Album review : JON ANDERSON AND THE BAND GEEKS – True

Frontiers [Release date : 23.08.24]

An almost 80 year old Jon Anderson, and the Band Geeks will be finishing off their second annual US tour in September. Just about when their first album, True, is being released by Frontiers. Quite a coup for the label.

Social media plays a huge part in the transmission and circulation of music nowadays, so to find Anderson teamed up with The Band Geeks as a result of seeing them cover ‘Heart Of The Sunrise’ online is not the surprise it may once have been.

One telephone call from Anderson to Richie (Blue Oyster Cult) Castellano, Band Geek’s leader, bass player and producer set it all in motion.

“Yes, Epics And Classics – featuring Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks” toured in 2023 and was a huge success.

The relationship evolved into a songwriting partnership. This from Artsfuse website: Anderson: “I had about half a dozen songs in my computer. I sent them to Richie, and he developed them on a major level to make them sound like Yes. I don’t know how he did it, but he did.”

The trailer single, ‘Shine On’ is a surefire crowd pleaser. It’s as if a Brian Wilson pop symphony is jump starting a prog pop classic. A bit like being at the movies and a scene comes on that you’re sure you’ve already watched, and you think “this is where we came in”. That’s ‘Shine On’, a rebirth of Yes Music.

Anderson’s call and response interchange with the backing vocals is so clever, so propulsive, continually refreshing the music’s momentum.

Just like he did with Yes, Anderson often sounds absorbed in his own intricate reverie. The lyrical spirituality of tracks like ‘Build Me An Ocean’ and the 16 minute ‘Once Upon A Dream’ – a new classic – could only have been created by one man.

Last word, ‘Counties and Countries’ is perhaps the best song Yes never wrote. ****1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

Check out radio stream repeat on Tuesday 8th (16:00 GMT) and Thursday 10th April (21:00 GMT)
Next Session: Sunday 4 May

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 2 March 2025.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast on 4 March 2025

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 7 April 2025

SEVEN BLOOD To The Unknown (indie)
FROM FALL TO SPRING Incomplete (Arising Empire)
POP EVIL Side Effects (MNRK Heavy)
ERJA LYYTINEN Abyss (Tuohi Records)
SKY VALLEY MISTRESS Too Many Ghosts (New Heavy Sounds)
RED GIANT Free Me (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 7 April 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.