YES 50th Anniversary Tour Makes Stop at Midland Theatre in Kansas City
London’s legendary progressive rock band YES left its eternal imprint on Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland in downtown Kansas City on June 10. Celebrating its landmark 50th anniversary, the performance was the fourth night of the 35-date tour and was exactly what the habitual fans yearned to experience. It is tough to believe with such forward-looking sounds—sounds that even today are evocative of the future—that the band has entertained for five incredible decades.
The evening featured two sets with classic member Steve Howe (guitar/vocals) alongside Goeff Downes (keyboards/vocals), Billy Sherwood (bass/vocals), Jon Davison (lead vocals) and Jay Schellen (drums). Among the setlist were the tunes that launched and solidified their career in the ’70s plus a couple of modern era tunes, including “Nine Voices (Longwalker)” (1999) and “Fly From Here, Part I: We Can Fly” (2011). Every song seemed like the culmination of the night as fans gave standing adulation to each one, showing true appreciation for exquisite art rock and musicianship.
Epic songs “Awaken” and “Yours Is No Disgrace”—the final song of Set 2 and the first song of the formidable encore—saw classic member Alan White (drums/vocals) and founding member Tony Kaye (keyboards/vocals) taking to the stage, both playing with the invigoration and charisma of their youth. The audience stood for every second of that encore, no longer able to a bit contain themselves. Top to bottom, the night was absolutely filled with imagination and astral emotions that swept everyone away to another place.
If ever there was an audience that did not want to go home. YES bears a fanbase like no other, much like a cult classic following, but taken to a whole new level. The ever-so-beautiful and majestic Mildand Theatre is the quintessential place to host such a thrill ride. Each song certainly seemed like a culmination, but the band still had an extra electrifying burst to close out the night. It was like a perfect story told throughout the entire performance with the climatic finish timed ever so impeccably.
YES 50th Anniversary Tour Setlist at The Midland in Kansas City:
Set 1 – “Close to the Edge,” “Nine Voices (Longwalker),” “Parallels,” “Mood for the Day” (Steve Howe solo acoustic), “Leaves of Green” (Steve Howe solo acoustic), “Fly From Here, Part I: We Can Fly,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Heart of the Sunrise”; Set 2 – “Perpetual Change,” “Does It Really Happen?,” “Soon” and “Awaken”; Encore – “Yours Is No Disgrace,” “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper”
