Jon, Part IV

Part IV - Nous Jon du Soleil (long, just like a certain topographic album)

Paul Green School of Rock All Stars
with Special Guest Jon Anderson of Yes
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Symphony Space - Peter Jay Sharp Theater
New York, New York
Section Center Orchestra, Row A!!!!, Seat 105
$46

Jon's website listed the show at Symphony Space, but it was not on their website. When were tickets going on sale?! I kept checking the websites. Finally, on March 8th, I saw the show listed on the Symphony Space site. Still no link to buy tickets or an on-sale date. At least they were acknowledging the show was taking place. Over lunch at work, I called their box office. Tickets had just gone on sale, with no advance warning. For some reason, they weren't available on-line yet either.

"Where would you like to sit?" the box office lady asked me.
"As close to the stage as possible" is my standard reply.
"How about front row center, then?"
"Yes, please."

Roy and I slept overnight at Linda's. We took her out to breakfast the next morning, and then journeyed to New York City - we had to return the rental car at Newark and then take the train into the city. It was an absolutely beautiful day. Our hotel was right by Penn Station. We walked a couple of miles, over to Times Square, on Broadway, then Central Park. Enjoyed the people-watching, window shopping, and just soaking in the atmosphere. One of my New York things is that I must get pizza at least once. We found a little hole-in-the-wall deli that served pizza around 72nd and Columbus. Delicious. Took a cab from there to Symphony Space at 95th and Broadway.

We arrived about 15-20 minutes before the doors opened. Roy and I scoped out the area for likely stage door exits, but we couldn't find any candidates. I really wanted to talk to Jon on this trip. We walked back to the front doors. There were other groups of people standing around before the show. And then, I see Jon coming out of an SUV. It was like nobody else saw him. I walked up, called his name, and he walked over and put his arm around me. "Heyyyy, good to see you," he told me. Roy told Jon that we saw him last night as well. Jon shook Roy's hand. Someone asked him for his autograph, and Jon took her inside the lobby to sign it. That was it. At least a dozen people wearing Yes tshirts didn't notice Jon Anderson walking right by them.

The doors opened and we got to our seats. Nicer venue than the night before, this one is a theater and not a club. I can't believe that Jon is just standing in the auditorium chatting with people. I can't help it, I walk over by him. As he walks by, I said something dumb, "Enjoy the show". I think I meant I hope you enjoy doing the show tonight, but I only got those three words out. Jon did that thing where he brushed his face up to mine, but no kiss this time. He replied, "Really". Short sentences. I don't know what either of us meant.

I noticed that Jon was standing just outside the auditorium again, a little later on. He walked back into the auditorium, this time with his wife Jane and the woman he calls the Divine Mother. Paul Green and his wife were there too. They were standing right in front of the seats to our left. Roy and I tried to look like we weren't eavesdropping, but it was impossible not to hear them. There were some introductions, and showing Jon and Jane where she'd be sitting. Which was next to me. When Jon walked by us, he gave us a little wave.

I knew Jon was not going to make eye contact with me or barely notice me, sitting so close to Jane. I had a very different experience at this show - more analytical and outside of the performance. I was sitting so close we could see all sorts of things on stage. I was really paying attention to all the communication going on between Jon and Jane, little gestures and mouthed words back and forth. I described this show as fascinating, in a Spock sort of way.

The crowd was really good. At one point during And You And I, when just a guitar was playing, I could hear the motor of Jon's fan. It's got to be the equivalent of hearing a pin drop.

There were a few differences between this show and the night before's. This time, I couldn't go buy a new bottled water during shred, because Jon was still on stage. He played a theremin and drummed on a teapot. Very fun to watch. (Roy bought me a new water during the intermission.) They added a song introduced as both Dreams and Screw Yourself. And Jon invited the Divine Mother up on stage, and she made us all chant "Om". On Got to Get You Into My Life, the singer jumped off stage and sang right in front of us. That part was exciting!

I was careful not to bother Jane. During intermission, she went backstage. Some woman walked up to me and asked me if I was sitting with Jane. I pointed out Jane's seat. She then asked me if I could take her book and ask Jane to ask Jon to sign it for her. "I'm just a fan with a really good seat. I'm not even going to ask for one myself." It's true, and I hope she believed me.

I really got into Close to the Edge, bopping around in my seat. For the encore, Roundabout, Jon told us all to stand up and dance. I didn't need to be asked twice! I was happy to be doing my thing. Jon finally made eye contact with me. During the instrumental section, Jon, 62 year old Jon, jumped off stage (!) and started dancing with Jane. Right next to me. I was watching them, partly because there's Jon Anderson one foot away from me, and partly because I didn't want to bump into them. Some other woman ran up to them. Jon looked at me, maybe to make sure I wasn't the one crowding them, and we made eye contact again. He finished dancing with Jane. I was so hoping he'd stop in front of me for a moment, but he walked past. Stopped to shake hands with a little girl next to Roy and then went back on stage.

But wait, there's more. Roundabout is still going on. Paul Green took one of the microphones and held it up to specific people in the audience to sing the backing vocals. People like Jane and some kids. And then he held the microphone right up to me! People who know me know I have an awful singing voice, but I make up for it with lots of enthusiasm. Roy came to my rescue by joining me at the microphone. We both sang with Jon Anderson!!!!! I so need to find a tape of this.

After the show, I talked with Jon's webmaster John Amick, who I knew way back when. I'm still most jealous of him because he got to meet Trevor Horn and I never have. Also saw his friend Richie, who used to be in the Yes tribute band Yesterdays. Roy and I went back outside and waited. Talked to John and Richie some more. Well, it turned out the front door was the stage exit door. Jon walked right by me. I had a question in mind for him this time. I asked him how his work with the California Guitar Trio was going. He continued walking, so I followed him, and he said Paul [Richards] would be coming to his house this summer. I replied that we had seen CGT playing Jon's piece, but he didn't reply.

Shortly after that, Jon left and so did we. Took a cab to the hotel, had a snack there (rice pudding, yum!) and flew back home the next morning. We didn't get a lot of time in Manhattan, but this gave me more time to rest before going back to work the next day. I had been away from home for eight nights.