Yes’ Jon Anderson Release New Song “Shine On”

Jon Anderson has unveiled “Shine On,” the first single from his collaboration with the Band of Geeks, a group he discovered on YouTube. The track, produced by Anderson and Blue Öyster Cult’s Richie Castellano, showcases Castellano’s dual role as bassist and musical director for the band.

Reflecting on this unexpected collaboration, Castellano told Rolling Stone:

“I can’t even wrap my head around all this. I used to go watch Jon in concert and scream at him. Getting to do something like this is just a dream. It’s also been an opportunity as a Yes fan to go, ‘OK, we’ve been handed the keys to the kingdom. We have Jon Anderson singing for us. How do we want this to go?'”

The band has been touring together for several years, performing classic Yes songs. Their upcoming album, True, set to be released on August 23 by Frontiers Records, marks their first collection of original material. You can preorder the LP here.

Anderson’s connection with Castellano’s side project began in the summer of 2018 after he stumbled upon their YouTube cover of Yes’ 1972 epic “Close to the Edge.” The video, titled Close to the Edge: A Band Geek Yes Cover with Chris Clark, inspired the name of the new group.

Energized by this discovery, Anderson soon toured with the Band of Geeks, including keyboardists Chris Clark and Andy Ascolese, bassist Andy Graziano, and guitarist Robert Kipp. Anderson said:

“It felt really exciting.
“I remember thinking, ‘I don’t believe what’s happening! Everyone is just amazing. Let’s go around the world!'”

They have now completed nine new songs, with “Shine On” filmed in New Jersey just before the start of their latest U.S. tour, titled Yes: Epics, Classics, and More. The single has already been incorporated into their setlist, with tour dates continuing through September. You can find the tour dates below.

Jon Anderson’s Yes: Epics, Classics and More Tour

June 13 – Chicago Copernicus, IL
June 15 – St. Louis El Monstero, MO
June 18 – Greensburg Palace Theater, PA
June 20 – Hershey Hershey Theatre, PA
June 22 – Concord Capitol Center for the Arts, NH
June 25 – Boston Shubert Theatre, MA
June 27 – Ridgefield Ridgefield Playhouse, CT
July 21 – Patchogue Great South Bay Music Festival, NY
July 24 – Nashville Ryman Auditorium, TN
July 27 – Peachtree City Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheatre, GA
July 30 – Camdenton Ozarks Amphitheater, MO
August 2 – Bonner Springs Azura Amphitheater, KS
August 4 – La Vista The Astro Outdoors, NE
August 7 – Waite Park The Ledge Amphitheater, MN
August 10 – Denver Paramount, CO
August 14 – Phoenix Celebrity Theatre, AZ
August 16 – Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, CA
September 13 – Glenside Keswick Theatre, PA
September 15 – Glenside Keswick Theatre, PA