A classic voice meets a precision engine
Jon Anderson, the original singer of
Yes, now fronts the sharp and joyful
The Band Geeks, a unit born online and road-tested on big stages. After years apart from the current
Yes lineup, this pairing has become his go-to band for epic, harmony-heavy repertoire and new songs. The room skews mixed-age, from longtime prog collectors in faded Roger Dean tees to younger players who found
The Band Geeks on YouTube, and the vibe is focused listening with loud bursts between sections. A neat bit of history is that Anderson sang the opening track on
King Crimson's
Lizard, and his solo
Olias of Sunhillow was largely recorded at home with him playing many parts.
What you might hear tonight
Expect a focus on
Close to the Edge and
Fragile era pieces, with likely spots for
Roundabout,
And You and I,
Awaken, and
Starship Trooper. You may also catch
The Band Geeks nodding to Chris Squire's pedal tones, a texture they prize in rehearsal and on stage. These song choices and production details are informed guesses from recent runs and can shift on the night.
The Jon Anderson scene in small, telling details
Old-school reverence, new-school curiosity
You will see vintage
Close to the Edge and
Fragile shirts next to fresh Band Geeks hoodies, plus a few handmade patches that nod to bass pedals and odd-time riffs. People tend to save chatter for breaks, clap the off-beat hits in
I've Seen All Good People, and hum the
Roundabout intro as the band tunes. Many fans compare notes on gear choices and video clips from the channel that birthed this lineup, trading small observations rather than chasing volume. Merch tables lean toward bold Roger Dean style art, lyric notebooks, and a fair bit of vinyl for crate diggers. The mood is welcoming but detail-obsessed, with plenty of smiles when a harmony lands or a tricky middle section locks in.
How Jon Anderson breathes inside the band
Harmony as the anchor, motion as the engine
Jon Anderson's tenor sits a bit softer now, but his phrasing is still airy and nimble, and the front line builds wide harmonies to cradle the high notes. The Band Geeks keep the arrangements faithful, yet they trim transitions so the long forms breathe and never sag. Dual keyboards cover vintage Mellotron and church-organ colors, while guitar tones chase clean chime for the intricate lines and a thicker bite for big codas. The rhythm section favors steady pulse over flash, often nudging tempos a notch slower so the vocal arcs and synth swells read clearly. A neat live habit is adding Taurus-style pedal drones under verses to thicken the low end, and using split-keyboard tricks in
Awaken to fire bell tones against organ pads. Lights tend to paint cool greens and ambers that match the Roger Dean palette without stealing focus from the music.
Kindred roads around Jon Anderson
Kindred travelers in modern prog halls
Fans of
Yes will feel at home because the show mines that catalog's soaring harmonies, dynamic suites, and warm humor.
Steve Hackett draws a similar crowd with meticulous Genesis-era storytelling and nimble guitar drama that rewards close listening.
Kansas appeals to listeners who like violin-kissed prog and big choruses delivered with road-seasoned precision. If you enjoy muscular classic rock that still obsesses over arrangement detail,
Blue Oyster Cult fits, and the Band Geeks link is a bonus. All four acts treat vintage material with care while leaving space for fresh twists, which mirrors what Jon Anderson is doing with this band.
