Jon Anderson and the Band Geeks Join Forces Musically

In 2023, a friend of Yes singer Jon Anderson sent Anderson a video of a group playing the classic Yes tune “Heart of the Sunrise.” Anderson was so impressed, he contacted the group’s leader, multi-instrumentalist Richie Castellano, and asked him if his group would tour with him.

“He said, ‘Are you sure? You’re Jon Anderson of Yes?” says Anderson via phone from his Los Angeles home, where he was rehearsing in his studio for the upcoming tour. Anderson and the Band Geeks perform at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, at the Agora. “We got together, and I was amazed how good they were. I said, ‘Let’s make an album.’”

Even though Band Geek members live in the New York/New Jersey area, and Anderson is on the West Coast, they wrote and recorded the album True via Zoom. It came out in 2023.

“Every Tuesday, we would meet via Zoom to write and record,” says Anderson. “It was exactly like the old days of Yes when everyone tried everything without hesitation.”

Songs like “Shine On” are really accessible and sound like Yes from the ’80s.

“I think Richie brought that song,” says Anderson when asked about the track. “He was finishing the mix. I would sing ideas, and he would send the music to me.”

Anderson says the ballad “Still a Friend” is generally about friendships rather than about one particularly friendship.

“I try to keep up with the guys in Yes,” he says. “I’m in touch with [guitarist] Steve [Howe]. He just had an operation. I sent him a message that said, ‘Get well soon. Lots of love, Jon.”

“Once Upon a Dream” is an epic number that clocks in at nearly 20 minutes.

“My music takes over after a while,” says Anderson. “Richie had this thing to stick at the end of the second chorus. I was thinking a space sounding thing would be great and that it could be about how the angels are always around us and that we shouldn’t worry if you’re feeling down. We started making music like that. By the time we finished, it was almost 20 minutes long. To perform it on stage is a miracle. It’s just beautiful.”

With its quivering vocals and gentle piano, “Thank God” works well as a closing number.

Anderson continues to carry the prog rock torch. His career stretches back so far, it predates the use of the term.

“It took a while, I think, for that term to be commonly used,” says Anderson. “It was about three or four years, and then, we were doing the Close to the Edge album, and people were saying that it was such a new way to look at music in general. They called it prog rock. We said, ‘Okay.’ It’s been truly amazing. When we’re on stage, I can’t wait to get to the next song because it will also be one that people want to hear. You get excited on stage. I’m blessed that I met the Band Geeks. We’re finishing a new album, which will be called Giving Is Living. It’s very powerful stuff.”

At 81, Anderson can still deliver the upper register vocals for which he is known.

“I don’t know,” he says while belting out a “laaaaaa.” “I’m very blessed. I love singing. I just enjoy life to the fullest. I enjoy music I wrote with [guitarist] Steve Howe and [bassist] Chris Squire some 20, 30, 40 years ago. I can’t believe it. It’s like a dream come true.”