Mellotronists

Yes got off to a rough start last night in Toronto.  The sound was 
muddy for the first half hour.  As the sound gradually improved, the 
band tightened up and took off!  The high point of the show for me was
the 16 minute "Awaken" from Going For The One.  This track is quite 
an amazing composition, and they performed it very, very well.  The 
Church Organ and Choir near the end was ___________.  (fill in 
superlative(s)...Something of the highest possible excellence.  
Something even Martin would like).  

Rick's Mellotron samples seemed to be layered with other modern 
string and choir samples.  The 'tron parts sounded a bit sterile, (I 
like dirt!) but it was all performed well.  It was nice to hear him 
using a mini moog.  It was also nice to see that he wasn't afraid to 
be seen with his reading glasses, a music stand and sheet music.  
(...for some of the tunes he's not too familiar with).

Other highlights:
Heart of the Sunrise - What a band!
Excerpt - And You And I - Great new arrangement!
Rick's keyboard solo - He is still a wizard and he has a new bag of 
tricks (Korg Triton)
Long Distance Runaround - I had forgotten...What a great tune!
Yours Is No Disgrace - Same old arrangement - Performed flawlessly.

...and the legendary Devotion keyboardist, Rick Blechta was sitting 
right next to me.  It was a great evening wasn't it Rick!