Steve Howe and Fragile in Southampton.

Pam and I visited Jamforte and Laxmi at the weekend and went to see Yes Tribute band "Fragile".

The main reason that we decided to go was that they were playing with a 'Special guest'....none other than Steve Howe.

We got into the venue late because they had been showing the Football during the afternoon and the match overran because of extra time and penalties but we got in eventually. Maaaaaan, it was HOT!!! Like a sauna in fact. The Air Con couldn't cope and so we sweated our way through the next few hours.

The format of the gig was that Fragile would play a set of Yes numbers then Steve Howe would play a solo set and then be joined by the band to round the evening off.

Fragile play really well, especially the rythmn section. The Keyboard player Max looks the spitting image of Patrick Moraz too which was a little disconcerting. The singer, however, wasn't on the best of form. To his credit he has always said that he loves to sing the songs and has never tried to be a Jon Anderson clone. He delivers the songs in his own way and I think he should be aplauded for that. It's just a shame he wasn't on top form the other night. The started off with Cinema then worked their way through various numbers including Perpetual Change, Close to the Edge (pretty ambitious) and Yours is no disgrace.

Then it was Steve's turn to amaze us with his amazing virtuosity. He played Mood for a day, The ancient, To be over and, of course, Clap. SUPERB entertainment!!!!!

The band then joined him and they did South Side of the Sky (a favourite of Pam's), Soon, Starship Trooper and Roundabout. I'm sure they did others too but they've slipped the memory.

Pam and I will definitely see Fragile again. It's always good to hear songs you love in a live environment and if the original bands aren't touring the music anymore then why not go and hear it lovingly recreated by enthusiasts?

I've attached the only photo I took on the night. Hope it comes over OK.

[Rick and Roll]

Excellent Keith!

What's great about Howe is that he does that solo thing a lot...when I saw GTR he did a set, Hackett, then the band. That's a neat thing.

So if he plays in a tribute band, is he tributing himself? Is that like playing in the third person?