A founding member of the legendary progressive rock band Yes, he’s nothing short of a wonder—still going strong like the iconic Energizer Bunny from those classic TV commercials. With his angelic voice and masterful songwriting, he continues to surprise and inspire. Through all the ups and downs of Yes, countless side projects, and unexpected reunions, he always comes back with fresh magic—and fans are all the better for it.
In 2019 we heard from Jon when he issued his wondrous 1000 Hands project, an album containing some really lovely progressive music and featuring a who’s who of superstar guests. Last year he re-surfaced with a brand new album called True which was a complete surprise for me: effectively the “new Yes” music I’ve long dreamed of hearing, music which the ongoing “official” band called Yes has not quite delivered on.
Here, Anderson teamed up with a talented group of musicians affectionately known as The Band Geeks, and they truly shine. This new live recording captures spectacular performances from the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois, circa 2023.
Watching and listening to Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks’ Live Perpetual Change, they recreate some incredibly complex music which even peak period Yes had trouble pulling off on stage over the years. It’s worth the price of admission just to witness their near-flawless performance of “Gates of Delirium” live on stage. And that’s just one highlight—there are plenty of other standout moments to savor.
The new live Blu-ray—also available on CD/DVD and as a 3LP vinyl set—is a real treat, even if the production is a bit barebones. Visually, it holds up well, clearly shot in high-resolution digital with multiple camera angles—likely a mix of strategically placed GoPros, a go-to setup for many bands these days. The audio recording is solid, and once again, the performance is top-tier. Anderson sounds fantastic, and The Band Geeks are nothing short of jaw-dropping.
If I have one gripe with the Blu-ray, it’s the audio: it’s limited to basic stereo in Dolby Digital format, which feels underwhelming given today’s standards. In 2025, you’d expect at least a DTS-HD Master Audio or Dolby TrueHD track for higher fidelity. It doesn’t sound bad per se, but it definitely leaves you wondering how much better it could have sounded. There’s also a Dolby Digital 5.1 option, but it feels like an afterthought—more of an auto-generated mix with ambient concert hall reverb in the surrounds than a true discrete multichannel experience.
Nonetheless, I am happy that Jon Anderson and The Band Geeks have issued this Blu-ray Disc. It’s a great document of this fine band and an excellent showcase for Anderson’s still remarkable voice as well as a celebration of the music he began making with Yes beginning more than 50 years ago.
Where to buy: $22.95 at Amazon
Mark Smotroff is a deep music enthusiast / collector who has also worked in entertainment oriented marketing communications for decades supporting the likes of DTS, Sega and many others. He reviews vinyl for Analog Planet and has written for Audiophile Review, Sound+Vision, Mix, EQ, etc. You can learn more about him at LinkedIn.
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