CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS

Alex Kluft Photography

Legendary Yes frontman and one of the greatest voices in Prog-Rock Jon Anderson kicked off his tour with his new group Band Geeks in Tucson, AZ April 1st and two days later was at the Grove Of Anaheim. This would be Anderson’s second tour with Band Geeks and first shows for 2025. Anderson is performing two sets of mostly Yes songs. Anderson took the stage just after 8 P.M. following an intro of “Firebird Suite” and played a total of 10 songs kicking things off with Yes’s “Close the Edge” and included other classics like “Starship Trooper,” and closing song the epic “Roundabout.” “Starship Trooper” was performed in place of “I’ve Seen All Good People” performed in the previous show. For solo songs Anderson performed “Counties and Countries” and “Once Upon a Dream” which were performed live for the first time opening night and “True Messenger”. In addition to singing, Anderson played the tambourine, acoustic guitar. And harp. 10 songs may seem short but considering the length of the songs, the show lasted around two hours excluding intermission. Seeing Anderson is always a very special experience. 

Anderson was the frontman of Yes which he co-founded with bassist Chris Squire from 1968-1981 releasing 10 albums including The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Going for the One.  YES would regroup in 1983 bringing back original keyboardist Tony Kaye and a new guitarist Trevor Rabin. This lineup would produce their biggest album 90125.

 Anderson would remain a member until 1988 and formed a short lived group with fellow YES members Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman, and Steve Howe releasing just one album. Anderson Wakeman and Bruford would all return to YES just 2 years later. The band stayed together until 2004 and formed again in 2009, but without Anderson or Wakeman. Anderson would continue as a solo artist and then began working with former members Rabin and Wakeman around 2010. In 2017 Yes was finally inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. Anderson, Howe, Wakeman, Alan White, Rabin and Rush’s Geddy Lee all performed “Roundabout” together. “Owner of a Lonely Heart” was performed as well but with Howe on bass. This would be the first and last time in 13 years Anderson Howe and White would perform together. Following the induction a tour of Yes featuring Anderson Rabin Wakeman was announced and by 2020 the group had disbanded after just two tours. The second tour celebrated the group’s 50th anniversary. Anderson would begin touring again solo in July 2021 and still tours regularly and turned 80 last October. 

Anderson’s solo Career goes as far back as 1976 while still a member of Yes and has released 16 studio albums with the most recent being True released just last year and this year Perpetual Change Live

Setlist:

Intro
(Firebird Suite)

1. Close to the Edge (Yes cover)
2. Perpetual Change (Yes cover)
3. Counties and Countries
4. And You and I (Yes cover)
5. True Messenger

Set 2

1. Awaken (Yes cover)
2. I’ve Seen All Good People (Yes cover)
3. Once Upon a Dream
4. Starship Trooper (Yes cover)
5. Roundabout