Rabin-esque: April 2017

Friday, April 28, 2017

spot the Poms

A friend of the blog checked in with me today...
Why wasn't Lee in Japan? Did they forget to pack him?!

Seeing as Mr. P is quite well-traveled I don't believe he'd allow himself to be left behind. but we do know he is currently supporting UK superstars Take That and here's a sighting from their March 31st appearance on BBC programme The One Show, providing that "elusive fourth harmony" as Lee refers to it (it used to be "fifth" but now there's only three guys).

Some pics from the One Show Friday night. Credit to Alexis Taft #garybarlow #markowen #howarddonald #TTIII #TakeThat #TT #Wonderland #Giants

A post shared by Take That News (@takethat.news) on Apr 2, 2017 at 2:01am PDT

Thursday, April 27, 2017

ARW tour report: Japan

Reader beware: this entry contains SPOILERS! for ARW's 2017 Japanese tour. If you do not wish to read/view/listen to any details/elements of the tour prior to your applicable show then please do not read this entry!
_____________________________________________________________

Author's Note: A big thank you to everyone who shared photos and videos and impressions on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and the Yesfans discussion forum. Each tour report entry could be considered a work-in-progress as I find more things to add.

Tokyo
(Monday)
Just another day on the job...

Tokyo Orchard Hall

A post shared by christopher fudurich (@fudurich) on Apr 16, 2017 at 10:12pm PDT

17, April. 2017 YES feat. ARW 雨の渋谷☔️も力強い演奏に元気が出ました😉👍🎸🎹🎼🎤

A post shared by Masanobu Iizuka (@masanobu_iizuka) on Apr 17, 2017 at 5:30am PDT

(Tuesday)

間近にトレヴァーラビンとリックウェイクマン！ #jonanderson #trevorrabin #rickwakeman #andersonrabinwakeman #yes

A post shared by Jay Yoshitaka Kobayashi (@jaykoba2001) on Apr 18, 2017 at 5:47am PDT

さすがベテランは凄い。久しぶりに音の洪水に流された。#arw

A post shared by Minezaki Eisuke (@asukem) on Apr 18, 2017 at 5:29am PDT

(Wednesday)
So far from home we can see Rick is pining for his normal diet...

I love Japanese food but miss my parsnips & leeks. I don't think the rest of the band miss my missing them though.
— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) April 18, 2017

Trevor Rabin. #yes #arw #AndersonRabinWakeman #TrevorRabin

A post shared by Shadow Moon (@metalmoon444) on Apr 19, 2017 at 7:37am PDT

Osaka

YESが過去の名盤のライブでの再現を目指したのに対しARWは現状のYESを表現してた。 YESの音楽に対する解釈の違いが面白い。しかし今を生きるARWの方がライブとしては圧倒的に楽しかったと思う。そんなことより良い席に当たり中坊の頃から好きだったジョン・アンダーソンやリック・ウエイクマンを真正面から会えたことが何者にも代え難い喜びだったよ。このライブに行けて良かった〜^ ^ ロンリーハートにクリームのクロスロードを紛れ込ますなんて洒落てる（笑） #YES_featuring_ARW #アルカイックホール #ジョンアンダーソン #リックウエイクマン #トレバーラヴィン

A post shared by Takashi Kawabata (@taka_k1111) on Apr 21, 2017 at 8:24am PDT

ラビン氏のギターも神がかり！#ARW pic.twitter.com/gWFjt35oCx
— Deathvalley69 (@6supperrmooon8) April 21, 2017

Hiroshima
This fan has ticket in hand!

4月のお楽しみも発券してきた♪尼崎のアルカイックホールでもライブあるけど、あえて週末の広島を選択。プログレのレジェンドをクアトロで観れるとか、凄くね？ #arw #andersonrabinwakeman #jonanderson #trevorrabin #rickwakeman #yesband #progrock #progressiverock

A post shared by ヤムコロ (@wacky_or_yc) on Feb 19, 2017 at 6:58am PST

Setlist
Cinema/Perpetual Change
Hold On
I've Seen All Good People
Lift Me Up
And You and I
Rhythm of Love
Heart of the Sunrise
Changes
The Meeting
Awaken
Make It Easy/Owner of a Lonely Heart
Encore:
Roundabout

Audience videos
"Cinema"
https://youtu.be/G7KQRGDiHMw
"Roundabout"
https://youtu.be/scir1n1FLtI

Photos
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTMI-sejc8g
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTMCMNVluWu
https://twitter.com/robechichi/status/855790908020842496
https://twitter.com/UriahHeepLove/status/855725326604804096
https://twitter.com/kuwayan272727/status/855741074538508288
https://twitter.com/coldplay2006/status/855751690871422977

A set of photos courtesy of Quwayama Takeshi:
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=803116206509025&set=pcb.1868462883375739&type=3&theater

本日はアンダーソン、ラビン、ウェイクマンのライブに❗️予想を遥かに上回る高度な演奏力とファンタジー溢れるボーカル。イエス・ミュージックを堪能しました😄😄また見たい❗️ #arw

A post shared by Kim#15 (@carp4life_15) on Apr 22, 2017 at 6:55am PDT

What a fun time! ................... #ARW #clairjapan #udoartists #yesfeatarw #YES .................... #hashtagsfordays #livemusic #sound #lights #japan #foh #audio #audioengineer

A post shared by christopher fudurich (@fudurich) on Apr 25, 2017 at 6:11pm PDT

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Owner of a picture disc

Yesterday was the annual observance of Record Store Day and this year featured a neato item for vinyl collectors who are also YesWest fans - a picture disc of 90125 which reprises the album's neo-futuristic CMYK color-scheme cover art. If you happened to miss out there's always resellers but caveat emptor, this limited edition pressing will be selling at quite a mark-up now...

Thank you @titoagogo and @imps120 for being a Record Store Day friend and getting me this picture disc of my second-favorite album of all time. #90125 #recordstoreday2017 #yesmusic #trevorrabin #ownerofalonelyheart

A post shared by Bob Koenig (@buildingabetterbob) on Apr 22, 2017 at 5:43pm PDT

As much as I'm not fond of picture discs, I am fond of this album very much. The remastered tracks sound great. Glad to have it. #YES #90125 #progpop #1984 #trevorrabin #atco #recordstoreday #ownerofalonelyheart

A post shared by Eustace Resinthumb-Esquire (@ed_dead_redemption) on Apr 22, 2017 at 1:53pm PDT

Saturday, April 22, 2017

old friends, part seven

Spotted on Instagram: with all of the focus on the legacy aspect of ARW sometimes it's easy to forget the core of this band is three friends (but not those other Three Friends) who have decided to come together to celebrate their shared history and also venture forth into new territory. So here's a nice candid shot from Japan where Our Boys are having a good time...

#TrevorRabin #JonAnderson and his wife in front of #BulletTrain at Shin-Osaka station in #Japan 🇯🇵

A post shared by hideous_xxx (@ale10mg66) on Apr 21, 2017 at 11:30pm PDT

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Of course you did!

As we learned from Henry Potts, Iain Hornal is filling in for Lee Pomeroy on the Japanese tour and I find this Twitter exchange adorable and funny because I had posted a joke on Yesfans yesterday about Iain having to study Lee's routine for his stand-in duties.

@HornalMusic @ARWTour Nice dance Iain！#ARW #AndersonRabinWakeman pic.twitter.com/vrHhZgtiML
— YMS-08@ 🍏 (@rgc50213) April 20, 2017

I learnt all my moves from Lee Pomeroy https://t.co/Owu91nQ403
— Iain Hornal (@HornalMusic) April 20, 2017

Friday, April 14, 2017

In The Studio Yes special

Last week, Redbeard's In The Studio program released the second part of a retrospective special concerning our Hall of Famers, containing archival interview recordings. This segment covers the YesWest as well as the ABWH/Union periods.

http://www.inthestudio.net/online-on-demand/yes-best-pt-2-jon-andersonthe-late-chris-squirealan-whitetony-kayesteve-howetrevor-rabin/

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

additional dates for Summer/Fall tour

With many pre-sales already occurring for the North American tour, it's important to keep an eye on the overall schedule, as new dates were added today.

August 29th - Friant, CA
September 21st - Port Chester, NY
October 6th - Albany, NY
October 10th - Melbourne, FL
October 13th - West Palm Beach, FL
October 14th - Miami, FL

Visit the official website:
http://www.yesfeaturingarw.com/
for links and additional information.

Monday, April 10, 2017

website update and Summer/Fall tour dates released

As I'd previously reported, the dates for the 2017 North American tour are finalized and now available on the newly-rebranded ARW site, with their name thus changed to the Yes Featuring moniker. However, I will continue to refer to them as ARW not as a comment on the legitimacy debate, but because having two bands known as Yes is just too taxing for my aging brain.

The tour features some previous stops as well as including new cities - and thankfully for a particular portion of the fanbase, a visit to Canada!

All info is available now at: http://www.yesfeaturingarw.com/

Sunday, April 9, 2017

notes from the Hall of Famer

Today Trevor posted on social media to share his impressions of the R&RHoF Induction Ceremony and future plans.

As i'm sure you all know, I'm not big on social media. no reason, I just seem to not go there often. So please... https://t.co/i2B8A2Bqi7
— Trevor Rabin (@Rabin_News) April 9, 2017

Saturday, April 8, 2017

one night only

With thanks to those intrepid chroniclers on social media...not only did we get to witness a reunion of most of the Union lineup, but also - likely for the very last time - a 3/5ths reunion of YesWest, an event which has occurred only two other times in Yes history (2009 and 2010).

And here's the All-Star Jam which Trevor participated in: a rendition of Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World." Trevor's solo spot is at about the 5:48 mark.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Head of the Class

Tonight Yes joined the pantheon of musical icons with their induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - with a great introduction from Alex Lifeson and Geddy Lee, altogether characteristic thank-you speeches from most of the guys (in which Trevor, as always acknowledging the foundation of his family, thanked Shelley and Ryan) and performances of two of the classics of the Yes canon: "Roundabout" and "Owner of a Lonely Heart."

And in another long-held tradition, Our Trev was attired just as we knew he would be.

That's YES. Fresh off their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Photo cred El Chapo!!

A post shared by Jeff Millen (@jmill66) on Apr 7, 2017 at 7:03pm PDT

Photo courtesy of Radio Futura.

Yes to Yes #yesband #ownerofalonelyheart

A post shared by Ryan Silbert (@ryansilbert) on Apr 7, 2017 at 6:10pm PDT

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Media Watch: new Radio.com interview

With thanks to Paul Vaughan for the heads-up.

Today, in advance of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, comes a new interview with Trevor:
http://radio.com/2017/04/06/trevor-rabin-yes-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame/

Among many interesting comments is this, regarding future plans:

Beyond ARW, are you working on more film scores, and are you going to do any more solo albums?
I am. In fact, I’ve got two solo records which I’m scheduled to do and two scores which I’m not at liberty to mention right now. I get ostracized by doing so. But I pretty much signed on to them now, and so I’m pretty busy right up until the end of 2018 at this point.
I did an instrumental album in 2012. I wanna follow that up with another [instrumental] album, and I also do wanna do a kind of vocal rock album to follow up on the Can’t Look Away album [from 1989]. Yeah, then obviously, a priority goal for us is ARW, and I’ve got these songs to do, but nothing’s gonna get in the way of the ARW tour for Rick, me or Jon.

As we know from Trevor's previous postings on his Facebook page, the project which was shelved in order to devote time to ARW was the vocal rock album.

Update: this interview with Jon and Trevor was also published today:
https://www.yahoo.com/music/rock-roll-hall-famers-jon-anderson-trevor-rabin-many-faces-yes-221600286.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

upcoming Summer tour dates

Information regarding dates for the Summer tour which had been previously mentioned is now starting to emerge via various venues. It appears the guys will be beginning the tour out West in August according to these listings:

Saratoga, CA - August 28th

http://www.axs.com/events/334158/yes-tickets?skin=mountainwinery

Layton, UT - September 2nd

http://www.davisarts.org/yes/

Vienna, VA - September 13th
http://www.wolftrap.org/tickets/calendar/performance/17filene/0913show17.aspx

As Rick mentioned in his monthly GORR posting a couple days ago, apparently ARW are now being billed as Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman. I can't presume to speak to the legalities/technicalities of such a thing; I mention it simply because it seems anyone looking for information regarding upcoming shows would be better-served to search using the new moniker.

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

old friends, part six

Spotted on Twitter: Steve Lukather confirms something I'd long suspected...

@DoctorCheryl @GrumpyOldRick Yes that is my son. His name was inspired by Trevor Rabin as he is a an old dear friend and one of my fave players, writers and producers!
— Steve Lukather (@stevelukather) April 4, 2017

And in fact any number of Trevors born in the 1980s-1990s have been named in honor of the Maestro, which is one of those trends we see in naming offspring - when a celebrity with a particular moniker is influential and/or beloved enough to induce others to adopt it as well; with the name reaching an apex of popularity in the US in 1994 and 1998.

Monday, April 3, 2017

ARW tour report: week four (Low Countries)

Reader beware: this entry contains SPOILERS! for week four of ARW's 2017 World tour. If you do not wish to read/view/listen to any details/elements of the tour prior to your applicable show then please do not read this entry!
_____________________________________________________________

Author's Note: A big thank you to everyone who shared photos and videos and impressions on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and the Yesfans discussion forum. Each tour report entry could be considered a work-in-progress as I find more things to add.

Brussels
I appreciate that Lee is looking after the health of his Rickenbacker by ensuring it is properly swaddled.

Lee Pomeroy #ARW - 27.03.17 @ Koninklijk Circus

A post shared by Mark Van Mullem (@mark_vm) on Mar 27, 2017 at 10:51pm PDT

wonderful audiences in Brussels and Utrecht. Thank you so much. I will also own up to buying chocolate in Belgium & tulips in Amsterdam
— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) March 29, 2017

Trevor Rabin! Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin equals prog heaven! #progrockgalores #rickwakeman #jonanderson #trevorrabin #awr #yes #imsohappy

A post shared by Roadburn Festival (@roadburnfest) on Mar 28, 2017 at 1:17pm PDT

Saturday, April 1, 2017

"I'll take 'Hit Single Puns' for $100, Alex."

I've noted the continuing cultural relevance of "Owner of a Lonely Heart" previous to this entry, as a song and a riff and a phrase it echoes with many layers of evocation in popular culture. Thanks to a fan on Facebook I have discovered one of the more silly references, which appeared in Dan Thompson's Brevity comic strip in April of 2013.

And as further proof of the popularity of this '80s classic, recently a unique cover version appeared on YouTube...

Introduction: