Jon Anderson

My wonderful husband feels like I do about music and especially about the band Yes. I am thankful. I have been known to listen to them exclusively on long trips, hours on end. He never complains, he welcomes it. This year, I have just recently had the tremendous pleasure of seeing Jon Anderson live solo. All true Yes fans know that he IS Yes. The voice, the lyricist...so much of the essense.
A few miles from our home, he performed at a small club we enjoy, called the Robin2. The same club Steve Howe of Yes performed at awhile back to my joy and thrill.
It was a gorgeous Friday evening, warm and lovely. We caught a quick Balti at a nearby Pakistani place that was delicious and we were set.
Jon came onstage at around 8:30. He was accompanied by his wife Jane who sat happily off to the side not so far from him. The bond is apparent. He dedicated a song or 2 to her and glanced at her, blowing a kiss nearly after each one. A bit much some might say, but considering that she cared for him in the past year with complete devotion when he was near death, not so much, I think.
The entire show was accoustic. Matt nor I realized that he played guitar so well. He did much of his own work, and of course did softer versions of some of the more popular Yes tunes, as well as, the not so popular, for us 'real' fans.
It was an intimate affair. A few hundered of us packed in to the heavily warm room. Camera phones blazing. It eventually became a sing a-long involving what seemed to be the entire place. Old songs, Jon's or Yes', no matter..most knew all of the words. He came out for 2 ancores and if we would have had our way, it would have been more.
What a wonderful way for a fan to see an idol. A close, small pub, only a few that really appreciate his art. It brought me back to childhood. The endless hours of listening to music that sounded like what would be in dreams. Peaceful escapism. He looks frail now. Tired. Age has crept up on him and his health is not so good. Sad. Yet, it is obvious that his life is and has been so rich and complete. I am grateful for the music. It has played in the background of my life for as long as I can recall and will as long as I am able to listen.