
which fans would yell out from time to time, making it a relaxing and
somewhat humorous evening, like a bunch of friends hanging out together.
The age group was certainly diverse and refreshing.
A remark Anderson made a few
times, "used to use too many drugs', created mass laughter as he
recited why some of his lyrics were more dreamscapes. He began his
reggae penned solo track You Lift Me Up (for his wife) by
describing a dream he had about dancing pineapples and surfing bananas,
only to have the dream come to reality on the screen behind him while he
sang the song.
For nearly two hours, Anderson
shared secrets, dreams, and held a captive audience in his hands, taking
listeners down memory lane and opening their eyes to some of his most
select work that some may have had fall in the cracks between Yes albums
over the years.
He ended the night singing
acapella with O'er, the final track from The Promise Ring,
his 1997 Irish solo album. The song is a tribute to his roots in Ireland
and a well-wishing send off to his friends.
Anderson also stuck around for
over an hour after the show to meet and sign autographs for fans which
purchased either a T-shirt or the tour DVD or CD, providing more
memories and personality then many get to share in a lifetime with such
a prolific artist.
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