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Styx absolutely nailed it! This band is at the top of their game! Yes sounded great but lacks the energy that Styx has. The sound is incredible at Verizon.
I thoroughly enjoyed Yes, but I wasn't enthralled with Styx. Yes opened the show. Y'all know who they are and what they do, so I don't need to go into what they sound like. I was interested, though, to note that their stage show was pretty basic. The git-tarist stood at stage right, the keyboard rack took up stage left, and the vocals and bass shared center stage right and left, respectively, with the drum riser at rear middle. Part of that, I'm sure, is due to the fact that Yes was the opening band, and as such, they couldn't do a huge setup. Still, it puzzled me a bit that such a huge and influential band was the opening act, and they didn't have a fancy stage or a big-ass lightshow to dazzle the audience. They did have a huge video screen in back, though, and the projections were trip-tastic--lotsa Roger Dean art, naturally--so the audience had something interesting to look at, but generally speaking, the band didn't offer a lot of flash. The music was superb, though. Yes played a 75-minute set featuring a nice selection of songs including Starship Trooper, I've Seen All Good People, Roundabout, Owner of a Lonely Heart, Heart of the Sunrise, and the title track off their brand-new studio album, Fly From Here. The band wasn't as crisp as its studio recordings would suggest, but the added looseness of live playing gave old, familiar songs a chance to breathe anew, mostly to their benefit. I had no choice but to sit back, chill out, and groove. Styx, in contrast, was all about the flash. The band members are musically talented fellows, I'll grant--the keyboardist and two guitarists trade off lead vocals, every member of the band plays their instrument quite well--and they're pros who know how to put on a helluva spectacle, complete with engaging stage patter, but to reverse the common phrase, the whole was less than sum of its parts. Ironically, one of the band members articulated the essential problem with Styx when he addressed the audience. He said (and I paraphrase), "You came here for the rock show." Yeah...that's it exactly. Styx put on a rock show, not a concert, and I found myself thinking that their brand of glossy arena rock is exactly why punk rock developed. With mid-to-late 1970 radios spewing the mechanical, predictable, soulless, corporate rock of Styx, punk simply had to happen. I totally understand, and I'm not even a fan of punk. Anyhoo, even though Styx's show was sterile as an operating theater, I stuck around so I could hear them play Come Sail Away, which (of course) was their pre-encore last song, followed by Renegade. In the meantime, I enjoyed a few of their songs and recognized a handful that I hadn't realized were by them. They played (among the ones I recognized/can figure out the titles to/can recall) Blue Collar Man, The Grand Illusion, Lady, Lorelei, Miss America, Crystal Ball, and Too Much Time On My Hands. Had they cut their setlist in half--or even just played BCM, TMTOMH, and their last two songs--I would've been entirely content.
Really great evening overall, but Styx stole the show. They were far more energetic than Yes and much more committed to giving a great overall performance. Yes played very well and performed their classics plus the single off the new album, as they should given their skill level, but there was just no energy onstage. Styx came on like a formula 1 race car from the start and never let up the entire evening. It was especially great to see Chuck Panozzo join them on bass for several songs at the end of the set. If you're into classic and prog rock, this is definitely a good double bill to catch. Verizon is the best outdoor live venue in Atlanta hands down, I highly recommend any show there in terms of the facility experience.
Good show, even if I do miss Jon. I didn't stay for Styx because my daughter had to get up early for work the next morning - but then again, I didn't go to see Styx. Yes played well, and we enjoyed the show. The venue was very nice - first time I've been there. It was hot as hell, but that is why they call it "Hot-lanta."
It seems as though Yes is still adjusting to their newest keyboard player, Geoff Downes, and Steve Howe playing 'owner of a lonely heart' was a bit humorous, but they were clearly captivating and, at points in the show, on fire. Kudos to Benoit David and Geoff Downes for having the chutzpa to step into their roles. Styx, on the other hand, was firing on on all 12 cylinders during their entire set. Tommy Shaw looked and sounded like he wasn't a day over 35. Even JY, who is the least gifted of the three singers, was on fire for Renegade. They significantly exceeded my expectations. This show begs me to ask why aren't either of these bands in the so-called Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
I bought two tickets for this show. I did this as a mothers day present so we could have a good time. My mom is a huge yes fan. When she was at tulane univ NO, she got to see them b4 they made it big. I was introduced to YES bc of her and am a huge fan myself. We both had a fantastic time and couldn't get over how great they still sound. If anything they could have played longer. But then again you can never have enough YES. What makes it even better is that we also got to see Styx tear it up!!! MY mom loved her gift and we both had a night we won't forget.
I have seen YES many times spanning over 30 years, including twice in small venues with Jon's replacement, Benoit David. I hate that Jon is no longer touring with them, and even more hate the friction it has caused....but David is a very capable replacement. He was found singing with a Canadian tribute band called "Close to the Edge" (you can probably still find them on youtube). When I saw the band in ATL in 12/2008, it was shortly after they'd canceled the full YES tour earlier in the year due to Jon's illness. We ran into the cousin of Alan White (YES drummer) in a local pub pre-show and asked him how the new singer was sounding - his answer, in British accent was, "he sounds more like Jon than Jon does". Taking my 20 year old son to see them in ATL on 7/14. Oh yeah, Styx is there too....not a big fan, but don't hate them either.
NO JON ANDERSON WOULD HAVE TO SAY NO TO YES!!! SO i AM GOING TO HAVE TO PASS
My husband took me to see Yes last year and they were great. We can't wait to see them again. He and his friends saw them in Atlanta also. They always put on a great show.
I have seen Yes several times in concert at a different venue. They were fabulous every time and never failed to deliver their music even better than on their albums. I'm not a big Styx fan, though. I had hope Yes would return this year so I could see them again, and I hope it's the full line up with Jon Anderson. But since this is a dual concert with a band I don't particularly care for (Styx), I guess I will miss them this year. I'll recommend this to anyone that likes both, or willing to sit through until they get to the band they want to hear. :)
I've seen Yes several times and they are always great, especially the outdoors shows I have seen. Jon Anderson will not be there, but Squier and Howe and I believe Oliver Wakeman will all be a part of the lineup. The new singer, from what I'd heard sounds like Anderson and I have heard other favorable reviews of his singing. I have never seen Styx, but they should be a capable opening act. I'd give this a five star if the classic Yes lineup were all there,
I just saw Yes in Louisville and they are the gods and one of the founding bands of progressive rock. Styx are simply "bubble gum" Yes. Great, catchy music, but not near the musicians that Yes are. I have seen Yes over 40 times in my life and they have always been spot on. Their music is just a little much for the "casual" fan.
