YES Launches Summer 2016 Tour

YES recently kicked off its 2016 U.S. summer tour, billed as "The Album Series: Drama + Topographic 1 & 4." The "Evening With Yes" shows begin with the 1980 album DRAMA performed in its entirety followed by sides one and four of 1973's double album TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS as well as selections of the band's greatest hits throughout. In a glowing review of last night's Lynn, MA show, the Boston Globe's Steve Smith said, "Where those album recitals proved the present Yes equal to mighty acts of reanimation, the band's approach to canonical hits was equally commanding. 'I've Seen All Good People' and 'Siberian Khatru' closed the first set, 'And You and I' opened the second, and inevitably 'Roundabout' and 'Starship Trooper' arrived in the encore; this vital, hungry combo--not least a visibly animated [Steve] Howe--played it all with infectious gusto. Finding enduring fire even in thrice-familiar fare: it's this, more than which players turn up or what songs they pick, that will ensure Yes's staying power" (8/5/16).

Of the DRAMA set performed 7/28 in Northfield, OH, Greg Drugan from Neo Music Scene noted, "[The band] didn't take a pause until the entire thirty-six minute album was flawlessly played." (7/30/16). Tim Darbyshire from Progressive Music Reviewadded, "After a rousing double encore of 'Roundabout' and 'Starship Trooper' the enthusiastic crowd left happy, knowing that once again YES had undoubtedly delivered" (8/4/16). See below for the tour's set list.

Visually, YES has stepped up the production on this summer's outing courtesy of video designer Andy Clark and lighting designer Don Weeks with multiple video feeds featuring Roger Dean imagery, from waterfalls and floating islands to topographic landscapes, bioluminescence, deep sea creatures, jellyfish, and marine life. The visual experience--which Michael Hujsa from The Valley Ledger described as "a stunning 20' tall digital light display that illuminated the center to a cheerful crowd (8/1/16)--is capped by pyrotechnics at the climax to the "Ritual" crescendo.

The band's annual summer tour continues through September 4 in San Diego. Tonight (8/5), YES stops in Wallingford, CT before making its way throughout New York and New Jersey next week hitting Westbury, NY (8/6), Staten Island, NY (8/9), Englewood, NJ (8/10), Port Chester, NY (8/12), Morristown, NJ (8/13) andAlbany, NY (8/14). Throughout the remainder of the 28-date tour, YES will also stop in Washington, DC, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Denver, Anaheim, Las Vegas, Santa Barbara, Saratoga, Reno and Paso Robles, with their Los Angeles date set for 8/30 at the Orpheum Theater downtown. See below for full list of summer tour dates and go to www.yesworld.com for ticketing information.

Guitarist Steve Howe recently spoke with Music Aficionado about the making of the band's highly regarded album, Close To The Edge, featuring songs performed on this summer's outing such as "And You And I" and "Siberian Khatru;" read it HERE.

In other related news, an expanded version of TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS featuring Steven Wilson Remixes will be released October 7 via 1 BluRay & 3 CDs or 2 DVDs & 2 CDs (each set is available now for pre-preorder at Amazon.com). The fifth in a series of expended YES editions includes 5.1 surround mixes, new stereo mixes and high-resolution stereo mixes of the original music as well as extra material. Both editions feature restored artwork overseen and approved by Roger Dean, with an expanded booklet containing new sleeve-notes, photos and archive material.

"The Album Series" set list is as follows:

Set 1:

Machine Messiah

White Car

Does It Really Happen

Into the Lens

Run To The Light

Tempus Fugit

All Good People

Siberian Khatru

Set 2:

And You And I

The Revealing

Leaves Of Green

Ritual

Roundabout

Starship Trooper

About YES:

Founded in 1968 by Chris Squire and Jon Anderson, Grammy-award winning recording artists YES have created some of the most important and influential music in rock history, such as iconic pieces "Roundabout," "Close to the Edge," "I've Seen All Good People," "Owner of a Lonely Heart," "Starship Trooper," and countless others. Its albums, including Fragile, Close to the Edge, Tales from Topographic Oceans, and 90125, have been certified multi-platinum, double-platinum, platinum, and more by the RIAA, and have sold over 50 million records total in its career that has so far spanned almost five decades. Among the world's most influential, ground-breaking, and respected progressive rock bands, YES continues creating masterful music that inspires musicians, fans and music lovers around the world.

Spend an evening with YES this summer in the following cities:

Fri8/5 Wallingford, CT Toyota Presents The Oakdale Theatre

Sat8/6 Westbury, NY Theatre at Westbury

Tue8/9 Staten Island, NY St. George Theatre

Wed8/10 Englewood, NJ Bergen Performing Arts Center

Fri8/12 Port Chester, NY Capitol Theater

Sat8/13 Morristown, NJ Mayo Performing Arts Center

Sun8/14 Albany, NY The Egg

Tue8/16 Washington, DC Warner Theatre

Wed8/17 Munhall, PA Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall

Fri8/19 Sterling Heights, MI Freedom Hill Amphitheatre

Sat8/20 Chicago, IL Copernicus Center

Sun8/21 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theater

Wed8/24 Denver, CO Paramount Theatre

Fri8/26 Anaheim, CA The Grove

Sat8/27 Las Vegas, NV Downtown Las Vegas Events Center

Sun8/28 Santa Barbara, CA Arlington Theatre

Tue8/30 Los Angeles, CA Orpheum Theater

Wed8/31 Saratoga, CA The Mountain Winery

Fri9/2 Reno, NV Silver Legacy Casino

Sat9/3 Paso Robles, CA Vina Robles Amphitheatre

Sun9/4 San Diego, CA Humphreys Concerts By the Bay

www.yesworld.com

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Photo Credit: Glenn Gottlieb

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