The Gonzo Daily: Prog-rock heroes YES play Jackson Rancheria with new singer

Wednesday, 17 July 2013

Prog-rock heroes YES play Jackson Rancheria with new singer

Jon Davison has been the lead singer of YES for 16 months and calls the experience "beautiful. All I can say is wow!"

YES, which also includes bassist Chris Squire, guitarist Steve Howe, drummer Alan White and keyboardist Geoff Downes, is out on the second round of their "Three Albums Tour."

The band arrives at Jackson Rancheria on Saturday.

The tour's title aptly describes the concert; the band plays "The YES Album," "Close to the Edge" and "Going for the One" in their entireties.

"It's a long show," Davison said. "It's two hours and 50 minutes, but I love every moment. I was a huge fan of YES and to be able to play those albums is a joy."

Davison was the lead singer of a progressive rock band out of Tennessee called Glass Hammer. (He still plays with the YES-inspired group from time to time.) His longtime friend Taylor Hawkins, drummer for the Foo Fighters, persuaded him to audition for YES after the band's previous singer, Benoît David, had to step down because of a respiratory illness.

"It's great to be able to move into such a spot and I love all the music, truly," Davison said. "I'm especially fond of 'Going for the One' and I am continually surprised at its reception after all the years."

Founded in 1968, YES became one of rock's most influential and popular bands, recording songs such as "Roundabout," "I've Seen All Good People" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart." The three albums played on this tour mark pivotal chapters in the band's history and high points in their popularity.

The group also has aspirations beyond touring.

"A new album is in the works," Davison said. "After this tour, Steve Howe goes out to do a solo project and then in October we will all convene to look at ideas we've been sharing and ideas we've been coming up with on a personal level."

After 40-plus years in the music business, YES is embracing new distribution models, Davison said.

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