The Gonzo Daily: Steve Smith: Yes at the Greek Theatre, The Zombies on the Santa Monica Pier rock fans

Have you ever been to a concert where the attendees gave every single song a standing ovation?

It happened Aug. 24 at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles as English progressive rock legends Yes concluded a five-month tour. For the band that formed in London in 1968 it was a triumphant evening before approximately 5,000 rapturous fans. (Heck, even the two songs showcased from the just-released “Heaven and Earth” album got ‘em up and cheering.)

This tour saw the band perform two of its iconic early 70’s LPs in their entirety, “Fragile” and “Close to the Edge.” The group’s fourth album, 1971’s “Fragile,” went double-platinum, reaching No. 7 here and containing the No. 13 single, “Roundabout” and the FM radio hit, “Long Distance Runaround”; while their fifth LP, the platinum-selling “Close to the Edge” was a concept album that reached No. 4 and included the lengthy “And You and I” and “Siberian Khatru” as well as the 18-minute title work.

Over the decades, members have come and gone... and come and gone again and again. This current Yes includes founding bassist Chris Squire, who is part of every Yes contingent as he owns the rights to the band’s name, guitarist Steve Howe (first joined 1970), drummer Alan White (first joined 1972), and keyboardist Geoff Downes (first joined 1980). The years have done nothing to diminish their formidable skills as musicians.

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