Best. Concert. Ever.
May 12, 2004. Uncasville, CT. Mohegan Sun Arena.
We were as far back as you could be - the sound was still near perfect. Especially considering that this is primarily a basketball arena!
The set was beautiful. If you didn’t know going in that it was Roger Dean, you’d figure it out quickly enough. The organic lines were a dead giveaway.
This is the only band I know of that can come out on stage, rock out for an hour, and only have played seven songs. It’s a beautiful thing. I won’t bore you with the entire setlist. Besides, I can’t take credit for remembering it perfectly, that goes to the people at Forgotten Yesterdays.
So anyhow, they come out and open with “Going for the One”. They split “Mind Drive” up the middle, and slap “South Side of the Sky” in there (Jon didn’t hit the high note, but he tried). They closed out the first act with “Yours is no Disgrace”, and took a nice little break.
During this break, someone snuck a grand piano on stage. How I didn’t notice is beyond me. I wasn’t paying attantion, I guess. Rick sits down at the piano, and immediately starts blowing minds, as only Rick Wakeman can. Jon joins him for “The Meeting”. From there, they do an hour-long acoustic set. High point: “Wonderous Stories”. First time in my life I have ever been overcome at a concert. It was probably the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. Roundabout as a blues piece is deranged. But it works!
After a lovely set, Jon, Chris, Rick and Alan take off, and leave us in the care of Mr. Howe. I don’t think I’m the only one who noticed, but Steve seems much more sprightly this time ’round compared to the last tour. I didn’t ecognize the piece, but it’s Steve, so the title is unimportant.
The gents come back, and play for about another 40 minutes, finishing with another song they haven’t played live in a dog’s age. “Every Little Thing” was their first song ro be released, over 35 years ago. I can’t tell you what it sounded like then (I was -1 at the time), but it sounded like completely fresh and groundbreaking stuff now.
Since they had already played Roundabout, it was obvious that we were going to get a different encore tonight. I was hoping for “Perpetual Change” (I always do…) but I was happily stunned to be greeted by Starship Trooper.
This ranks among the best performances I have ever experienced from this band. I’m going to have to catch another stop on this tour.
Anyone up for a trip to Wembley?