The 'YES' concert in 1973 was a concert which remains vividly in my memory. The band came out at the height of not only its popularity but also (with the benefit of hindsight) its creativity. The old Hordern Pavilion rocked to its rafters....a friend of mine cried when the backing tape dimmed down and Steve Howe played the first few riffs of Siberian Khatru (he was tired and emotional at the time).

I was ambivalent about the 30th anniversary tour. When they first toured 'Close to the Edge' had not long been released, coming on the back of the sensational 'Yes Album' and 'Fragile'. After their departure from these shores they released 'Yessongs' a live triple album and then lost me with, firstly, 'Tales of a Topographic Ocean' and later 'Relayer'. Despite the joy that I gained from Yes Album, Fragile and Close to the Edge for the early part of the 70s, I have never actually purchased them in CD form. Whilst I still play quite regularly other music from the 'progressive' period of the 70s (King Crimson, Jethro Tull, the Peter Gabriel version of Genesis) there is a sense that Yes was a train that had left the station.

A good omen for the concert was that our tickets were upgraded on arrival to a spot just behind the mixing desk. For once the chance at the Sydney Entertainment Centre to actually see a band rather than watch it on closed circuit TV. The concert started, as it did in '73, with Siberian Khatru. The interplay between Steve Howe and Rick Wakeman at the start was excellent. The crowd was up and bopping, something that is perhaps not synonymous with 'Yes'. I can't specifically recall the order of songs, but the longer songs from Fragile ('Heart of the Sunrise', 'Around the Southside') and 'And You and I'  were performed with precision.

There did, however, seem to be something missing. Some might say it was passion, but I don't think that's right. There was a passion in the performance, and there was certainly passion from the audience. By the way, the audience had cleaned out the merchandise stalls before the gig. The marketers were clever, all of the gear was 'XXL' and from my observations (including my mirror) that was a sensible call.

The Sydney Morning Herald critic, John Shand (thank christ they didn't send Bernard Zuel or Bruce Elder) gave the show a good review, and in my view highlighted the deficit - there was a lack of bottom end. Alan White was thumping away like the great rock drummer that he was, Wakeman and Howe were interplaying with great dexterity, and Chris Squire on bass was playing some wonderful lines, but the bass had a high treble component. Apart from those songs on which Squire appeared to hit the bass pedals and there was great rumbling, everything was hitting us at head level. Our bums and feet weren't engaged.

I was not overly impressed with the newer work that the band performed. There was a sense of repetiveness about the material which confirms my view that their best work had been written before their earlier tour. From my observations nothing was played from either Topographic Oceans or Relayer which further confirms that view.

Don't get me wrong. It was a very good concert. The standard of musicianship was superb. Although there were hints that Steve Howe's fingers might be getting a touch of arthritis (and the suggestion that the stand which was wheeled on with an acoustic guitar doubled as an orthopaedic frame has no basis whatsoever) in that some notes which once rang with clarity were a little bit muffled (a chirlish complaint I know) he remains an exceptional guitarist. His solo spots were highlights of the night. The other solo spots left me somewhat cold.

Fragile was one of my favourite albums in that it contained some great songs. However, it was a 'bitty' album. Howe's 'Mood for a Day' was great, and even Squire's 'The Fish' had the benefit of segueing from Long Distance Runaround and providing some interest. Wakeman's 'Cans and Brahms' however for me epitomises that about 'prog rock' that warranted criticism - all flash and show without real substance.

Jon Anderson is undoubtedly a lovely sweet guy. His voice was in my view perfect for the original YES albums. However, being such an upper register voice it can become a bit tedious and tends to limit the variety of the band's music. Having said that they remain capable of exceptional vocal harmonies. I had a feeling that Squire's voice may be somewhat underplayed in the overall scheme of things. And as a frontman Jon's saccharine approach does tend to wear by the end of the night.

As I said, an enjoyable night but hardly one that will, unlike the 1973 concert, remain in the memory for too long.