Jon Anderson @ The Fitzgerald Theater 4/20/19

Much against the wishes against my better half, I attended this concert last Saturday night.

This was the 5th time I've seen Jon Anderson in Minnesota outside of a Yes concert (3rd solo/solo band, once with Jean-Luc Ponty and once with ARW), and in some ways it might have been the best.

I say that largely due to the band he has is really excellent. They very much jazz-ed and jungled/tropical-ed up many of the classic Yes tunes and some of his solo stuff including some of the Olias of Sunhillow work which were highlights especially.

Along with some of the material from the new album 1000 Hands. Among them, the 1000 Hands piece that went into Starship Trooper and then back to Solid Space.

I was really digging that piece, which I will confess to have the album on my hd, but have yet to listen to it yet, but mean to soon of course.

1000 Hands may be the best music he's done since "Open" which I asked my super-Yes fan John about if Jon's ever thought about playing live, but he didn't know but would like to ask Jon about.

But as far as the band, he had this great female electric violinist, more than 1 percussionist, and a couple of guys who played multiple instruments including Trombone, Flute and keys.

edit: here's what is listed in an article as his touring band:

Michael Franklin (keyboards), Tim Franklin (bass), Matt Brown (drums), Tommy Carlton (guitar), Jocelyn Hsu (Violin), Antonio Esposito (keyboards) and Chris Charles (saxophone, flute?).

Set 1
Ocean Song? (excerpt)
Owner of a Lonely Heart (Yes song)
Yours Is No Disgrace (Yes song)
Ramalama
State of Independence (Jon and Vangelis cover)
I've Seen All Good People (Your Move / All Good People)
Makes Me Happy
America (Simon and Garfunkel cover)
WDMCF

Set 2
Flight of the Moorglade
Sweet Dreams (Yes song)
To the Runner
Long Distance Runaround (Yes song)
First Born Leaders
1000 Hands (Come Up)
Starship Trooper / Solid Space (Yes song)

Encore:
Roundabout (Yes song)

Jon Anderson - "Sing to Me" clip (Zamran Experience...Son of Olias?)

I thought I saw something about this being the "Son of Olias" which I knew Jon has talked about doing for many years; a sequel of sorts to the Olias of Sunnhillow album.

This is nice.

Also, this message about a concert in August, was just posted from Jon per the "Notes from the Edge" service on Facebook:

A message from Jon Anderson to the audience attendees for his August 14, 2013 show at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, UK:

ok!! peeps..,...the show in Manchester is unique....it's in the round....so please feel free to film parts or all of the songs on your cell phones or videos..on some songs will do.....

as many of you as can do it, this it will make a unique filming experience...for the peeps whose videos we choose to use you will all receive your own final copy....when it's edited together...and a painting from me...to commemorate this event..

please send your films to: inyth.media@gmail.com

have fun.....jon

Jon Anderson @ The Guthrie Theater (8/16/2010)

Here's what I posted on a couple of the forums.

I just recalled the set list basically, although I only got about 75 or 80% right since I didn't recall or know everything.

Time and a Word
Sweet Dreams
Yours Is No Disgrace
Starship Trooper
Your Move
Roundabout
Long Distance Runaround
And You and I (w/ the proper chord challenge)
a snippet of
Ritual (Nous sommes du Soleil chorus)
Soon
Owner of a Lonely Heart


Tony and Me
little snippets
-She Loves You (The Beatles)
-Help Me Rhonda (The Beach Boys)
-Wake Up Little Suzi (Everly Brothers)
-Revealing Science of God

State of Independence
I'll Find My Way Home

Show Me
+ 1 or 2 others I'm not familiar enough with to remember.

edit:
Music is the God of the World

he was supposed to do "To the Runner" from Olias of Sunnhillow since it was on the set list, but I don't believe he remembered to include it.

Also part of last night's show that I took away was his usual humor. He kept adding/changing "Minnesota" to many lyrics which I found charming.

But overall, I mean to see him sing all those Yes tunes, and play different stripped-down acoustic versions, with him playing guitar, I couldn't help but get into and appreciate. Sure, he's not Steve Howe, and he did struggle with And You and I and maybe 1 or 2 others, but I didn't and I sensed most of the crowd didn't care.

I mean certainly I would have liked to have heard To the Runner or anything off Olias. Or even some of the deeper Yes tunes such as Turn of the Century or The Sweetness or something rare. And my friend whose traveled to see him a handful of times since the initial time back in 2004 when we went Philadelphia to see him, has seen him do other music.

But I'm happy we finally got a show here no matter. And the numbers seemed pretty good there last night. He seemed to like The Guthrie Theater. Perhaps he'll be back again. And perhaps Yes will as well soon enough, with Benoit David or preferably/but less likely, Jon himself again.

Another cool part of it was seeing some of the Twin Cities regular prog-fans. It sort of felt like reunion or convention in a way. I ran into some folks I hadn't seen in a number of years, which was another great part of the show.

here's a couple of recent live clips (not from the show last night of course).