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David Meadows Profile
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The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 5670
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Wakeman & Anderson


Stop reading now if you're going to see Anderson and Wakeman and you don't want me to spoil the set list (because half the fun is discovering how they manage to perform Yes songs with just a voice and a piano).

And if you're not going to see A&W – why the heck not? The tour's only just started and judging by the half-empty hall last night you'll have no trouble getting tickets. And you absolutely won't regret it.

So, Edinburgh Playhouse. Really nice hall, very big but only half full. On stage is just a grand piano, an acoustic guitar, and two microphones. I was about 13 rows back and on the far left – this being the perfect side to sit, because Rick has his back to me and therefore I can see everything he plays. (Think about it.)

Jon and Rick amble on in shabby overcoats, looking like they've just stepped off the number 11 bus and left their stage clothes in their luggage at the airport. But the show isn't about image or spectacle, it's just about playing two hours of astoundingly good music. Jon plays the guitar for some songs but it's basically incidental and Rick can carry the music entirely by himself. Jon just sings. "Just". Ha.

To be honest, Jon's voice starts out a bit weak, and I think he's struggling on some high notes, but it quickly warms up and gets more certain through the first few songs. By the time they hit Time and a Word it's perfect, and when they reach Turn of the Century it gives me goosebumps.

But Rick is phenomenal throughout. I'm not even going to attempt to describe it. If you've never seen Rick Wakeman play the piano... no, words fail me.

The set mixes old Yes songs and new (brand new) songs in equal measure. Obviously the new songs they've written were intended for the voice and piano format, and they all sound beautiful. But obviously the biggest applause comes for the Yes songs, and I think every single one works in the acoustic arrangement. I can't list them all: Roundabout, Time and a Word, South Side of the Sky, And You and I, Sweet Dreams, Owner of a Lonely Heart, etc.

Jon tells an anecdote about recording in a church Switzerland with Rick on the organ and Jon playing a harp, and even though I know what song he's talking about I still can't believe it until they do it, and it's Awaken, one of the most perfect songs in the universe, and I still can't believe they played it with just a piano. One of those "worth the price of the ticket just for this" moments.

Awaken finishes the first set and they take a short break. Jon comes back on alone to play a solo medley at the piano. It's basically the same as the central part of his solo shows last year. You might wonder why he's bothering playing the piano when he's got Rick Wakeman in the wings, but his simple, sparse style suits his songs and is a nice change of pace.

Jon leaves and Rick comes on for a solo set. For the most mind-boggling solo set I've ever seen. Beginning with "The Nursery Rhyme Concerto" (this is "Three Blind Mice" in the style of Mozart, "Humpty Dumpty" in the style of Ravel, "Jack and Jill" in the style of Debussy, ...something else, in the style of Rachmaninov, and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in the style of Les Dawson). Then a stand-up comedy routine about his (many) ex-wives leads, inevitably, into Catherine Howard.

Finally, they are both on stage for the last handful of songs, again mixing new and old songs. There are a couple of encores and that's it. About two hours of music, packed with beautiful moments, unexpected moments, funny moments, and just... perfect moments.

Some general comments. I think it was the first night of the tour, and it showed in the odd moment of uncertainty (after you, maestro" "no you start this one" "no, you do" "no, you do... oh yes, I do"), missed cues, and forgotten words (that's not actually unusual for Jon). None of that detracted from the show at all. Sometimes it added unexpected humour, such as Jon explaining that this was a new song and he couldn't remember the words so he'd written them down... then discovering that he'd forgotten to bring them on stage. During another song, they're playing away and Jon says to Rick "I don't know how we're going to end this song, did we rehearse that?" (Rick says that *he* did but Jon had gone home by then.)

There's a lot of humour between the two of them, and that complements the music nicely. Jon will be going through some long, rambling explanation of the song and Rick will cut him off with a perfect one-liner, completely cracking Jon up. Actually, they reminded me a lot of Marecambe and Wise (yes, that's a good thing). It all seems spontaneous, too, though I don't know how it will feel a few shows into the tour...

Well, I've probably made the experience sound completely flat by dissecting it like this, but believe me it wasn't. Hugely enjoyable, entertaining, uplifting, and just... perfect.




Last edited by David Meadows, 8/10/2006, 16:48


---
"I lost her under the floorboards for three weeks!" -- Grandfather Yun. Heroes issue 38
8/10/2006, 16:33 Link to this post Send Email to David Meadows   Send PM to David Meadows
 
Beese Profile
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Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


quote:

David Meadows wrote:

Stop reading now if you're going to see Anderson and Wakeman and you don't want me to spoil the set list (because half the fun is discovering how they manage to perform Yes songs with just a voice and a piano).



OK then, I'll read this on the 20th! emoticon
10/10/2006, 5:28 Link to this post Send Email to Beese   Send PM to Beese
 
Speed King Profile
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


Wakeman and Anderson? Who are they then?
Looking forward to this show. I am only going the once now Dash as when I tried to book Croydon, they only had the back 2 rows left. emoticon
10/10/2006, 18:01 Link to this post Send PM to Speed King
 
David Meadows Profile
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The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge

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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


quote:

Speed King wrote:
when I tried to book Croydon, they only had the back 2 rows left. emoticon


I'm really surprised -- the Edinburgh Playhouse was half empty, and I bet that included people from the cancelled Glasgow gig!

And the Scots wonder why nobody bothers touring there emoticon



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This week's review: Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman
11/10/2006, 10:42 Link to this post Send Email to David Meadows   Send PM to David Meadows
 
Mark Dreier Profile
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Registered: 01-2006
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


It's a pity that they don't come over here. emoticon

Do you think there is a chance that one of the shows is filmed and will be released as a DVD?

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11/10/2006, 12:13 Link to this post Send PM to Mark Dreier
 
David Meadows Profile
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The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge

Registered: 09-2003
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


quote:

Mark Dreier wrote:
Do you think there is a chance that one of the shows is filmed and will be released as a DVD?


I've heard nothing about it.



---
This week's review: Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman
11/10/2006, 12:56 Link to this post Send Email to David Meadows   Send PM to David Meadows
 
Speed King Profile
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


I'm about 90% sure I read somewhere on the Yes Forums that one of these shows will be getting filmed for a dvd release, though I've just been searching for that info but cannot find it now. emoticon
11/10/2006, 18:52 Link to this post Send PM to Speed King
 
Mark Dreier Profile
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


So there is hope emoticon !

---
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12/10/2006, 10:30 Link to this post Send PM to Mark Dreier
 
Beese Profile
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


Just got back from Cambridge and it was a good show, great performances and very amusing chatter. They really re-worked the songs brilliantly. Awaken was my personal highlight.

I do have a few gripes though:

The sound for Jon's guitar was slightly distorted for the first half of the set and did drown out Rick a bit.

The upstairs seats were very uncomfertable for anyone who's over 5' 1". Damn my father for insisting on sitting!

Seemingly without warning the show actually started at the time printed on the tickets, obviously as a regular gig goer I assumed that the time was the opening of the venue, but they actually started at 7:30 so we missed the first song. Evidentally the Cambridge Corn Exchange has different rules from every other venue I've ever been to.

I'm not quite sure what the justification of charging £32 (£3 less then the last Yes tour) for a ticket, seeming as there were only two of them and oviously very few roadies. The tickets were somewhat over-priced... oh well I didn't pay...

Apart from that I really enjoyed it!
21/10/2006, 2:01 Link to this post Send Email to Beese   Send PM to Beese
 
Mr Blobby Profile
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Re: Wakeman & Anderson


quote:

Beese wrote:


I'm not quite sure what the justification of charging £32 (£3 less then the last Yes tour) for a ticket, seeming as there were only two of them and oviously very few roadies. The tickets were somewhat over-priced... !



Because just like everyone else in the world.
They want as much money as they can get.

Seeing them tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

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If you dont agree with my opinion...Then tough.
23/10/2006, 20:00 Link to this post Send Email to Mr Blobby   Send PM to Mr Blobby
 


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