Progressive rock titans Yes have announced their 2016 summer tour. Billed as “The Album Series: Drama + Topographic 1 & 4,” the concerts will feature the 1980’s Drama album performed in its entirety, for the first time ever, and sides one and four of 1973’s double album, Tales From Topographic Oceans, plus a selection of their greatest hits.
In a statement, the band’s guitarist Steve Howe said: “We are proud to present the American public with forward-looking albums from the past. Promoting Drama at Madison Square Garden on multi-nights was a career milestone in 1980, and we are especially looking forward to performing both the opening and closing sides to Topographic Oceans.” Drummer Alan White added: “We really hit the ground running with Topographic Oceans, my first recorded album with Yes. It pushed boundaries of music and went to number 1 in the UK.”
The band’s annual summer outing will take them throughout the U.S. beginning July 27 in Columbus, OH before wrapping September 4 in San Diego, CA. See below for initial list of tour dates. Additional shows will be announced soon.
Former Yes lead singer Jon Anderson has a new album and tour coming.
The 1980 album Drama – the band’s tenth studio album – marked a new sound and more aggressive direction for Yes with the use of modern keyboards and a vocoder. The album peaked at #2 in the U.K. and #18 in the U.S. Released as a double album in 1973, Tales From Topographic Oceans is a concept album comprised of four interlocking pieces, ranging between 18 and 22 minutes. Tales From Topographic Oceans, the band’s sixth studio album reached #1 in the U.K. for two weeks and peaked at #6 in the U.S.
Following the album performances, Yes – whose current lineup features Howe (guitar), Jon Davison (vocals), White (drums), Billy Sherwood (bass) and Geoff Downes (keyboard) – will also perform a selection of their greatest hits. While those songs haven’t been identified, fans can hope to hear such Yes favorites as “Roundabout,” “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” “I’ve Seen All Good People” and “Starship Trooper.”
The band will be performing the albums Drama and Fragile in the U.K. and Europe from April 27 to June 1. Details here.
Yes U.S. Summer Tour (Tickets go on sale on various dates; details here):
July 27 – Columbus, OH – Ohio State Fair
July 30 – Atlantic City, NJ – Tropicana
July 31 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Event Center
Aug 02 – Lewiston, NY – Artpark
Aug 04 – Lynn, MA – Lynn Auditorium
Aug 05 – Wallingford, CT – Oakdale Theatre
Aug 06 – Westbury, NY – Theatre at Westbury
Aug 09 – Staten Island, NY – St. George Theatre
Aug 10 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen PAC
Aug 12 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theater
Aug 13 – Morristown, NJ – Morristown PAC
Aug 16 – Washington, DC – Warner Theatre
Aug 17 – Munhall, PA – Carnegie of Homestead Music Hall
Aug 19 – Sterling Heights, MI – Freedom Hill Amphitheatre
Aug 20 – Chicago, IL – Copernicus Center
Aug 21 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
Aug 24 – Denver, CO – Paramount Theatre
Aug 26 – Anaheim, CA – The Grove
Aug 27 – Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas Events Center
Aug 28 – Santa Barbara, CA – Arlington Theatre
Aug 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Orpheum Theater
Aug 31 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery
Sept 2 – Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Casino
Sept 3 – Paso Robles, CA – Vina Robles Winery
Sept 4 – San Diego, CA – Humphrey’s
