But Anderson was effectively booted from the band in 2008, due to a combination of illness and apparent lack of commitment. This band always had trouble holding its personnel together, but there was always at least one constant, the signature voice and lyrics of Jon Anderson. I found myself in a similar place this past Saturday night at the Yestival, a one day festival of progressive rock headed by the latest iteration of Yes, and the most controversial.

I walked out a fan, and would have to wait for the Lark’s Tongue edition of Krimson for them to catch up. But Yes, this night anyway, wiped them off the stage with a combination of charisma, impeccable musical virtuosity and Jon Anderson’s choirboy yearning. I mean, they had actual hits with “Roundabout” and “I’ve Seen All Good People.” Krimson gave a good performance, although this was the least interesting edition of the band. Yes, of course, were just too pop for me. Being too hip for the room, I was there to see the Islands edition of Crimson. In 1971 I went to the Orpheum Theater in Boston for a double bill of Yes and King Crimson. Listen to Echoes on WXPN Mon-Thursday evenings from 11PM-1AM.

This review of the Yestival by John Diliberto, host and producer of Echoes, originally appeared in The Echoes Blog. Steve Howe photo by John Diliberto of Echoes

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