Album review: JON ANDERSON & THE BAND GEEKS – Live, Perpetual Change

Frontiers [Release date : 14.03.25]

We reviewed Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks’ debut album, True, last year.

For the Geeks, Richie (BOC) Castellano, Andy Ascolese, Christopher Clark and Matt Beck, the self deprecating band name turned out to be something of a joke. On us. It would be hard to find a more capable bunch of musicians.

On this live album, the co-writes on True – with renowned writers/ composers, Jonathon Elias and Jimmy Haun, and indeed the new material written with Castellano – have been left behind.

The entirety of this live recording reproduces original Yes material.

‘Perpetual Change’ is taken from The Yes Album (1971). The self explanatory title confirmed what we had already learned. Yes had a continually evolving musical style. That’s why it’s included here.

Just like Yes did on the original album from which it first appeared (again, The Yes Album), JA and the BGs (not the Bee Gees) open with ‘Yours Is No Disgrace’. Its strident, galloping intro borrows heavily from the sixties TV series, Bonanza. A sense of humour as well as musical virtuosity.

‘The Gates Of Delirium’, based on Tolstoy’s “War And Peace” has to be one of the most energy sapping songs to do live. How do you mirror the chaos of battle and its aftermath – depicted on the original recording – onstage? Listen and learn.

Elsewhere, Yes favourites, ‘Close To The Edge’,’Starship Trooper’, ‘Roundabout’, ‘And You And I’ and others get another moment in the sun.

A “Greatest Hits” by a doppelganger.

The very fact that none of these live performances are in any way disappointing is testament to the skill (and indeed stamina) of the Geeks.

And yes, also because, in part at least, the most identifiable aspect of Yes was always their singer. ****

((Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks Live is a 2 CD release. There is also a DVD, and triple vinyl package.)

Review by Brian McGowan

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