Review: YES 'The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas'

YES The Royal Affair Tour Live From Las Vegas album cover

YES

By Mike O’Cull

Progressive rock pioneers Yes are back in top form with a new live album, The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas, that drops October 30th, 2020 on BMG Records. The release documents a gig at the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada on the band’s 2019 American tour, which was meant to be a celebration of the best prog Britain has to offer. Guests on the tour included Asia (with Yes keyboardist Geoff Downes and a special appearance by guitarist Steve Howe), John Lodge of The Moody Blues, and Carl Palmer’s ELP Legacy featuring Arthur Brown. The set will be available as a CD digi sleeve with a 12-page booklet, a 2 LP gatefold with a 12″ booklet, and on digital. The record captures an inspired night in the life of one of rock music’s most legendary bands and proves beyond a doubt that it’s very much alive.

Yes has been one of the most crucially important and best-loved rock bands of the last 50 years. The group has always been innovative, influential, and at the vanguard of the progressive rock movement. Formed in 1968 by vocalist Jon Anderson and the late bassist Chris Squire, their 1970s albums The Yes Album, Fragile, Close To The Edge, the triple live Yessongs, Tales From Topographic Oceans, Relayer and Going For The One were ground-breaking in content and execution and have become eternal components of the prog rock firmament. The group also became synonymous with artist Roger Dean, whose distinctive Yes logo design and artwork adorned the lavish gatefold presentation sleeves of many of those landmark albums. The Grammy-award winning crew was inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 and has sold more than 50 million records.

Yes comes out blazing on the opener “No Opportunity Necessary No Experience Needed,” a breakneck rocker driven by drummers Alan White and Jay Schellen and current bassist Billy Sherwood. Steve Howe is his usual spectacular self on guitar and vocalist since 2011 Jon Davidson glides smoothly over the top of it all. “Tempus Fugit” from 1980’s Drama album is as brilliant as ever and features more fired-up fret work from Howe and Sherwood. “Having the opportunity to bring together the band members in the development of a well-refined set of songs that captures the band’s true potential is simply an honor for me,” Howe has said and it’s audibly obvious on these recordings how happy he is to still be with the group that introduced him to the world. Yes’ level of musicianship has always been incredibly high and fans will be happy to know nobody involved has lost a single step.

“I’ve Seen All Good People” is one of the most popular Yes songs of all time and this live Vegas version is stunning. Vocalist Davidson hits original singer Jon Anderson’s target dead on and lights up the entire room. The spirit of the band’s classic 70s period is present in every second of this performance and their energy is impressive to behold. The show also contains covers of Paul Simon’s “America” and John Lennon’s “Imagine,” the original studio recording of which Yes drummer Alan White played on.

The show concludes with two of Yes’ most enduring tracks, “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper.” “Roundabout” was the band’s biggest radio hit back in the day and still packs a punch. Billy Sherwood handles Chris Squire’s signature bass parts with style and grace and pushes the band into the zone. “Starship Trooper” is among the greatest prog cuts of the 20th Century and remains an artistic beacon in the present day. This Yes lineup is as good as any other in the group’s long history and diehard fans are going to love every bit of this show. The Royal Affair Tour, Live From Las Vegas is a strong showing from one of prog rock’s creators and gives us all the happy news that Yes is nowhere near done defining greatness.

Listen to “Imagine”