Seeing Stars - November 1980

Gerry Brooke looks back on performances by Yes and Sad Cafe

The band to see in Bristol in November 1980 had be Yes - if only to hear what they sounded like without long time frontman Jon Anderson and keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman - both of who had jumped ship after a year of internal rowing.

Unlike the rest of the nation’s critics, the Post’s Chris Hewett was mildly impressed by their performance at the Hippodrome.

“Yes returned to Britain (they had been touring the States) with something to prove after a tortuous year and savage criticism from all quarters.

“But the new look Yes blitzed Bristol with a new, raw sound which came as a complete shock to the system.

“The die hard fans - who had snapped up all the tickets months ago - gave the band a standing ovation before a note was struck.

“Whether the band needed this sort of confidence boost I don’t know as they played with the sort of fire and enthusiasm which can only mean a promising future.

“ The gem We Can fly from Here illustrated the direct, hard edged sound introduced by new band members Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes who had found chart success with their Buggles venture.

“Some of the old classics, such as Yours is no Disgrace, were performed with a new flair but it may be that some of these will be phased out as the new line up finds its feet.

“ If Yes - Mark Two - can turn out stuff of a similar standard, and the signs are that they can, then the band will be able to do as much for 1980s rock as they did for the early 1970s.”

The other top band in town, this time at the Colston Hall, were Sad Cafe.

The Post’s music editor, James Belsey, was there.

“Sad Cafe were given a hero’s welcome in a jam packed hall last night” he wrote the next day.

“ Poor old singer/guitarist Ian Wilson, injured in a recent stage fall a few days ago, was perched on a stool with his foot in plaster and his arm in a sling.

“Nevertheless, with a temporary guitarist, Sad Cafe turned in a thoroughly good performance, professional and attractive.

“Playing melodic, vocal rock, the band - there were eight of them on stage - are a throwback to the days when the big line up ruled the roost.

“Their songs sound like early 1970s US West Coast material - clever, extremely well put together and very well performed

“But - and its a big but - that sort of sophistication has a creeping tendency to let the attention waver.

“After half an hour I was thinking of other things than Sad Cafe.

“And after an hour I was itching to change the record.”

If Country was your thing then you could always don your stetson, denim jeans and cowboy boots to go to see Don Williams, at the Colston Hall later in the week.