The Fleece & Firkin, 16th June 2001

Fragile, At The Fleece, Bristol, June 16th 2001

More Photos by Ian Nichols & The Bastables

Review by Andy Thomas

Back To Dr Prog's Review of the show with pictures by the Bastables.

Back to Nick Bowden's Review of the Show.

Fragile - Given The CD: Bought The Baseball Cap

I have been a fan of Yes since the Yessongs days and bought their albums stopping at Big Generator. My collaborations with Yes fans on creating 'music we couldn't buy in the local music stores' failed. Further discussions with said musicians came to the mutual belief that recreating the music of Yes to an authentic and believable state, in terms of a tribute band, would be time consuming and expensive in rehearsal facility costs plus we couldn't play to the Yes members' standards.

Hugh Lloyd-Langton of Hawkwind fame had remembered my love of Yes and told me of his friend Gonzalo Carrera and his involvement with Fragile. Hugh gave me Gonzalo's mobile number and we got together. At our first meeting I was presented with the Fragile CD. Hugh had already informed me of Fragile's high standard of musicianship on 'Live At The Half Moon', but I was amazed at the band's obvious love of the material. That's the true value of the 'tribute' band, the love of performing material spanning more than three decades and numerous personnel changes.

Watching Fragile perform at the Fleece & Firkin was an experience as I turned into one half 'punter' and one half muso/Yes fan. When would the band fail to entertain me as either? Never, apart from the teasing bars from a yet to be completed 'Ritual'! Watching the audience with a vast age range was also entertaining as people sang, bopped, muso-foldedarms-rubbernecked. I wish that the band had had a larger stage and a lighting designer as the in house light show was rarely changing and limited in colour scheme, with only red, blue, magenta and white. That said, my wife I and and guitarist Robert Indge, came to listen and see Fragile. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and YES - I bought a Fragile baseball cap!
I only wish that friends of mine in tribute bands will see the professionalism of Fragile and (you know who you are Beatels and Clouded House!) give the audience what they came for!

Andy Thomas - July 2001

Andy Thomas is a programmer/producer supplying new technology to the musician, including sessions for David Bowie, Steve Winwood, Stevie Wonder. He is also collaborating on original material with Gonzalo Carreras and Robert Indge.

Back To Dr Prog's Review of the show with pictures by the Bastables.

Back to Nick Bowden's Review of the Show.

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