Yes or no? Mother nature says no.

I was really excited when I heard the news.
Yes was scheduled to appear in Oklahoma City at the Zoo Amphitheater! Recently (and about time) inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they finally were coming back to town.
I had been to their concert once before... several years ago. It was at the Brady Theater in Tulsa. But, Ashley suffered an asthma attack midway through the show and we had to leave. Ash was so apologetic, but it was unavoidable.
The band had gone through a few changes. Chris Squire had passed away. he was the only member of the ever fluctuate
ting membership of the band that had been a constant. Jon Anderson sang on most Yes Lps, but had recently left again. Rick Wakeman had gone for a long time and the band's keyboard are now in the hands on the previous member of the Buggles (Video Killed the Radio Star) geoffrey Downes. Downes had been a member of Yes once before when both hwe and fellow Buggle Trevor Horn were Yes for one LP.
Steve Howe had been on most Yes LP's. When gone, he was replaced by Trevor Rabin. Howe had played with GTR and Downes also played with Asia.
The extra bonus of this show was Todd Rundgren. Todd has been touring like mad the past couple years and released several LPs. I saw him with Ringo a couple years ago, but it was not a Todd show. All of these tours missed Oklahoma. One person told me ir was because there were too many Trump voters here.
But, Todd is my fav, right behind the Beatles. He's the chameleon, changing with every album.
The show was rounded out by the Emerson Lake and Palmer Legacy show. Palmer is the only surviving member with he recent death of Lake and suicide of Emerson.
Jackie Caseboldt and I drove to OKC. The weather was great... in fact, I was whining because I had forgotten my sun glasses. We got there early.. got a parking place cheap across the street from the Amphitheater. We were there at least an hour before showtime, so we went in, sat and ordered a beer. I brought a blanket for our tickets on the lawn, but turned out the blanket stunk! Probably from the last flood that hit our house! So, we sat on a ledge.
The crowd trickled in slowly. The shade grew and I began to sweat less. Finally, Carl palmer came on stage with a couple guitarists. No keyboard. I had read it was in honor of Emerson...,. and they did have some recorded keyboard.. which I assume was Emerson's from the lps
During the set, the clouds began to roll in, followed by a cool breeze. First a few drops during "Knife's Edge" and by the next song, rain started to fall. Palmer's set was completely instrumental. It was pretty good, but unusual to hear ELP dongs with no vocals. They had started their set with one of my favs, "Karn Evil Number 9."
The rain fell in sheets. Jackie said he was heading for the shelter of the trees. I was optimistic. I took the stinky blanket and covered my head to wait for the end of the cloud burst. After all, the weather said it was only a 20% chance.


It didn't stop. It got worse. The thunder literally shook the ground like Palmer's bass player. The lightning put on a better light show.. intense and scary as the rain soaked my stinking blanket and everything under neath. Finally I retreated to the cover of trees as even the people in the front reserved seats fled the rain. While there, a flash of lightning crackled light all around us, and the accompanying thunder shook the trees. "How close was that?" One lady screamed@ I left the copse of trees to take shelter near a bathroom, already packed with smarter people. After a few moments of rolling thunder and sheets of rain, an official looking man raced by screaming that the show had been cancelled!
I was ready to wait out the storm. I came to see Todd and he was supposed to be up next, by god!
cancelled??
I tried to text Jackie to find him. It was complete chaos with most people not really sure what was going on. I made my way to the front hoping Jackie was near there. By then, blanket or nor, there was nothing dry on me. I called him, but the pounding rain was so loud I couldn't hear his reply. I decided to gather myself and my now 20 ton wet blanket (but no longer stinking) blanket and head back to the pickup and hope Jackie was there .
Dragging my self in small crowds of nearly drowned people, amidst the fivers of rain water up to my ankles, and the repeated rash of thunder and flashes of lightning... no end in sight...I trudged to the parking lot. No Jackie.. so, finally able to find shelter under a nearby church porch, I called and got him. He made his way to the pickup and we two drowned rats trode wet and cold the hour plus back home with only a large order of McDonald fries to warm us.
I am disappointed to miss Yes since they just got in the Hall of Fame. I am also sad to miss a chance to see Todd. I never know if he will come to our red state on his own.
So, the next day ar school... Todd playlist on the IPOD all day

sigh