Concert Review: Yes and Asia at the Uptown

You know you’re with a real Yes crowd when they cheer more loudly for 10-minute rock epic “Machine Messiah” off the lesser-known 1980 album Drama than for the 1983 pop hit “Owner of a Lonely Heart.”

In fact, one of the rare moments of crowd interaction came after “Lonely Heart” got a cool response (undeservedly, I think) from the seated crowd at the Uptown. The crowd remained seated after the song’s conclusion, despite having jumped to its feet to applaud the preceding number: a six-minute acoustic guitar solo recital by founder and bona fide Progthuselah Steve Howe.

In the moment of interaction, brand-new replacement singer Benoit David (who took over for an ill Jon Anderson last year), gauged the audience’s disfavor with ’83 Yes and said, “Are you ready for some more rock and roll?” The audience, who, for the most part, was white and aged 35 and up, gave a cheer. Before the band launched into “Messiah,” a British gentlemen seated behind me said, “I want to hear ‘Heart of the Sunrise.'”

Toward the end of the hour-and-45-minute set, the bloke would get his wish.