SUNDAY evenings are not usually the best times for gigs, but any thoughts of a sparse crowd were thrown out of the window by the jam-packed Apollo theatre for the return of Prog-Rock masters YES.

Boasting a new/old keyboard player in the shape of Geoff Downes, who was a member of the band at the turn of the eighties, the band set out to showcase their brand new album Fly From Here, as well as satisfying those who wanted the classic tracks.

They began with the timeless Yours Is No Disgrace and followed it up with Tempus Fugit (from the Drama album which featured Mr Downes), and the crowd was right behind them as they performed All Good People/Your Move to the delight of the older fans.

Then came a tester – a brand new song.

Life On A Film Set is actually one of the highlights of the album and worked extremely well in a live setting.

It’s powerful and pacey and has all the members of the band giving their all.

And You And I was up next, and as always, the fans’ reaction to it was bordering on the rabid.

The Keeper of the Flame – bassist Chris Squire, announced a change of pace and left us in the capable hands of guitar maestro Steve Howe, whose solo work Solitaire (also from the new album) and a medley of Tales From Topographic Oceans and To Be Over was delivered with his customary flair and expertise.

The rest of the band returned and performed the whole of the Fly From Here suite of songs, which I personally thought was very good.

However, for such a long version of new work could have backfired – but it didn’t as all true YES fans appreciated it.

Back to the classics and Wondrous Stories followed by another new song in Into The Storm paved the way for the climax of the show: Heart Of The Sunrise and Starship Trooper.

And of course, they couldn’t leave without a rousing rendition of Roundabout.

What impressed me most was how singer Benoit David has come on in the last couple of years. He is more assured, and is becoming more animated on stage.

Also, despite sounding like Trevor Horn on the album, on the live stage, he sounds very much like the legendary Jon Anderson.

The whole sound was driven by the incomparable Alan White, who introduced his 88 year-old mother who was in the audience.

Over two hours on stage belies the fact that the band has been performing for over forty years.

YES prove time and time again that they can survive with changes in personnel, and on this evidence, the legacy of their music catalogue is in safe hands.