Media Watch: Full Access interview

Note: with thanks to the readers who have called it to my attention; I am indeed having problems with my link list and therefore it's out of commission for now.  I'm hoping the Blogger people will resolve this issue soon.

In advance of ARW's performances in Florida, an interview with Trevor was published on Saturday in Full Access magazine:
http://www.fullaccessmagazine.com/ARW%20-%2010012016

I appreciate that it's got a bit more biographical material in it than most interviews of this promotional cycle, even as long-time fans are familiar with the details.

Media Watch: new Limelight magazine interview

Happy Tour Day, everyone!
Note: this entry contains a setlist SPOILER! for the tour.

Published today in advance of ARW's appearance at Boston's Citi Wang Theatre on October 19th is a new interview with Trevor.
https://limelightmagazine.com/2016/10/04/trevorrabin/

Interestingly it seems that the setlist may be an evolving prospect:

“We’ve rehearsed way more than we need and we still haven’t reconciled what we are going to play. I mean obviously we’re going to play 'Owner of a Lonely Heart' and things that you kind of have to play. It’s kind of prerequisite for doing the tour, almost.”

Media Watch: Concert Blogger interview

(With thanks to the @AndersonRabinWa fan-based Twitter account for the heads-up.)

The interviews are coming fast and thick now as press coverage heats up for the tour...this one courtesy of Concert Blogger online magazine in advance of ARW's three-date sojourn in the Garden State.
http://concertblogger.com/2016/09/anderson-rabin-wakeman-arw/
And with a brand-new publicity headshot, which is wonderful to see!

This interview contains some notable quotes, and most interestingly a little Monday Morning quarterbacking as regards Jacaranda:

I’ve done 50 film scores and a 2012 instrumental album which was most enjoyable but I did it backward; I finished the record first and then I placed it with a distributor. The fans didn’t seem to like it but that was fine, not all goes well in life.

I don't happen to agree with Trevor's viewpoint in this case, but I am on record as absolutely loving that album, so I suppose it can be said I'm rather biased.

Media Watch: new Times interview

An ongoing series wherein I comment on Trevor's recent publicity.

Note: this entry contains a setlist SPOILER! for the tour.

Published today, an interview with Trevor in advance of ARW's performance at Heinz Hall in Pittsburgh on October 12th.
http://www.timesonline.com/columnists/scott_tady/trevor-rabin-talks-heinz-hall-concert-with-fellow-yes-men/article_d798b154-84ae-11e6-a788-1f1674a30dc9.html

Trevor confirms that they will be performing the Classic Yes epic "Starship Trooper" in the set, definitely one of my favorites and for many other fans as well.

picture perfect

Spotted on Instagram: this appears to be an official promotional photo of the boys!

One week until ARW takes off. Who's going?  #yes #arw #jonanderson #rickewakeman #trevorrabin #prog #progworthy

A photo posted by Prog Report (@progreport) on Sep 29, 2016 at 5:06am PDT

Media Watch: new interview on Northside Neighbor website

An ongoing series wherein I comment on Trevor's recent publicity.

Trevor gave an interview yesterday to Everett Catts in advance of ARW's appearance at Atlanta's Fox Theatre on October 10th:
http://www.mdjonline.com/neighbor_newspapers/northside_sandy_springs/arw-trio-of-former-yes-members-to-rock-fox-theatre/article_6532dfc4-857e-11e6-b834-034dc4fe2a24.html

As with other interviews in this promotional cycle, Trevor stated that they will not be performing new material on this tour.

Rabin said the Oct. 10 concert will have only Yes songs.

“What we’ve done is we’re working on new material and it wasn’t ready for this turn,” he said of a new album still in development. “We didn’t want to play something that would be on YouTube the next night. We want to get into the songs we have been doing for a while. It’s a lot tougher and more modern with different arrangements but 100 percent Yes songs.”

A brief advert

Spotted on Facebook: here's a word from the boys in advance of their appearance at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino...punctuated by Our Trev with some weird noise (not found in that famous synth break played by his bandmate).

https://www.facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood/videos/10157475910430716/

update: tour reports

With a week to go before the start of the ARW tour, I have received a few inquiries from readers asking if I will be providing ongoing coverage.  The answer is: yes, I will be posting tour reports but they will be weekly rather than a separate entry for each date; I believe this strategy will keep it much more manageable and tidy for all of us.

I will include a SPOILER ALERT! heading on each entry to warn people away who do not wish to be spoiled.  However, any entry titled "ARW tour report" is going to contain spoilers, so that's your cue not to read if you don't want advance details.  But for those (like me) who do want to know, I will do my utmost to find everything I can and include it in each week's entry.

I will also be composing a separate entry for the shows I will be attending, an in-depth review of the experience from my perspective.  And if you'd like to send me comments/reviews of your show(s) for inclusion in the weekly tour report, please email me at rabinesque.blog@gmail.com

I would also suggest - for anyone desiring to watch the boys in real time - keeping an eye on Periscope during performance periods (in the applicable time zone) to see if anyone is broadcasting.  Generally no one can get away with streaming an entire show, but a few songs usually do manage to get through.

humblebrag

This is actually a step down from Rick's previous "holy trinity" comment, which is why it's so funny...

I don't often blow my own trumpet but this ARW band is something else. More special than I imagined it could be. Even with me in the band

— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) September 26, 2016

TCR @ ELO

Spotted on Facebook: Trevor dropped in to see his new bandmate Lee Pomeroy perform as part of Jeff Lynne's ELO at the Hollywood Bowl earlier this week and Scott Tay Kalb was able to score a photo op (clink on the link provided) courtesy of his friend Trevor Lukather, the son of Toto guitarist Steve Lukather (who as long-time fans know has been a friend of Our Trev for many years).  Trevor the Younger happens to be a former bandmate of Ryan's as well.  Small world, eh?

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208975577004249&set=pcb.10208975634485686&type=3&theater

Media Watch: INsite Atlanta interview

An ongoing series wherein I comment on Trevor's recent publicity.

Back in early June I saw a mention on Twitter from journalist Lee Valentine Smith, who stated he had landed the first interview with Trevor regarding ARW.  Though his claim may be true his was not the first published, as the interview on the WOAI website claims that distinction.

I had thought Smith might make the interview available via his website, but I finally unearthed it via this link, on page 18:
https://issuu.com/insiteatlanta/docs/insiteissueweb-july16

It's very brief, and covers old ground as well as new, but there are a few interesting details:

• This interview features the first statement from Trevor that he was putting his scoring work on hold.
• His response (below) regarding future recordings seems to align with what Rick stated Trevor had said about desiring to record an album later rather than sooner.  Even as Trevor was working on a new song when the interview was conducted, it doesn't appear now there will be any new music released this year.

In this band you can control everything without the input of label people.  That must be a great feeling.  

It is.  The business is so different, why put out an album when you can just put out some great music?  So we're going to do three or four tracks, then after the tour is finished, maybe we will sit down and do a whole album.  But this summer and fall, all these tracks are going to come out first and I think that's the way we are going to operate.  I'm just very excited about it.

update: One Man and His Prog interview with Trevor & Rick

Here are the links to the interview I mentioned in my previous entry, it's a little over 14 minutes long.
https://soundcloud.com/darren-redick/arw-rick-and-trevor-pt-1
https://soundcloud.com/darren-redick/arw-rick-and-trevor-pt-2

Media Watch: upcoming interview on Planet Rock

(With thanks to Darren Redick for the heads-up.)

For fans in the UK, an interview with Rick and Trevor will be played in a few hours on Planet Rock's One Man and His Prog program, hosted by Darren Redick.  The show comes on at midnight, so I assume the interview will be aired sometime within the hour.  Hopefully the episode or the interview will be posted online for the rest of us to listen to at some point, and if so I'll be sure to follow up with the applicable link.

A Prog god, a Guitar god, and a Keyboard wizard

The fifth annual Progressive Music Awards was held at London's Globe Theatre and this year Jon Anderson was crowned Prog God (of course in the eyes of many fans, he's been God for quite some time now).  But he managed to turn his moment in the spotlight into a bit of a publicity junket for ARW as Rick Wakeman presented the award and Trevor made a surprise appearance, resulting in the public debut of the ensemble.

There's a very special guest at the #progawards... It's Trevor Rabin! #yes!

— Prog (@ProgMagazineUK) September 1, 2016

The ceremony was broadcast via Periscope and live-blogged on the Team Rock website, the Prog God award closed out the proceedings.

Group hug! @TheJonAnderson, @GrumpyOldRick and @Rabin_News at #progawards! pic.twitter.com/808v9xPBeQ

— Prog (@ProgMagazineUK) September 1, 2016

Amazing to see ARW on stage! @TheJonAnderson @Rabin_News @GrumpyOldRick @ProgMagazineUK pic.twitter.com/CZlOahTcWe

— Hiroko Saito (@hirokos1007) September 1, 2016

Update: PROG magazine's recap of the ceremony, with a portrait of the guys (and we've seen that blue shirt on Trevor before), can be read here:
http://teamrock.com/news/2016-09-02/jon-anderson-accepts-prog-god-award

Media Watch: new Guardian article

UK publication The Guardian posted an article today regarding the contentious fractious history of several bands, and one of them is Yes.  The text features quotes from Trevor; for example, he relates the memorial for Chris Squire he and Shelley held at their home in July 2015.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/aug/25/ub40-stiff-little-fingers-yes-bands-that-split-in-half

I imagine nothing will dispel the ongoing legitimacy debate regarding the concurrent activities of the current lineup of Yes and ARW, but as each outfit believes they are presenting a valid expression of Yes music, it is up to audiences to support and enjoy whomever they desire.

Media Watch: new Pollstar interview

An ongoing series wherein I comment on Trevor's recent publicity.

Industry publication Pollstar posted a new article yesterday combining interviews with Trevor and promoter Larry Magid.
http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=826387&

Interestingly Trevor does note that the original plan was for ARW to release new music, which was then superseded by the decision to tour.

It actually started purely just to do new music. We started working on that. Then the touring aspect came up. That seems to have taken over and we’ll end up releasing new music. It started one way and ended up the other.

He also states, when asked about the future potential of the ensemble, that their intention is "to keep going," which fits in with Rick's comment regarding the (three or) five-year plan.

When asked about the staging, Magid named British lighting designer Jonathan Smeeton as designing the production, and a recent post on Smeeton's official website confirms his involvement:
Next Starting in Orlando Florida and finishing in Seattle, Washington a nice little outing with ARW. Which is Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman. This will be my fourth outing with these players from YES.  Ten weeks in all, right through the autumn. Next year in Britain, Europe and beyond.

updates

There is another recent interview with Trevor available on the Team Rock website, but you have to subscribe in order to read the full text - or pick up the latest edition of Classic Rock (issue 227), one assumes.
http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-08-04/trevor-rabin-on-the-reunion-of-three-former-yes-members

A few days ago fans noticed that Gary Cambra is no longer listed as a member of the backing band on the official website, and subsequent mentions appear to indicate he is off the project.  For example, in his latest GORR update Rick notes:

One thing that became abundantly clear was that Lee Pomeroy and Lou Molino III are much more than added “sidemen”. Their contributions to all that went on were immense and ARW is truly a 5 piece band of tremendous future potential.

Last week there were also some photos in circulation on Facebook of singer-songwriter Brenda Russell and members of her band posing with Trevor and Rick, which led to speculation that Brenda might be joining ARW, but as I've noted in fandom discussion I believe the meeting occurred simply because both outfits were working at the same Los Angeles-area rehearsal facility (Russell and her band performed at the River Raisin Jazz Fesitval on Sunday).  Rick's latest GORR also states:

What was very pleasing was the number of musicians who popped into rehearsals to say hello and said how fantastic it sounded - and I was only using one keyboard as my rig is in the process of being put together here in England.

A fiery endorsement

It's good to know Wakey is as big a fan of Our Trev as the rest of us...

Trevor Rabin is playing fantastically. Totally on fire. I had a Mexican meal on Monday and am also on fire.

— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) August 10, 2016

Time to get to work

Rick went on a brief spree of tweets yesterday: one of them commented on his fitness regimen, the others covered a subject very near and dear to our hearts...

rehearsals for ARW in full swing. The shows are really going to be something special.......

— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) August 9, 2016

we're almost there with the ste list.......be nice to keep it secret until the tour , but could be difficult !

— Rick Wakeman (@GrumpyOldRick) August 9, 2016

A few songs from the setlist - provided they make the cut - have already been revealed, but once the tour is underway I will be posting warnings for those who want to remain spoiler-free until their particular gig as regards the final setlist.

This date in Yesstory: hijinks in Mountain View

Note: this post is image-heavy (for those of you with slower browsers).

In tribute to the enduring camaraderie of Trevor and Rick Wakeman (primary among the reasons why ARW finally came to fruition) there's a particular moment in the August 8th, 1991 Mountain View performance (the final show on the Around the World in Eighty Dates tour that year) which Trevor recounted in his interview with Mike Tiano, and the great thing is there is also video evidence.  The entire show was hilarious, of course, as it was the end of the tour and everyone was rather - shall we say - loose.  Years ago I screencapped this entire sequence frame-by-frame from the performance footage and you can actually see the exact moment Trevor loses his composure due to Rick's mischief.  I had previously posted this on the Yesfans discussion board back in 2009 but had been meaning to share it here as well.  This occurred during the "Your Move" portion of "I've Seen All Good People."

"But it was fun, and I think it was the last show, it was one of the fun gigs; it wasn't really a serious moment in the show...and Rick would come up behind me every night and say, "Come on, do it! Do it!" because he would be standing behind with maracas. So he'd do that, and tell me some silly joke, and I actually remember that because it was in San Francisco, the last gig. I'm supposed to be singing, and Rick's telling me a joke, and I can't sing. I burst out laughing."

EDIT: thanks to Photobucket changing their policy regarding account access, all my screencaps are null and void for now.  I will either find them and add them back or redo them but for now here is video of this particular incident.