Progressive rock band YES will perform in Salt Lake City on Friday, August 10 at The Complex.
YES started their band in 1968 in London, England and became famous for their progressive rock in the early 70s with hits including “Roundabout” and “Starship Trooper.” In 1983 YES brought progressive rock back with “Owner of the Lonely Heart.” Recently they produced another progressive rock album in 2011, “Fly From Here.”
Alan White, drummer of YES, said their music continually stays fresh because they focus on creating innovative rock.
“We are just a progressive band that makes music that nobody else is creating,” He said. “So it’s still progressive in the future.”
White said the band continues to please fans because of their listeners’ tastes.
“YES just does what they do,” He said. “It’s more of a choice of the public. … The public goes up and down go with that style, the people really seem to love that progressive stuff.”
Steve Loso, marketing manager at The Complex, said YES’s music continues to stay current because they focus on being rock rather than electronic or hip hop.
“With music a lot of people are complaining about music not having soul,” Loso said. “There is a need for actual musicians in the progressive format instead of the punch-you-in-the-face music.”
For their concert in Salt Lake, YES plans to play most of their new album, “Fly From Here,” their first album written in the last ten years.
“It’s good fun to play,” White said. “It’s the first time we have done it on the American Tour.”
White said the band will also play other songs they haven’t performed in a while, including “Awaken,” which they have not performed in more than eight years, as well as a YES version of Simon and Garfunkle’s “America.”
“It was a YES song done a while back,” White said. “It was a bonus track, a compilation. It’s really fun to play. It’s totally different from the original.”
For a band with platinum record status, Loso said The Complex will be a comparatively smaller venue than where YES usually performs.
“Back in the day they were really huge and it was really hard to see them like we get to see them (this) Friday,” Loso said. “We are hoping to provide the chance to past fans and new fans to see them like they never have before.”
