The Power of YES (musically speaking)

Last Updated on March 3, 2026 by Fadra Nally

I’ve been a fan of the band Yes since the 1980s when they hit a resurgence with their 90125 album. But that was just the beginning of my musical journey with Yes – a journey I’m now passing down to my teenage son.

The Magic of 90125 and the Discman Era

The 90125 album was released in 1983, right around the time my brother popped home from college with his neat new gadget, the Technics Portable CD player. Everything about it was cool but especially the powerful sound of a compact disc!

Now, I know I’m showing my age. But if this was your era, you know exactly the amazement I’m talking about when you could hear and feel the music like it was your own private performance. My brother came home with so many CDs that I wanted to try them all, just because the sound felt so alive.

Through his influence, I discovered Thomas Dolby, Howard Jones, Steely Dan, The Alan Parson Project, Pink Floyd, and, of course, Yes.

Discovering the Heart of Yes

Yes is a progressive rock band formed in 1968. They’ve released over 23 albums, with the latest coming out in 2023. Over the decades, the band has had more than 20 members. I started with 90125, but quickly worked my way backward, discovering the evolution of their sound.

At the heart of it all was Jon Anderson.

Anderson was one of the primary singers, songwriters, and musicians for Yes—and, from my perspective, the soul of their music. Due to health issues, he eventually stepped away and was replaced, though he continued solo projects (which I also loved) and maintained a good relationship with the current lineup.

The Concert That Got Away

As the years came and went, I would occasionally return to my love of Yes music and Jon Anderson and lament how I never saw them in concert. I actually had tickets to see Yes on July 27, 2000 – free tickets, even! I convinced my fiancé to go with me for this bucket-list moment.

But… I never made it.

Our wedding was just two days later, on July 29. And while I wasn’t a bridezilla, pulling off a concert right before the big day felt like too much. I’ve regretted missing that show for years.

Rediscovering Jon Anderson with the Band Geeks

Fast forward to 2024. On a whim, I searched to see if Yes was still touring. They were, but only one original member (Steve Howe) remained. While I’m sure they’re still fantastic musicians, it wasn’t Jon Anderson.

But then I discovered that Jon Anderson had partnered with The Band Geeks, a classic rock cover band deeply immersed in Yes music. With them, Anderson was touring again, bringing the songs, sounds, and experience of Yes back to the fans.

In June 2024, I finally fulfilled my dream and saw Jon Anderson live with The Band Geeks at The Hershey Theatre.

A Son’s First Concert, A Mother’s Musical Legacy

I asked my husband to go with me and on a whim, I asked my son if he wanted to come. It turned out to be my son’s first ever concert. He has a growing love for music production, and when I introduced him to some Yes tracks before the concert, he was amazed. He appreciated the musical complexity and even recognized samples from the band that had been used in modern EDM.

For him, it was exposure to a whole new genre of music that he could clearly see had influenced many of the modern day music producers that he loves. For me, it was a chance to revisit my youth and feel what the music meant to me.

The Summer of Evan: A Road Trip to Remember

Since I follow Jon Anderson on Instagram (he doesn’t run it himself – it’s managed), I saw he had more tour dates lined up for 2025. None of the dates that were close to home worked for my schedule and so I had resigned myself to missing out this year’s lineup.

But then I got creative.

Since this was the summer before my son leaves for college (what I’ve dubbed The Summer of Evan), I asked if he’d be up for a road trip. “Sure, why not?” he said.

A week before the show, we bought tickets to see Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks in Farmington, Pennsylvania, a three-hour drive to a cozy outdoor amphitheater.

A Multigenerational Celebration of Music

This show felt different. We both knew what to expect, but the outdoor venue created an open, welcoming energy. We were surrounded by people of all ages who had found meaning in this music.

Next to me sat a 66-year-old from Pittsburgh who had first seen Yes at age 13. He was vacationing nearby and bought tickets just three hours before the show. On the other side was a former Deadhead in his 60s from Queens, there alone. He was thrilled to talk to my 18-year-old son and insisted we check out Rick Wakeman’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

The crowd was diverse—diehard Yes fans, younger music lovers, nostalgic party girls, and remnants of 1970s and 80s teenagers looking for permission to feel the music again.. It wasn’t just a concert. It was a spiritual reminder that music transcends age.

For me, it was a spiritual experience and a reminder that age doesn’t define us. Music spans the generations and at 80 years old, Jon Anderson still hits all the notes and puts on a fantastic show (even if he has to stop in the middle for a cup of tea). My goal is to make up for lost time and see him as much as I can until he leaves.

Getting Started with Yes: My Personal Favorites

If you’re new to Yes or Jon Anderson, here are some of my favorite songs to get you started!

• Owner of a Lonely Heart
• Changes
• And You and I
• Roundabout
• Starship Trooper
• Close to the Edge
• Awaken
• I’ve Seen All Good People
• Heart of the Sunrise
• Don’t Kill the Whale
• Going for the One
• Turn of the Century

These songs offer a glimpse into the depth, complexity, and beauty of Yes’s music—and why it continues to bring people together, generation after generation.