David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Steve Howe (review)
It seems to be a rule that members of Yes must play "Starship Trooper" as the encore in their solo shows. I don't think Steve's version was as good Rick Wakeman's last year, but at least he doesn't try to sing it!
He does make a bizarre attempt to sing part of Close to the Edge, which has to be heard to be believed...
But last night's show wasn't about his voice, it was about his guitar playing. Which was, of course, some of the best guitar playing I've ever seen. But before I drool over that, I'll quickly mention his band.
It's a very good band. The (5-string) bass player (I'm sorry, I forget his name) was quietly competent, a bit funky at times, and pretty high in the mix. The keyboard player (Virgil Howe, looking scarily like his father) was again competent but given little opportunity to shine. He sings backing vocals with a voice somewhere near Jon Anderson's range, giving the feeling you're listening to a kind of reverse-Yes. I actually think he should have handled the lead vocals rather than his father. Ray Fenwick on second guitar was unfortunately buried in the mix a lot of the time, because I would love to hear what he can do these days. But watching his fingers, and on the occasions he rose above the bass-and-keyboard background, you can tell he's a man who would still be lead guitar in any other band. The drummer (another son, but I forget the name) wins the award for best [backing] band member. He's the only band member to get an extended solo spot, and he deserved it. He's a very impressive, versatile, proggy/jazzy drummer (think Bill Bruford) who should go on to something big... except there aren't any big things left for drummers like that in this musically-clueless decade. Ah well...
So, Steve Howe. What can I say? I'm not going to rave about his style. If you know Steve Howe, you'll know exactly what he's like.
He takes the record for "most guitars I've seen played in a single concert", his total of seven beating the previous record of six (held by... um... Steve Howe). He never played more than two at the same time, though... he's getting lazy
The majority of the set was songs from his solo albums that I'm not really familiar with, with only a handful of Yes songs. But not knowing the songs doesn't matter when you can just sit and marvel at the virtuosity of the playing. The middle third of the set featured Steve alone on stage with just an acoustic guitar. I can't really think of anybody else who would mix rock, country, classical and flamenco guitar the way he does and have an audience cheer at *all* of it.
My personal favourite was Close to the Edge performed on solo acoustic guitar. One of those moments where you forget to clap because you're just too boggled by it...
Some general notes: The audience was 90% my age and older, with a few youths of superior taste scattered round (looking oddly clean-cut and "square" next to the grizzled old hippies). I'm sorry that the hall was only half full. A local transport strike can't have helped, but even so he deserves to be playing to full houses. And finally, I counted six cameras around the place -- yes, they filmed the whole thing. Cool, I'm going to be on another live album
Last edited by David Meadows, 9/3/2004, 16:45
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9/3/2004, 12:43
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Ali Tait
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
Did he play The Clap?
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9/3/2004, 16:27
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David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
Of course
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9/3/2004, 16:42
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Nigel Young
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
David wrote:
quote: It seems to be a rule that members of Yes must play "Starship Trooper" as the encore in their solo shows. I don't think Steve's version was as good Rick Wakeman's last year, but at least he doesn't try to sing it!
Full circle then.... part of it started life as an instrumental demo called 'Nether Street' by Canto (with Dave Curtiss and Bobby Woodman), back in 1968, before they recorded it in 1969 with vocals after they'd become Bodast.
Nigel
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9/3/2004, 17:29
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RitchiesHair
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
The bassit's name is Derrick Taylor and the son #2's first name is Dylan, I couldn't hear the bass at Cambridge but I agree that the drumming was top-notch, when I saw "Howe" next to his name it immediately suggested nepotism but he's certainly more than worthy of the position.
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9/3/2004, 17:32
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Beese
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
I saw him with my Dad at Reading, I really enjoyed it actually, really laid back and kinda cozy! He only did Wurm at the end of the show, not the entire song and no vocals, I thought it was really good, best bit of the song.
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10/3/2004, 2:09
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David Meadows
The Fountain Of Useless Knowledge
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
quote: Nigel Young wrote:
David wrote:
quote: It seems to be a rule that members of Yes must play "Starship Trooper" as the encore in their solo shows. I don't think Steve's version was as good Rick Wakeman's last year, but at least he doesn't try to sing it!
Full circle then.... part of it started life as an instrumental demo called 'Nether Street' by Canto (with Dave Curtiss and Bobby Woodman), back in 1968, before they recorded it in 1969 with vocals after they'd become Bodast.
Nigel
Is there any group whose history you don't know in minutest detail?
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10/3/2004, 11:15
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RitchiesHair
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
quote: Beese wrote:
I saw him with my Dad at Reading
What were the audience figures like?, it seems like everywhere was only half full.
Last edited by RitchiesHair, 10/3/2004, 13:43
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10/3/2004, 13:42
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Sgt Pepper
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
quote: RitchiesHair wrote:
quote: Beese wrote:
I saw him with my Dad at Reading
What were the audience figures like?, it seems like everywhere was only half full.
Or half empty, depending whether or not you are an optimist or pessimist, apparently.
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10/3/2004, 14:16
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Beese
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Re: Steve Howe (review)
quote: Sgt Pepper wrote:
quote: RitchiesHair wrote:
quote: Beese wrote:
I saw him with my Dad at Reading
What were the audience figures like?, it seems like everywhere was only half full.
Or half empty, depending whether or not you are an optimist or pessimist, apparently.
Yeah wasn't particularly full no i was third row and there was noone directly infront of me which was kool!
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11/3/2004, 2:16
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