Yes: Newcastle City Hall

THE tragic loss of 1968 founder member and band constant member bassist Chris Squire, still saw his influence loom large over the evening and his image in a tribute video montage at the start of the show was met with a standing ovation.

Previously, Yes visited the City Hall and played a marathon set featuring three albums – none of this one album stuff and a few greatest hits for them. This time they took things a little more easy, splitting their show into two parts, featuring 1980s album Drama – mainly due to ex-Buggles performer Geoff Downes rejoining Yes – and then the genre-defining Fragile album.

Steve Howe recounted his first ever show at the City Hall back in 1967 before dedicating a haunting rendition of Time and A Word to guitarist Peter Banks, who Howe replaced back in 1970.

The 1971s Fragile set opened with Roundabout, one of Yes`s most enduring classics, set the pace for the second half. Chris Squire certainly left huge shoes to fill, but former World Trade bassist Billy Sherwood rose to the challenge particularly on Long Distance Runaround.

As the second set drew to a close there was just enough time to drop in a few Yes classics from other albums. Jon Davison on Don`t Kill The Whale brought a real sense of meaning to the lyrics before Howe kicked in with the riff to Owner Of A Lonely Heart, a song that brought Yes a No1 hit single in the US. Fast approaching their 50th anniversary Yes, despite a few ups and downs along the way, are still very much alive and kicking at the top of their game.

Mick Burgess