Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - True
In prog, rock and artistic pop terms the vocally ageless Jon Anderson needs no introduction.
The Band Geeks, however, might.
In 2014 multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano (an integral part of Blue Öyster Cult these last 20 years) began an audio only podcast called Band Geek.
Band Geek went on to become a seriously impressive YouTube band featuring a revolving group of players and special guests that covered classic rock, pop and prog, with a leaning towards YES.
So good were the YES covers (sung by Ann Marie Nacchio), that the band came to the attention of Jon Anderson, who was itching to play classic "YESmusic" live again.
In 2023 Anderson & The Band Geeks toured the US playing a set of classic YES songs; so successful were those shows that a second leg of US dates has since been undertaken.
More significantly, new material was soon being written, with some of it performed on that second leg of dates.
The new songs were then recorded, leading to the nine track album True, featuring Anderson, Castellano (bass, keys, vocals), Andy Ascolese (drums, percussion, keys, vocals), Andy Graziano (guitars, vocals), Christopher Clark (keys), Robert Kipp (Hammond, vocals) and Ann Marie Nacchio (additional vocals).
The light and airy opening sections of 'True Messenger' could be lifted from one of Jon Anderson’s more recent solo albums, as could his penchant for lyrical oneness ("you are everyone, you are me, you are everyone, you are free").
But when the song kicks into a higher gear it morphs into a piece of angular, heavy pop-prog that recalls the sound of Anderson influenced YES album Tormato, with a dash of 90125 era backing vocal arrangements and a discernible nod to Trevor Rabin on an impressive, slightly off-kilter guitar solo that sits atop a brooding rhythm.
Following number, 'Shine On,' is an AOR prog-pop winner with a rhythmic structure that nods to Chris Squire & Alan White, while the keyboard styles of Tony Kaye in his 80s YES clothing sit, in a clever twist, alongside guitar lines reminiscent of Steve Howe, not Trevor Rabin.
(Kudos here to Andy Graziano for his six-string work throughout the album).
The Band Geeks, however, might.
In 2014 multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano (an integral part of Blue Öyster Cult these last 20 years) began an audio only podcast called Band Geek.
Band Geek went on to become a seriously impressive YouTube band featuring a revolving group of players and special guests that covered classic rock, pop and prog, with a leaning towards YES.
So good were the YES covers (sung by Ann Marie Nacchio), that the band came to the attention of Jon Anderson, who was itching to play classic "YESmusic" live again.
In 2023 Anderson & The Band Geeks toured the US playing a set of classic YES songs; so successful were those shows that a second leg of US dates has since been undertaken.
More significantly, new material was soon being written, with some of it performed on that second leg of dates.
The new songs were then recorded, leading to the nine track album True, featuring Anderson, Castellano (bass, keys, vocals), Andy Ascolese (drums, percussion, keys, vocals), Andy Graziano (guitars, vocals), Christopher Clark (keys), Robert Kipp (Hammond, vocals) and Ann Marie Nacchio (additional vocals).
The light and airy opening sections of 'True Messenger' could be lifted from one of Jon Anderson’s more recent solo albums, as could his penchant for lyrical oneness ("you are everyone, you are me, you are everyone, you are free").
But when the song kicks into a higher gear it morphs into a piece of angular, heavy pop-prog that recalls the sound of Anderson influenced YES album Tormato, with a dash of 90125 era backing vocal arrangements and a discernible nod to Trevor Rabin on an impressive, slightly off-kilter guitar solo that sits atop a brooding rhythm.
Following number, 'Shine On,' is an AOR prog-pop winner with a rhythmic structure that nods to Chris Squire & Alan White, while the keyboard styles of Tony Kaye in his 80s YES clothing sit, in a clever twist, alongside guitar lines reminiscent of Steve Howe, not Trevor Rabin.
(Kudos here to Andy Graziano for his six-string work throughout the album).
Melody-laden ten minute mini-opus 'Counties And Countries' is the sort of song YES would be doing now if Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman were still part of the band.
From a bright and poppy introduction the number moves to sedate, reflective middle section before developing further with an instrumental passage that features a beautifully melodic Howe-esque solo.
The song then heads to an uplifting, slow-build conclusion (featuring a Wakeman-styled synth solo) before closing on acoustic guitar, vocal, and piano.
'Build Me an Ocean' is another that would sit comfortably on a later Jon Anderson solo album but here provides downtempo, balladeering contrast to what has come before.
Further contrast then comes by way of the choppy, pseudo reggae-pop verses and bouncier, uplifting choruses that shape 'Still a Friend,' a song that would have sat comfortably on The Ladder (the most diverse/ anything goes YES album).
A well-constructed melodic passage then sets up a short acoustic section before the number switches to an another uplifting finale.
'Make it Right' opens with delicate acoustic guitar & vocal before developing into a slow-tempo best described as emotive, nu-blues prog.
Following a tasteful guitar solo and orchestrated keys backing, the song drops to a piano & vocal passage before lifting to a sweeping, gospel inspired section with Jon Anderson at his most spiritual ("let this be heaven, let this be life… gotta make it right").
'Make It Right' segues directly to the rhythmically driven 'Realization Part Two,' which features a concluding, and celebratory, harmony voiced section that repeats the "let this be heaven, let this be life" theme of the previous track.
Sixteen-and-a-half-minute epic 'Once Upon a Dream' seems to be deliberately channeling 'That, That Is' and 'Mind Drive,' the long-form numbers from YES album Keys to Ascension.
Opening with an ever-building layer of vocals, 'Once Upon a Dream' then kicks in to a sequence of heavier rhythmic sections (that owe much to the influence of, again, Chris Squire & Alan White) interspersed with atmospheric and creatively arranged vocal sections that remind of just what Jon Anderson brought to YESmusic (and YES now desperately lack).
The song then enters a full-bodied instrumental section that nods to Rick Wakeman at the peak of his YES powers before hitting an uplifting, melodic closing theme with Jon Anderson giving it the full alto-tenor ("we dance, we sing, we soar on golden wings!").
The song then outros on a Journey-esque finale and a solo Neal Schon will wish he had come up with first.
You could argue 'Once Upon a Dream' should be the album's closing statement, but the melodic charm of 'Thank God' makes for a genuinely touching, love song conclusion.
Produced by Jon Anderson & Richie Castellano (who also engineered the album and provided the bright, clean mix) True isn’t just one of the best albums Jon Anderson has done outside of YES, it’s the best album YES never did. And, sadly, now never will.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
From a bright and poppy introduction the number moves to sedate, reflective middle section before developing further with an instrumental passage that features a beautifully melodic Howe-esque solo.
The song then heads to an uplifting, slow-build conclusion (featuring a Wakeman-styled synth solo) before closing on acoustic guitar, vocal, and piano.
'Build Me an Ocean' is another that would sit comfortably on a later Jon Anderson solo album but here provides downtempo, balladeering contrast to what has come before.
Further contrast then comes by way of the choppy, pseudo reggae-pop verses and bouncier, uplifting choruses that shape 'Still a Friend,' a song that would have sat comfortably on The Ladder (the most diverse/ anything goes YES album).
A well-constructed melodic passage then sets up a short acoustic section before the number switches to an another uplifting finale.
'Make it Right' opens with delicate acoustic guitar & vocal before developing into a slow-tempo best described as emotive, nu-blues prog.
Following a tasteful guitar solo and orchestrated keys backing, the song drops to a piano & vocal passage before lifting to a sweeping, gospel inspired section with Jon Anderson at his most spiritual ("let this be heaven, let this be life… gotta make it right").
'Make It Right' segues directly to the rhythmically driven 'Realization Part Two,' which features a concluding, and celebratory, harmony voiced section that repeats the "let this be heaven, let this be life" theme of the previous track.
Sixteen-and-a-half-minute epic 'Once Upon a Dream' seems to be deliberately channeling 'That, That Is' and 'Mind Drive,' the long-form numbers from YES album Keys to Ascension.
Opening with an ever-building layer of vocals, 'Once Upon a Dream' then kicks in to a sequence of heavier rhythmic sections (that owe much to the influence of, again, Chris Squire & Alan White) interspersed with atmospheric and creatively arranged vocal sections that remind of just what Jon Anderson brought to YESmusic (and YES now desperately lack).
The song then enters a full-bodied instrumental section that nods to Rick Wakeman at the peak of his YES powers before hitting an uplifting, melodic closing theme with Jon Anderson giving it the full alto-tenor ("we dance, we sing, we soar on golden wings!").
The song then outros on a Journey-esque finale and a solo Neal Schon will wish he had come up with first.
You could argue 'Once Upon a Dream' should be the album's closing statement, but the melodic charm of 'Thank God' makes for a genuinely touching, love song conclusion.
Produced by Jon Anderson & Richie Castellano (who also engineered the album and provided the bright, clean mix) True isn’t just one of the best albums Jon Anderson has done outside of YES, it’s the best album YES never did. And, sadly, now never will.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ